The start of something big for Feane

Second with his first runner, Strategic Heights, here a fortnight ago, Johnny Feane, a name previously synonymous with the Reggie Roberts yard, sent out his first winner when Prince Connoisseur landed the opening three runner Dundalk Stadium Racecourse Of The Year Maiden under Pat Smullen.

Strongly backed this morning even before Bobby’s Heart (lame) and Chiclet (withdrawn by the veterinary officer) came out, Prince Connoisseur was never going to lose this six furlong event.

The 2/9 shot went right out of stalls but he made all and ultimately comfortably saw off Edamane by a length.

A son of recently retired Moyglare man, Jimmy Feane, Feane junior explained: "He's a nice type of horse but Pat said he was a bit green and he was looking around from the stalls.

"He's been working really well and the times would show that. He worked well here last week.

"That's my first winner – I had a second last week. "I've got twenty two in at the minute and I've got a lot of yearlings. I'll have a few more ready to run soon.

"With this fellow we'll wait until March for a winners race.

"It was nice to have Pat riding as I rode my first winner (when competing as an amateur) for his wife Frances. My girlfriend, is Susan, a daughter of Reggie Roberts."

Meanwhile Smullen said: "He was a little bit green in front. I was hoping maybe to have a lead in the race but obviously as it cut up we had to do the donkey work ourselves.

"He was quite green there – he had a look turning in but he's a nice maiden.

"Johnny knows what he's doing and he's a name for the future – no question. He rang up and said this horse would win and he was right.

"We were confident before any of the other withdrawals and he (Feane) is a name you're going to be hearing a lot of." (MG & EM)