Queen Of The Sand (left) comes with her challenge on the rail with King Oliver (centre) leading© Photo Healy Racing
Colin Keane just got Queen Of The Sand (10/1) up to win the Ladies Day 23rd June at Gowran Park 3yo Handicap, beating the front-running King Oliver (20/1) by a neck.
Trained by Ger Lyons, the winning daughter of Footstepsinthesand, won her maiden on her last start at Dundalk in November.
Drawn in stall two this evening, she tracked the leaders in the fourth and came with her challenge on the rail from a furlong out.
She stayed on well in the closing stages to just edge ahead near the line, beating the Pat Smullen ridden, Andrew Oliver trained, King Oliver by a head. How Splendid was the gamble of the race for Wayne Lordan and David Wachman. She was 14/1 this morning and was backed on track from 10/1 into 11/2.
She finished two lengths back in third while Muizenberg Nights was a further neck back in fourth under Shane Gray for Tommy Stack at 9/1. Conversational was sent off the 7/2 favourite under Chris Hayes for Andrew Oliver but she could only manage sixth.
Ger Lyons said afterwards: "Its nice summer ground which she needs and her honesty is her biggest asset.
"It was a good brave ride by Colin, he is a good kid and we needed to claim off of her as there is not much of her. She is the lightest horse in the yard by a long way."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
