Baby Zeus, near side, takes the spoils© Photo Healy Racing
Colin Keane brought up a brace of winners at the Curragh today after driving Baby Zeus home in the 10 furlong handicap.
The four-year-old gelding was last as the field began to make the turn into the home straight with over three furlongs to travel.
He made rapid headway on the outer at the two pole and swept into the lead coming to the final furlong.
Those exertions told as he wandered in the final 150 yards but Keane had switched his whip into his left hand and was able to keep him straight to see off Mirann (9/1) by half a length. Bright Idea the 2/1 favourite, was the same distance away in third.
Keane said: "He can be a funny character, I know a bit about him from his past. He can kind of be slow to jump and then if you ask him too quick he can jump on and do the opposite.
"I was letting him find his feet and we gave him a squeeze coming off the hill and he came alive underneath me and travelled down into the straight well.
"He ran around a little bit when he got there and he's probably still a bit inexperienced from being in front. He's not a bad type of horse."
Assistant trainer David Casey added: “He’s been with us a few months and he came in good shape and with good form from Ger’s (Lyons). They always thought he was a decent enough horse and he’d shown us that at home.
“We weren’t overly sure about the ground but he seemed to handle it well and it’s great that he won.
“We’ll see what options are there for him and see what the handicapper does. Hopefully he can progress up the ladder.”
This was Baby Zeus' first run for Willie Mullins having been with Ger Lyons.
Keane also landed the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup on Helvic Dream
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
