Toe The Line (right) stays on best under Colin Keane to beat Shall We (centre) and Sea Swift© Photo Healy Racing
Colin Keane had an afternoon to remember at Naas, as Toe The Line completed an 87/1 treble for him in the Listed Anjaal EBF Bluebell Stakes.
The John Kiely trained seven-year-old won at Gowran on her seasonal reappearance in April, but failed to follow-up in four starts since.
She was last seen finishing a fine third over two miles in the Listed Loughbrown Stakes at the Curragh, and back to a mile and a half today she was sent off a 9/2 chance.
Settled in mid-division by Keane (who was earlier successful on Wayside Flower and Intimation , she was pushed along entering the straight.
She was ridden behind the leaders with over a furlong to race, staying on well inside the final furlong to lead close home, going on to score by a length. Shall We who drifted slightly right inside the final furlong, had to settle for second under Chris Hayes for Michael Stoute at 6/1. Sea Swift was another length back in third under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld at 9/2, while the 11/4 favourite Hibiscus (5's this morning and from 7/2 on-course) was sixth under Donnacha O'Brien for his father Aidan.
Kiely said afterwards: "I'm delighted. I thought it might be a bit short for her.
"She was third in it last year. I thought she'd need further but the little bit of a cut in the ground helped her at the end. She stays.
"She's a very, very useful mare to have and I'm thrilled for the owners (the Lillingston Family).
"I don't know where we'll go now and I might give her a holiday."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
