Keane at treble on Bamako Beach Bamako Beach availed of a significant drop in grade to strike in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over seven furlongs at Fairyhouse. Last seen finishing seventh behind Gstaad in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, he was a warm order at 4/11 to shed his maiden tag. Colin Keane brought up his Fairyhouse treble on the favourite who began to crank up the pressure on the field in the final quarter of a mile. The only horse to stay within range was Sindagan (10/3), but he was unable to reel in the leader. Bamako Beach kept up the gallop who hold the pursuer by a length and a half. Little Sure Shot was seven lengths adrift in third at 40/1. Michael O'Callaghan said: “It’s a big relief. He’s a horse that we hold in extremely high regard and obviously we pitched him in at the deep end last time. “You’d always be a little bit nervous with a horse that is highly rated running in a maiden. “Colin kept it simple, he said the ground was as tight as he’d want it and he was a little bit lonely when he got there. “He was a little bit green, he’s never been in front. We’re actually figuring him out too, he’s still a bit immature horse. “He said he’s a seven-furlong horse in a good race with a bit more kindness in the ground. He said he could be a good horse and he’s better than the winning margin. “I’m very pleased for everyone involved because he’s always been held in high regard. This is his fourth start to win his maiden, but he’s rated 102. It’s a big box ticked. “We’ll start to pick some targets now, from a month’s time on. “The autumn is probably his time. We’ll look at some seven furlong targets with him and we will travel, he might go to France and places like that.” When asked he wanted an ease in the ground he added: “That’s good to firm ground. It’s been extremely dry and the track crew here have done a great job to have it safe. “The lads said after the first race that it was proper good ground, with a little bit of good to firm, and it felt safe so we said we’d take our chance. “It has tightened up as the evening has gone on so it’s probably proper good to firm ground, but safe. He’s a big immature horse still, so I wouldn’t blame him for that. “We’ll look forward to getting him home and making a plan with him now.” Keane was also successful on Livenka (5/6f) and Tounsivator (5/2f). Additional reporting by Gary Carson
