Power Under Me, second right, makes his winning move© Photo Healy Racing
A step up in trip for Power Under Me in the Listed Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown proved to be inspired.
The Mehmas four-year-old tackled a mile for the first time and also had a tongue-strap fitted and everything came together with a polished display for trainer Ger Lyons.
He travelled towards the rear of this 12-runner field and made eye-catching headway on inner with a furlong and a half to go.
Colin Keane switched him off the rail to challenge Freedom of Speech inside the final furlong and his mount swept home in the final 100 yards to score by a length and a half at 17/2. Emporio (9/2) stayed on for second in front of Freedom Of Speech (40/1).
Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “Ger is beating himself up saying that we were running him over the wrong trip, but I wouldn't take that too literally.
“He won over six at the start of the season and he's just very ground dependent.
“He's been a bit disappointing in his last couple of runs and we said we'd give him one last throw of the dice and step him up.
“We thought if he gets the trip he has the ability to be a good horse on that ground and it duly happened.
“He looked impressive there as they went hard and he has enough pace to sit in the box seat and pick them off.
“It opens things up for next season. We'll look at the start of the season and the end of the season on softer or slower ground. Now we can go any trip. We're delighted and delighted to get Colin one.”
Power Under Me's three previous victories came over six furlongs.
This victory moved Colin Keane level with Billy Lee at the head of the jockey's title race (86-86) after Lee's Dundalk double last night saw him hit the front.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
