Keane collects following Ffos Las mishap Colin Keane benefitted from an eventfully aborted trip to Ffos Las today as the six-time champion jockey registered a timely success in Navan’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, on Ger Lyons’ Amiata (4/1). Keane was booked for three rides at the Welsh course including on subsequently-withdrawn Hypnotised for his employer Juddmonte Farms in the 2.10pm-opener, but later missed two remaining rides having been delayed leaving Ireland. Rerouted to Navan, Keane’s success on Amiata moves him to within one winner of Dylan Browne McMonagle (67-68) at the head of this season’s title race. Keane explained “between traffic and not giving myself enough time, we were late travelling over. Hypnotised was my main reason for going over but I actually had a good book of rides. Unfortunately I missed the flight but rang Ger (Lyons) straight away and he was happy to get me on two horses at Navan.” Trainer Lyons, himself a light-aircraft pilot, reported "Amiata is a horse we've always liked and he ran well first time. I then thought it was a matter of turning up and doing that the second time but he didn't. “We gelded him, brought him back for the Ballyhane race and the last day we made a mistake by putting blinkers on and he did way too much. Today is more like what we have been seeing.” He added “I’m delighted for Philip Richards, who is a lovely, lovely owner and lets us get on with the job. Kerri (Lyons, daughter) is buying the horses for him and I'm delighted to train him a winner.” Quotes from Michael Graham
