The Mean Queen and John O'Neill© Photo Healy Racing
Keri Brion's Irish adventure ended with a second winner at Wexford today as the American trainer sent out her final runner this winter The Mean Queen which landed the Slaney River (Mares) Maiden Hurdle.
Jonathan Sheppard was registered trainer of Baltimore Bucko, the first American-trained jumps runner in Ireland at Limerick in December, with rookie handler Brion taking over from the now-retired American Hall of Fame trainer in January.
Brion broke her duck with bumper winner Scorpion's Revenge at Cork last Sunday and today doubled her score with The Mean Queen, her 12th runner, who easily won under amateur jockey John O'Neill.
Brion, currently based in Enniscorthy but returning to Maryland, reported “I’m going out with a bang as I’m heading back to America on Sunday and there are nine horses including this mare coming back with me.
“It’s been a great last week. I’d say we’ll come back again now that I have a better idea what it takes and what kind of horses you want and whatnot.
“The owners seem to get a kick out of it and hopefully next year they can actually come over and be at the races which would be fun.”
Regarding The Mean Queen, she added “she’s a really good mare. She had a bad trip at Down Royal where she was unlucky and got cut off turning for home and obviously the form worked out yesterday at Aintree (with Arthur Moore's Me Too Please winning).
“I expected a big run from her today and she didn’t disappoint. She’s always been a great jumper and has won a point-to-point. She’s had plenty of schooling and the jumping has always been spot on.
“We were going to try and win a bumper with her rather than a maiden hurdle but the owner has bought a bunch of mares as he has a broodmare operation and I have a couple to take home to try and break their maidens in America. We figured we’d try to break her maiden here and then go on to bigger things in America.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
