Champions target for Platinum winner Mutasarref completed a hat-trick of consecutive wins in Cork's Listed Platinum Stakes today, setting himself up for a tilt at next month's Champions Weekend with his impressive display. The well backed 6/5 favouritism travelled strongly and quickened away from nearest pursuer Cigamia in the final furlong, to score by three lengths. Trainer Ger Lyons was represented by his brother Shane who said: "That was very impressive and he is getting more professional with every run. Colin (Keane, winning jockey) said he went a bit left when he came under pressure but hence, when he goes around a bend he'll find another few pounds. “That is four wins now for him and all roads lead to Champions Weekend - we'll sit down and pick out the easiest race for him.” Keane steered ex-Dermot Weld's Mutasarref to win a Listowel maiden last September and a month later the Dark Angel gelding was sold for 95,000gns in a Shadwell Stud dispersal sale, following the death of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum the previous March. Shane Lyons added: "He was very well recommended by Colin last year and was very well bought by David Spratt for Eleanor Kennedy, who is in mid-air as we speak flying in for the Curragh tomorrow for Mauiewowie.”
