Camelback wins under Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Camelback followed up his maiden win at Leopardstown with an all-the-way success in the J F Dunne Insurances Since 1977 Race at Naas but once again gave connections some concern about his temperament.
The American-bred colt needed to be led down to the seven-furlong start after becoming fractious in the preliminaries but showed plenty of class once the gates opened.
Colin Keane got down to work over a furlong out but his mount kept on well in the closing stages to dispatch his two rivals.
The 15/8 chance had a length to spare at the line over Strike For Freedom with 10/11 favourite Rostropovich a neck further back in third.
Winning trainer Ger Lyons said, “I promise you if you wanted to come to my yard and ride a horse he’d be the one I’d give you to ride. But the minute I put the saddle on him inside (the stableyard) he threw a buck and a kick and a squeal, and then he became totally unmanageable.
“Colin said he wasn’t good going down to the start or in the stalls either but the very fact that he’s after winning after behaving like that is good.
“His head is not in the game and I’ll have to have a serious chat with his owner. I know that I’d have him gelded in the morning.
“He obviously has an engine. At home he’s straight forward and never breaks sweat but he’s done this before (at the racecourse).”
