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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Keane doubles up on Complete Fiction but sting in the tail

Thu 15th Jun 2023, 20:32

Complete Fiction and Colin Keane are led in by owner Triona Burbage, right, with mum Catherine and dad Patrick Complete Fiction and Colin Keane are led in by owner Triona Burbage, right, with mum Catherine and dad Patrick
© Photo Healy Racing

Complete Fiction was another horse to come from stone last to lift the spoils in the second divide of the 1m1f handicap at Leopardstown - a race he plundered last year.

Colin Keane got to work on him on the sweeping bend into the straight and the pair made headway on the outer at the two marker.

Complete Fiction made eye-catching progress between the two and the one poles and stormed into contention to worry the leaders in the final 150 yards.

He grabbed the lead in the closing stages and won going away by a length and a-half at 4/1 from 10/1 Reverberation Skontonovski was a head back in third at 14/1.

This gave Keane a brace of winners on the card as was also successful on Mobilise in the Keywest Handicap over a mile. There was a sting in the tail in that race, though, as he was handed a seven-day ban for improper riding. In relation to the suspension and a possible appeal, Keane said: "I suppose we will have to sit down and look through it and talk to who we need to. It is not ideal, but sure we'll see."

Trainer Jarlath Fahey said of Complete Fiction: “Colin was very patient on him, he said they went hard so he just sat. He did something similar when he won last year, he came from well back, flew up the outside and did it nicely.

“Obviously he likes being fresh and well in himself but, in fairness to him, last year he held his form for most of the year.

“We'll see where we go from here, but he's at a level and if we can keep him in that area he might pick up another race.

“A lot of times it's down to himself, what he decides during the race, whether he'll go for it or not.

“It's great to win the race two years in a row. Triona rides him out herself and looks after him, she led him up. Her family are here today so it's great that he decided to go and win for us.”

Complete Fiction is now two from four in Flat races at Leopardstown and, indeed, he was placed in the other two races.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
4/1
Tote €5.10 €1.90
2nd
1.5L
10/1
€3.10
3rd
hd
14/1
€2.30
4th
2.5L
16/1
bf
0.75L
2/1Fav
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.