Quick, and important, double for Sam Coen After winning race three on Suir Monad, Sam Coen quickly doubled up on Jasmine Affinalis in the Killarney Student Raceday Handicap over a mile. The Highland Reel four-year-old was recording her second success, but it was far from straightforward for Coen. His mount was in mid-division when checked on the bottom bend and found herself behind a wall of horses two furlongs. This season’s leading apprentice (now four clear in the title race) managed to find a clear passage and the winner led early in the final furlong, only for Coen’s whip to go flying over 100 yards out. It wasn’t really needed at that stage, though, as Jasmine Affinalis had enough in hand to defeat the staying-on Nibras Rainbow by half a length. “She likes this place as she had previously run here three times and finished second each run,” said winning trainer David Marnane "James Gormley, a friend of mine in Dubai, and his family bred her and they've had fun (being involved in the A Touch Of Leather Syndicate) with her. She is good in that grade." He added "I'm delighted for Sam, who we've known since before he was a jockey and I'm glad to help him in the apprentice jockeys' title. "I must say, and in fairness to Sam, that he had only a small saddle claiming off top-weight today, so it would be a big achievement if he were to become champion. It would be remarkable to win it by not being a lightweight, and he is a very talented rider." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
