To The Sky and Colin Keane are clear in the closing stages© Photo Healy Racing
To The Sky benefitted from patient handling by Colin Keane to land the Derek O’Sullivan Memorial Apprentice Handicap.
The Joanna Morgan-trained gelding made smooth headway on the far rail to lead about a furlong out, and the 10/1 chance responded well to pressure inside the final furlong to beat top-weight Silver Shuffle (11/2) by two and three quarter lengths. Dayrina (7/1) completed the placings a further three and a half lengths back in third, while Aidan O’Brien’s younger daughter Ana finished sixth aboard Flower Bouquet on her first ride after recently gaining a licence.
This mile and two furlongs event is run in memory of Derek O'Sullivan, a founding Director of the nearby Racing Apprentice Centre of Education (RACE) in Kildare town.
Joanna Morgan said, “He’s always shown plenty of ability but it has been difficult to get him to settle. He stood in the gate today which wasn’t the plan but he settled grand.
“He will go back hurdling soon and will mix it a bit.”
