Mutasarref and Colin Keane © Photo Healy Racing
The Ger Lyons trained Mutasarref registered the 10th win of his career when staying on strongly under Colin Keane to win the Listed Navigation Stakes at Cork.
Having produced what was arguably a career best effort when runner-up in a Group 2 at Leopardstown on Champions Weekend, the six-year-old returned to winning ways here.
Tracking the leaders in third, Keane was content to look on as Wayne Lordan took the five runners along on Dublin
Moving up to go second over two furlongs out, Keane went in pursuit of the leaders with a furlong left to race.
Finding plenty for pressure on the rain softened ground, Mutasarref headed Dublin before keeping on well to justify 5/4f by a length.
Ger Lyons said: "This is Eleanora's (Kennedy) last hurrah for the season as she heads back to the States this week, so goes out with a winner. She has had a lovely summer and Mutasarref has been a star. Today was for Eleanora as she asked me to have one ready before October 5.
"How do you get horses like that as, 'ya-I'll-have-a-horse-for-you' and the next thing is they have a stone bruise, a temperature or the ground is wrong or else the trainer's in a bad mood! He has done everything and more, has danced every jig and has kept a smile on our faces."
He added "it was straightforward and with having Colin on your side, you know you're in safe hands. He kept it simple, took a lead and put his head in front when he needed to, that's what he has been doing all his career on that horse.
"He is a legend of a horse and fellas are up at the sales in Goffs this week spending millions, so what would they give to find one of him?
"Hopefully he isn't finished for the year but it depends on the ground as he doesn't want heavy."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
