Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Additional reporting by Gary Carson The Abbey Road Handicap (Div I) saw Colin Keane complete a 725/1 treble as Rockview Empress (10/1) stayed on strongly to win by four lengths.
Keane rode the Lope De Vega filly three quarters of the way back before asking her to improve from two furlongs out.
She relished the hill and hit the front inside the final furlong before going clear. Ben Alexander (14/1) was second with Gormanston and Foreign Legion completing the frame. The 5/2 favourite Sienna Lady finished twelfth.
The winner was a staying-on fourth at Bellewstown last month on her second start in handicaps and was winning here off a mark of 54.
Today’s treble puts Keane on 52 winners for the season, 13 behind table topper Shane Foley.
Winning trainer John McConnell (third winner in the last seven days) said: “She's gradually been getting the hang of things and the trainer has gradually found what trip she wants as well.
“She's a big sparely made filly and we hope she is improving. We won't over-race her and then we'll put her away until next year.
“She's from quite a good family and is a sister to a black-type horse (Great Dancer, a maiden winner for Michael Halford and later Grade 3-placed at Belmont Park) so she has a bit of value as a broodmare anyway.
“There is still improvement in her and I'm delighted. It's another good ride from the main man.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
