Sheehy & O'Brien double up with Magellan Strait

Magellan Strait completed a short-priced double on the afternoon at Bellewstown for Mikey Sheehy and Joseph O’Brien after taking the featured Kilsaran Race.

Just three went to post for the mile and a half event in the absence of Global Energy (coughing) and it was effectively a match with 66/1 shot Power To Love fading before the straight.

Colin Keane sent 4/6 favourite Hazy Mehmory to the front at the start of the back straight but was narrowly headed by her 5/4 market rival at the two-furlong pole.

Sheehy’s mount only got on top inside the final 100 yards and had a length and a half to spare at the line with the outsider tailed off 43 lengths adrift.

O’Brien’s assistant Brendan Powell said, “Mikey said he’s genuine but he’s still a big eegit. He said the best thing that happened was Colin taking it up. At every bend he was looking out. He’s very genuine but not very quick. Even when he got to the front he jumped the road.

“I think he’s a horse that is going to progress in time and he could turn into a nice stayer next year. He’ll stay all day and could be a Cesarewitch horse next year. Ray (Grehan, owner) said he has three brothers to him.”

Sheehy and O'Brien were also on the mark earlier with 4/7 shot Native Queen in the fillies maiden.