Chiricahua (Colin Keane) beats Iowa (Wayne Lordan)© Photo Healy Racing
Successful with Phoenix Cowboy at Ballinrobe last month, owner Mark Breen and trainer Ger Lyons combined for another success when Chiricahua landed the Green Room Handicap at Leopardstown.
Colin Keane sported the striking white and green silks of Breen on Chiricahua, and last year’s Irish Derby ‘also-ran,’ got it done from the front.
Though the likes of the second and third, Iowa and Soaring Sky tried hard to bridge the gap, they couldn’t get to the 13/2 victor as he asserted in the final furlong to prevail by a length and three parts and half a length.
Lyons’ brother Shane reflected afterwards: “We're delighted with that. He's grown into a fine horse, you can see the size of him and he took time.
“These Camelots seem to improve with age, we absolutely adore his stock and we have plenty of them. It seems if you give them a little bit of patience and time they reward you.
“Colin gets on very well with him and he loves making the running. He'll get two miles, we'll mix and match it over trips, and he goes on any ground bar bell metal. He's a real good moving horse.
“He's owned by an American owner, and could be sold later on, but we're having fun with him at the moment.”
(GC & EM)
