Colin Keane looking forward to two huge days at Epsom Colin Keane agreed to take the job as Juddmonte’s retained rider to give himself a chance of winning the biggest races on a regular basis – and after two days at York he now has realistic chances in both the Betfred Oaks and Derby. John and Thady Gosden’s Legacy Link advertised her Classic claims in the Musidora on Wednesday, while on Thursday it was the turn of Andrew Balding’s unbeaten Item to state his Derby case. The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes has long been regarded as the best trial in England for the blue riband, but in the last 10 years only Sir Michael Stoute’s Desert Crown has done the double. Golden Horn also managed it in 2015. Item is single figures for the Derby and has got Keane dreaming. “He was coming here having won a maiden and a novice well. He was slow to come to hand having had a little setback earlier in the year, but the team gave him time and they were happy with him coming here today,” said Keane, six times a champion jockey in Ireland. “I rode him on his debut and I’d had a sit on him before that so I was hoping he’d do something like he did because he felt like a nice horse – he was that size at two. “The race was straightforward, it felt like there was a good pace on and he jumped well. My lad was a little fresh, but as the race developed he relaxed. When we came up the middle, everyone had a fair go at it. “When I got to Wayne (Lordan, on Action) it felt like I was going to go away and win by a length or two, but when he got there he just had a little think and a look and went a little left.” It is, of course, hard to imagine two more different tracks than York and Epsom. Apart from both being left-handed, that is where the similarities end, but as Keane says, Item has given connections absolutely no reason not to go. “I don’t think the trip will be a problem, but obviously Epsom is an unknown, up and down and a hard test, but he’ll give himself every chance as he’s well balanced and travels so well. For a big colt he’s very relaxed,” said Keane. “You couldn’t put anyone off going for the Derby after that, taking on horses with a run on his third career start. “He can only improve, obviously Epsom is a different test, but you don’t know until you go there. “They (Legacy Link and Item) can’t do any more than they’ve done, so fingers crossed they get there in one piece.” Keane has an impressive record on the Knavesmire, Item was his fifth winner from just 18 rides. As well as the Musidora and Dante he has also won the Ebor, City of York Stakes and Melrose. “I’ve had some good days at York, it’s a great track, it’s a lovely place to ride and on a nice horse it makes it a lot easier,” he said. “Getting to ride these horses with these pedigrees and competing in these big races is what it is all about.”
