Collins saddles first winner at his home track

Meath-based trainer Cian Collins has enjoyed visits to his native county at Killarney this year and he struck again with Arabian King in the Treo Eile Retraining Ireland’s Racehorses Handicap at Listowel.

The New Approach gelding, gaining a sixth career win but his first since joining Collins earlier this year, travelled well when getting a lovely split between horses early in the straight.

The dual-purpose seven-year-old was ridden to lead a furlong out by Colin Keane and kept on strongly in the closing stages to beat Viceregent by four and three-quarter lengths. Zileo was a further length and a half back in third.

Collins said, "I'm from Tralee and I've always wanted to have a winner here, so at last! I ran a few last year but they didn't win. This horse has been running well all along but didn't get luck in running and Colin was very good on him.

"It is a great syndicate from Offaly who will enjoy it - there was four members but I think there are 24 now! They were previously involved with One Cool Poet (triple-Galway festival winner in 2019) so it is great to get a Listowel winner.

"He is a big, fun horse who will mix between flat and hurdles now and could go over and back to England.

"I have 40 horses in training, have a great team working including Davy Condon and have the best of lads riding out."

Collins won the valuable Oyster Tavern Handicap Hurdle with Mighty Tom at Killarney in May.

Quotes by Tom Weekes