Giorgio Vasari (left)© Photo Healy Racing
This year's Jockeys' Championship has featured many actors but bit player Wayne Lordan moved centre stage when completing a notable double at Limerick today, as his mount Giorgio Vasari landed the Patrickswell (C & G) Maiden.
Colin Keane was bookmakers' early Championship favourite pre-lockdown and with Covid restrictions limiting Ryan Moore's involvement in Ireland, Seamie Heffernan was briefly made 11/10 favourite last month, with Paddy Power.
Heffernan's challenge came unstuck having taken big-race rides at Epsom and Chantilly, which left him isolated for a fortnight while incurring a further 22 days suspension, and in subsequent weeks Shane Foley moved well clear of Colin Keane at the head of the Championship.
Heffernan's absence has afforded Lordan opportunities on Aidan O'Brien's runners and his double today was gained at the expense of Keane, as Amber Kite and Giorgio Vasari both scored all-out nose wins.
Following Giorgio Vasari's win, Breeders Cup winner Lordan stated “he had a good roll around — he rolled left and rolled right so you'd imagine he'd be a bit more professional with the blinkers again.”
Lordan's double moves him to the 27 winner mark, one ahead of Colin Keane (who would isolate for a fortnight were he to take the ride Siskin in the Sussex Stakes on July 30) and he now trails clear leader Shane Foley (on 37) by 11.
