Champion Keane collects in Cork's opening maiden

Group 1-entered Magnum Force justified strong 10/11 favouritism to win Cork's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden under champion jockey Colin Keane today, scoring for trainer Ger Lyons.

The Mehmas colt had finished second on debut at Naas last month and today quickened smartly from mid-field when eventually beating runner-up Bobbi Rosa by 1.75 lengths.

Lyons' assistant and brother Shane Lyons reported “we were disappointed he got beaten the last day but it rained, the ground became a little slow and he was stuffy and ran like he needed it.

“He showed a lot of speed the last day so we brought him back to five (furlongs) and he again showed plenty of speed today and loved that summer quick ground.”

He added “we didn't put him in the Listed race (at the Curragh) tomorrow for the simple reason we wanted to come here and take baby steps but he has done what we wanted and expected him to do from his home work.

“Entries for the (Group 1) Middle Park Stakes closed the other day so we had that choice to make and entered him, but we'll take baby steps up now, although winners' races are few and far between.”