Hawke does Ballygallon and Murtagh proud

In his bid for a Dundalk treble, Colin Keane travelled into the Listed Carlingford Stakes, aboard the patiently handled Elusive Heights like a dream in the straight. However anyone that prematurely reckoned on the hat-trick being landed didn't bargain for the determination shown by 5/4 favourite Hawke who landed the spoils under Pat Smullen.

It's been a great alliance to date - the one forged between Hawke's owners, Ballygallon Stud, and trainer Johnny Murtagh - and Hawke put a cherry on top here with a second course and distance win.

He'd finished third here at Group 3 level on his latest outing on September 30th, and the victorious four-year-old, bred in County Kilkenny by Ballygallon, also went through the race smoothly before finding plenty to beat Elusive Heights by a length and three parts. The runner-up's fellow Ger Lyons participant, Tennessee Wildcat was a length and a half back in third.

"That's great. He's in the horses-in-training but I thought he might be a horse for Dubai," said Murtagh.

"If he doesn't go to the horses-in-training he could be a horse for the Dubai Carnival.

"Pat said he handles the surface really well. He said he travelled well, got there a bit soon today but he had his momentum up and he quickened well and put the race to bed."

(GC & EM)