O'Callaghan's Fairy Oak gets off the mark under Keane It was a case of third time lucky for supporters of Fairy Oak, as the Michael O'Callaghan trained filly made most under Colin Keane to win the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden at Leopardstown. Runner-up on her racecourse debut at Navan in early June, the daughter of A'Ali surpassed that form when an excellent fifth in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot subsequently. Back in maiden class this afternoon, the 10/11f soon led under Keane, travelling strongly out in front before kicking a couple of lengths clear early in the straight. Perhaps idling in front more than anything else, Fairy Oak began to come back to the closers inside the final 100 yards, just holding newcomer Yellowstone Lake by a neck. Michael O’Callaghan said: “She was entitled to win her maiden and Colin said she sharpened up plenty from Ascot. He thought after Ascot she wanted seven but said six was fine today. “He thought the ground slowed her down a little bit and she’d be better on proper fast ground like it was in Ascot. She was probably in front long enough and she felt the last 100 yards. “She’ll step back up into stakes company and showed at Ascot that she’s capable of operating at that level. “She’s in the Lowther and the Moyglare. She’s a real two-year-old, very straight forward and she tries.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
