Crystal Black and Colin Keane just hold on© Photo Healy Racing
The father and son team of Ger and Colin Keane teamed up to take the Hytech EQ Ultra Handicap with topweight Crystal Black at the Curragh.
The Teofilo gelding has shown a real liking for the track and was gaining a third course win on his reappearance in this mile event.
The 4/1 shot tracked the pace throughout but needed a strong drive from the champion jockey to lead about 50 yards out and then just held on from the fast-finishing Earls
Just a nose separated the pair with Casanova only a short-head away in third.
Ger Keane said, "It's great to get it. It was his first run and we didn't know about the ground for him with ten stone.
“We had him ready early this year for the Lincoln but he got a setback before it. He probably would have needed the run in the Lincoln anyway so it maybe worked out better.
“We're hoping he's a black-type horse, that's the road you'd have to go I think.
“There are a couple of big handicaps on Guineas weekend and one in Cork, but that's over seven and it might be a bit sharp for him. He won over a mile-and-two here on Champions Weekend.”
When asked if he would handle Galway he added:-
“He's a very straightforward horse and I'd say he'd handle anywhere. If he's not a black-type horse he'll probably have to handle a hurdle! Hopefully we won't have to go that road but that's the type of horse he is.
“He won over a mile-and-two and you'd imagine he would be a classy horse over hurdles, he's about 17 hands. We'll see what the boys want to do.
“He had a lot of issues early on last year and he came down in the handicaps after a few runs when he wasn't right. He finished the year off really well, he's probably the best horse we've ever had. Hopefully he stays in one piece.”
Quotes by Gary Carson
