Brunelle (right) comes to lead under Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Brunelle made the most of a drop in grade to claim the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Dundalk this evening.
The Ger Lyons-trained filly had won on her debut at Leopardstown before finishing sixth behind Lope Y Fernandez in Group 3 company at the Curragh.
She was sent to post the 2/1 favourite in this winners race and was settled mid-division in the early stages of the five furlong contest.
Colin Keane produced his mount to lead inside the final furlong and she had a length-and-a-quarter to spare over Phase After Phase at the line.
“I can claim no credit for that. I went to the sales during the week, I had the entries done and had a line drawn through the race. I came back and seen that she was entered, the lads put her in,” said Lyons.
“I was protecting her for the Foran sales race but the lads in their wisdom put her in so I take absolutely no responsibility for that and fair play to them as they are after getting us a winner.
“She had earplugs in today. She has been a bit gassy. Not rushing her and going to the races the other day and taking her out, with the heavy ground at the Curragh, was ideal as it was a nice day out without killing her.
“We put the earplugs in today because she's a busy little girl.
“For the prize-money she'll go for the Forans final now. The question mark is the trip (seven furlongs) and the ground.”
The winner moved Keane three ahead of Donnacha O'Brien in the jockey's title race.
