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Punchestown 2024
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Poignant win for Fitzpatrick family
Coeur D'Amour wins under Colin Keane
© Photo Healy Racing
After Pat Smullen's win in the opener at Ballybrit, Colin Keane struck back to go one up again in the race to be champion jockey. Keane landed race four, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden (Plus 10 Race) on Coeur D'Amour.
Owner Joseph Fitzpatrick enjoyed a couple of successes back in the spring with the Tom Mullins-trained Repare Mon at Dundalk.
He has Zoffany filly Coeur D'Amour in training with Madeleine Tylicki, and the juvenile was coming here after showing plenty on debut when ninth at the Curragh on August 20th.
The 7/2 chance came forward from that to upstage Big Bad Sal and Himmah inside the last. She triumphed by a length and three parts and a head.
"Billy (Lee) gave her a perfect education at the Curragh first time out and she has come on a lot. She does everything very well at home and she is taking everything into her stride," explained Madeleine Tylicki.
"She's a big frame of a horse still, she's 16.2hh but has a lovely big stride and handled the ground and track really well. The main thing is that she is a lovely horse for next year.
"This today is really about Jonathan Fitzpatrick who is actually the breeder and owner along with his parents Joe and Sharon (from Kilkenny) but about a month ago, Jonathan (23) passed away.
"He never got to see her run so it's quite emotional for everyone. This means a huge amount for the family and Jonathan would have got a great kick out of this today. I'm sure where ever he is looking down on us, he is just as proud of the filly."
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Aqtaar trained by D. K. Weld, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(TW & EM)