Colin Keane on Legacy Link's Oaks chances - 'There are no doubts about her staying'

Early-morning trips through passport control have become a familiar part of Colin Keane’s first year in the Juddmonte hot seat — but there will be a spring in his step boarding his next bleary-eyed flight to the UK knowing glory could await on the other side.

Only days away from the first anniversary of accepting the role as retained rider for one of the sport’s leading owners, Keane will sport the Abdullah family’s famous silks aboard Derby second favourite Item, the Dante hero and latest Epsom hopeful from the Balding dynasty.

Twenty-four hours earlier it will have been the turn of Oaks hope Legacy Link, Frankel’s niece trained by John and Thady Gosden, and one looking to be the first Juddmonte filly to conquer the Surrey Downs since the great Enable.

Two days that the six-times Irish champion jockey hoped would emerge when signing on the dotted line.

Elite Retained Role Brings New Sense Of Privilege

Keane said: “It’s exciting and these are the horses you want to be riding on those big days of racing. To have two live chances going for an Oaks and Derby is brilliant.

“When you are putting on those Juddmonte silks, you know these are the sort of pedigrees you are getting the chance to ride and I know I am in a privileged position. You can feel the history and the pedigrees speak for themselves. When the physical matches, it is even better.

“I’ve enjoyed the last year and it’s been busy over and back but when you have been riding such good horses you don’t think about it as much and makes it all a lot easier.

“There’s been a lot of airports of course and I could go through Heathrow and Stanstead with my eyes closed and I’m getting to grips with the motorways.”

Trial Triumphs Vault Promising Pair Into Classic Picture

Both Legacy Link and Item gave Keane two days to savour when putting themselves in the Classic picture at York, winning the Musidora and Dante in different but equally taking styles.

The guts and grit of Legacy Link was replaced by the stylish Item a day later, but both left the Knavesmire with reputations enhanced and Epsom odds slashed, ready to take on the might of Ballydoyle with the Irishman on their back.

“I suppose it’s tough to say which one I fancy more,” said Keane analysing their chances. “They are both going there with a good chance and couldn’t do any more than what they did in their trials. We’ll learn a lot more on the day.

“Legacy Link seems to have come out of the York race well and when we went to Epsom (for the gallops morning) she seemed to handle the track well, put herself on the right lead and levelled up and got to the line well without doing anything crazy.

“There is no doubts about her staying, that will be no issue.”

Royal Meeting Targets Loom Large Beyond Epsom Dates

Epsom will be the start of what could prove a vital month on the calendar for Keane with Royal Ascot — and with it memories of that glorious introduction to his new role aboard Field Of Gold 12 months ago — never far from the jockey’s thoughts.

The star miler lit up the opening day of the meeting with the 31-year-old aboard last year, but with the son of Kingman on the sidelines this time around, it is Andrew Balding’s exciting youngster Jolivette and her well-established stablemate Kalpana that could prove key to fortunes this time around.

Keane said: “I suppose last year with Field Of Gold has to stand out. He was very impressive on the day and it was important to get a big winner like that early doors.

“It showed you exactly the type of horse you can look forward to riding when you are putting on those colours and told me I was very lucky.

“We look like we have a nice team going and you would like Andrew’s filly who won at Newmarket, Jonquil’s (half) sister. She looked good on debut and will be up against Aidan’s filly (O’Brien, Sun Goddess) but she couldn’t do much more on her first start.

“Kalpana would be the headliner, the flagbearer and she’s just rock-solid. She’ll be turning up in all those Group Ones this year and hopefully will replicate what she has done before, please God.”