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- Back-to-back trebles landed by Keane
Michael Graham
Back-to-back trebles landed by Keane
Song Of Namibia forges on from Sister Blandina
© Photo Healy Racing
Ger Lyons' Song Of Namibia readily hunted down the favourite Sister Blandina to take the extended mile and three handicap in Limerick.
Sister Blandina (11/8) attempted to see them off from the front under Denis Lenihan but Song Of Namibia started to reel her in during the final quarter of a mile.
He took over at furlong pole and had too much in his locker as he passed the post three and a half lengths to the good at 7/1.
Jockey Colin Keane said: "He did it well. He had the blinkers on him for the first time and better ground seems to have brought the improvement out in him. He travelled real strong the whole way round and he quickened away well.
"He's only had three runs for us. I'm sure he would be a lovely dual-purpose horse to go jumping with as well. Off that run I'd say he would have no problem getting further. I'd say nice ground with blinkers are a big key to him, to help him concentrate."
Assistant trainer Shane Lyons added: "You can draw a line through his run at Tipperary as the ground was very heavy and as they turned into the straight, there was a set of stalls on the inside of the track and ran off the track looking at them.
"He handled the ground today very well and will get further. He doesn't want extremes of ground and we'll have fun for the summer on proper nice ground, over that trip and further.
"David Spratt (owner) is a very good man at sourcing these horses and he has a share in him with his father-in-law George O'Riordan. It was George's first involvement in a racehorse but unfortunately he's gone to the Munster match today but he'll be delighted with the win."
This gave Keane back-to-back trebles after he booted home three winners in Dundalk last night. Today's treble paid 150/1.
Song Of Namibia gave Ger Lyons another double following on from Dundalk.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes