Billy Lee at the double in Naas with Keke The Edward Lynam-trained Keke (6/5) once again showed his liking for the track when battling gamely to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race. The six-year-old son of Dandy Man gave jockey Billy Lee his second winner of the afternoon, showing plenty of toughness to get the better of the Natalia Lupini-trained Xerling, who looked like she would not be passed inside the final furlong. However, under a strong drive from Lee, Keke fought back to score by a neck. Speaking after the race, trainer Edward Lynam said: "I was very disappointed in Cork. I've driven down there with him twice. He was favourite last year down there, and he was favourite this year, and I won't be going down with him again. "Just no luck. I mean Cork is a wonderful Flat track but Keke does not like it and, I don't like the drive. I'm getting too old for that, so we won't be doing that again. On ratings, he had one to beat today and the filly that was second, judging by the result now, we could drop down into the 80s. She was rated 78 and she frightened the life out of us. She gave us a proper race. "From now on, it's opportunities or Group races; Scurrys or Bold Lads with topweight. It's going to be a huge ask. This race kind of half set up for him. He made heavy weather of it but he won. He's won eight times for us, so I'm very happy. He is a lovely horse and, we'll keep running him away." (Quotes by Gary Carson)
