Murtagh & Coen double-up with Australia bound Bear Chicago Bear completed a double for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen as he claimed the 'HRI Equuip' People Behind The Moments Handicap. A winner at the Curragh on Guineas weekend, the four-year-old was since purchased by Australian owners OTI Racing. Sent off at 4/1 this evening, from early shows of 5/2, the Siyouni bay was settled behind the leaders on the outer, coming with his challenge early in the straight. Pushed along to lead a furlong and a half from home, he battled on gamely under pressure in the closing stages, holding off the run of Coill Na Sionainne by half-a-length. The runner-up was returned at 12/1 under Nathan Crosse for Willie McCreery, while Jungle Cove (13/2) was another two lengths away in third. The well-backed Elzaam Blue finished fourth, with this one returned the 7/2 favourite from early shows of 10/1. "The new owners will be delighted," Murtagh commented. "The deal only went through yesterday. We have a few horses for OTI and they came and saw him the other day and thought he would be an ideal horse for Australia. I said it is a nice race for him, so everything worked out really well. He is Australia bound. "The horse himself is really settling down. He was a bit hot early in his career and even at the start of this year we had the hood on him and hood off him. He was a little bit keen and I don't think he stayed the trip here one day over 10 (furlongs). "He ran well at the Curragh over a stiff mile. This was a perfect trip for him here today. Ben says he is relaxing, he's getting better and happy days. "It was a tough race in the Curragh and it was a close finish and he got his head down. He is up for a battle. As I say, mentally now he has probably grown up and he is improving." Additional reporting by Michael Graham
