Caught U Looking and Colin Keane © Photo Healy Racing
The Noel Meade trained Caught U Looking won for the first time as a three-year-old when proving far too strong for the opposition in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bluebell Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) at Naas.
Fifth in both the Epsom and Irish Oaks, the Harzand filly had proved slightly disappointing when dropped in class on her next few starts.
However, with a stamina laden pedigree the filly was always likely to enjoy a proper test, something that she encountered here on this step back up in trip.
Tracking the early leaders in third, Colin Keane came through to lead over two furlongs out, quickly asserting to draw clear from well over a furlong down.
Staying on strongly all the way to the line, Caught U Looking had four lengths to spare over the staying on Galileo Dame with Romzina back in third.
Noel Meade said: “I was undecided whether to run her again as your always worried this time of the year after being on the go for a long time.
“She deserved that win and has never run a bad race all year.
“A lot of people were doubting that she would stay but Colin has been saying all along that not only does she stay but she wants further. I said to him going out to ride her whatever way you want.
“I’m delighted as she’s off now to the December Sale and that’s her last run. She’s a valuable enough commodity as a broodmare or as a racemare. I’m sure she’ll sell well and the best of luck to her.
“I’ll be sorry to see the back of her but that’s the way it goes, and we’ll have to get another one.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
