Colin Keane sends Sky Seven home© Photo Healy Racing
The 'big two' dominated the seven furlong juvenile maiden in Dundalk as Sky Seven led home Crockford by a length.
The 11/10 favourite brought up a double on the card for Michael Halford and Colin Keane.
He tanked along in second straightening for home as the leader Snow Hope soon came under pressure.
Keane pushed him along to lead racing to the final furlong and the pair saw off Crockford (9/4) and Wayne Lordan who challenged them in the latter stages.
Crockford pulled four and a quarter lengths clear of third-placed Dare To Flare (10/1 from 14/1).
The bookmakers bet 10/1 bar the first two in the market.
Michael Halford said: “He’d a very promising start so it was nice to build on that. He’s a lovely big raw horse and still very much a baby. Colin gave him a good ride, kept it simple and he galloped out strong to the line.
“He has a good attitude and wants to please you. There are some smart horses up here and the maidens are taking some winning. The form will stand up anywhere.
“It’s out first horse for that owner (Nasir Askar) who is Dubai-based. We might give him a bit of time now and bring him along gradually.”
Sky Seven came in second on debut over course and distance three weeks ago.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
