Celtic Times and Kevin Manning (right) win from Moony Beams © Photo Healy Racing
Displaced from favouritism by the well-backed runner-up, Celtic Times made all in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-y-o Maiden.
Blinkered and stepping up in trip after two placed efforts, Kevin Manning dictated the pace on the Dawn Approach colt, got a breather into him approaching the turn-in and then kicked early in the straight.
Textbook riding around Leopardstown and Manning’s mount held on by a diminishing neck as Moony Beams (9/4 fav from 3/1, and as big as 8/1 this morning) rattled home having been left with quite a lot to do after being a little slowly into stride.
The first two were nicely clear of third home Eurocrat (20/1).
Winning trainer Jim Bolger’s daughter Una Manning commented: “We're delighted with him. He came on from his Naas run and the blinkers just sharpened him up and made him concentrate.
“He'll probably step up now into Listed or Group 3 and see how he goes there. He was very game today.”
“He has plenty of pace, and was just doing the minimum in the final furlong,” said winning rider Kevin Manning.
“It’s lovely ground, just on the easy side of good.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
