Brutal and Colin Keane © Photo Healy Racing
Sheikh Fahad Al Thani (Qatar Racing Limited) and his Irish retained jockey Colin Keane completed a double at Leopardstown today as Brutal landed the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund (C & G) Maiden, scoring for trainer Ger Lyons.
Al Thani and Keane were earlier successful with Michael O'Callaghan's impressive debutante Holy Cat in the opener and Brutal showed the benefit of previous outings when staying on well for a two and a quarter lengths win over Diodorus
Ballydoyle’s 11/10 favourite and newcomer Finn McCool lost all chance after a furlong as he spectacularly double-jumped over a worrisome roadway at the seven furlong marker. Seamie Hefffernan’s mount never looked likely to win thereafter but did fill third place, seven and a half lengths behind stablemate Diodorus.
After the race Shane Lyons, representing his brother Ger Lyons, stated “we were hoping that Galway would benefit him a lot for experience. It’s taken a good while for the penny to drop, and Galway is a good place to educate them - tat run has stood to him here.
“He will probably have one more run hopefully on Champions Weekend, and we’ll look forward to next season with him as he should make a nice three-year-old.”
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
