Sniper shoots down the hot favourite

Sniper made all and fended off long odds-on shot Johann Strauss in the opening two-year-old maiden at Naas.

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane teamed up with this son of Dubawi who was having his sights lowered today after contesting the Group 1 Phoenix and National Stakes in August and September respectively.

The 8/1 shot made no mistake today though as Keane bounced him out smartly in front of Johann Strauss in this seven-furlong race. Joseph O’Brien got after the 2/7 favourite to close in the home straight, but the son of High Chaparral found it hard to reduce the deficit.

In the final furlong he began to close as Sniper began to tire after cutting out the running throughout. There was a neck in it as the pair hit the line.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “We’ve always thought a lot of him hence why we pitched him into the top grade. It’s no fluke he’s won his maiden.

“Sheikh Fahad and his team have entered him in the Newmarket sales. They will decide after this whether he goes or stays. He is a horse for the future and we are delighted to have him.

“Colin was very happy with him and he said he liked that soft ground. He’ll be a better horse with a year under his belt.”

Colin Keane reported: “The cheekpieces paid off. He showed a lot of ability at home. It was a change of tactics today as he’s been dropped in before. He’s a horse that does enough.”

As regards his challenge for the apprentice title, Keane said: “I’m five behind him [Connor King] now. I’m getting a bit closer.”

The winner is owned by Qatar Racing Limited.

There was 10 lengths back to Fiscal Focus in third. Screenshot was withdrawn after bursting out of the front of the stalls as the runners were being loaded.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson