Yuzu and Keithen Kennedy win the GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap Healy Racing Photo© Photo Healy Racing
Apprentice Keithen Kennedy saw his claim reduced to 7lb after riding a third career winner when taking the opening GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap aboard Yuzu at Leopardstown.
Always prominent on the well supported 9/2f, Kennedy headed long time leader Pimstrel over 150 yards out, staying on well to hold the late run of Nituna
Making her second start of the week, having disappointed at Gowran on Tuesday, the Jessica Harrington trained filly was gaining a first career win.
Kennedy kept in simple from the outset, sitting in third before moving closer entering the straight. Ridden to lead inside the last, Yuzu held on by half-a-length from a slightly unlucky in running Nituna, with Pimstrel a neck back in third.
Kate Harrington said: “That was great and it's job done. She's a filly that a friend of mine Cormac (O'Flynn) bought in an online sale.
“She's got her bracket now and she's by a Japanese sire, he's going to go off breeding with her now. We might find one more race before the end of the season.
“She only ran in Gowran the other day and I think the mile-and-a-bit stretched her on that heavy ground and coming back to seven really suited today.
“Keithen is a very good young lad. He's been riding out for us for the last three summers and he's been riding work the whole time.
“She's a difficult enough ride and he rides her the whole time at home so it's great for him to get a win on her.
“He's a very nice, pleasant kid and I'd say he's going to go places. He's strong and doesn't look like a 10lb claimer, and he's got a brain as well.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
