King Electric and Colin Keane (right) hold off Peace Envoy and Ryan Moore © Photo Healy Racing
Ger Lyons continued his blistering start to the new season as his King Electric reversed Dundalk form with Peace Envoy in the opener at the Curragh, the Ivawood EBF Race.
Peace Envoy was a length and a quarter in front of King Electric when they met at Dundalk last month, and the Aidan O'Brien trained former was expected to confirm the form today.
However King Electric had other ideas as he bounced out in front under Colin Keane and kept on well under pressure in the final furlong, holding off the challenge of Peace Envoy and Ryan Moore by half a length.
The winner was returned at 10/3 (from 8/1 last night and from 9/2 on-course) in the colours of Sean Jones, while Peace Envoy was the 4/9 favourite.
Ger Lyons said afterwards: "He's a good honest horse and we said we'd sacrifice him early doors to see if what we were seeing was right with the others.
"If he ran well we would know the ones that were beating him at home were okay and we had some smart sorts.
"It was a good pot and I thought it would take a stakes horse to beat him giving away weight. If he finished second it was no harm. We've been second to Aidan's horses plenty of times.
"Colin said the ground was riding proper soft. I don't think he's a Marble Hill horse and the first thing Colin said to me is that six furlongs would suit.
"He's a good horse with a good temperament and it's a bonus to start." Hyzenthlay unseated Ana O'Brien twice on the way to the start and she was subsequently withdrawn.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
