Carraroe flies in again for Keatley & Corby

Carraroe Flyer has proved a real flag-bearer for trainer Adrian Keatley this year, and recorded her fourth win in the space of three months when taking the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Handicap at Dundalk.

Sean Corby produced the 12/1 chance to lead just under two furlongs out, and the star apprentice could afford to take things easy inside the final furlong as his mount comfortably beat 7/4 favourite Notable Graduate by three lengths. Shamiran was another three and a half lengths away in third.

Two of the four-year-old’s previous wins this term have come at Ayr, and it was not surprising to learn afterwards that she will head back to the Scottish venue.

Keatley said, “She is progressive, and I thought she would do that today. In the Curragh I asked Sean to drop her out and it was the wrong way to ride her. She was fierce unlucky the way that race was run as they went slow and she was caught in behind horses.

“We will probably go to Ayr for a two-mile race on Gold Cup day, and hopefully she will come back for the Cesarewitch.”

This two-mile event was noteworthy beforehand as it marked the one hundredth and final start of dual-purpose gelding Beau Michael However there was no fairytale ending as he faded early in the straight to finish eleventh.

(AM & GC)