Lust and Colin Keane (centre) beats from Diadora (right)© Photo Healy Racing
The Ger Lyons-trained gelding Lust knuckled down gamely to land the spoils in the Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas after a protracted duel with Diadora
The pair battled it out for the length of the straight in the seven-furlong contest, having disputed throughout, and there was still little between them inside the final furlong.
Colin Keane just extracted a bit more from Lust late on as the Newtown Anner-owned gelding asserted close home for a length-and-a-quarter win over his fellow 5/2 joint-favourite.
The winner had progressed from handicap company and chased home Raadobarg in a hot conditions race at Tipperary last time.
“He's a good tough horse. His brother was a lovely horse and unfortunately we lost him last winter,” said Lyons. “Unfortunately for Maurice the dam is gone as well.”
“This lad is hard on himself and he's a hard horse to train, he's not an easy ride and Martin Mooney does a great job on him at home trying to keep a lid on him.
“Seven furlongs and stepping him up in class where there are fewer runners suits him and going round a bend suits him.
“Ideally he wants soft ground so they've done a fantastic job here on the ground.
“He's just tough out and gets that trip really well, he's really a proper miler but he doesn't help himself.
“We'll make it up as we go along and he'll tell us. Ideally his season might cool down now and we'll look at the autumn.
“He has a little issue with his wind and we try and rectify that this time of year every year.
“You're always looking at Champions Weekend and working from there. I had planned on giving him a semi-break as he's hard on himself.”
