My Mate Alfie added yet another big Curragh success with victory in the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes on Sunday.
Trained by Ger Lyons, the three-year-old has enjoyed a successful season at the track, winning the Bold Lad Sprint Handicap and the Listed Dash amongst credible efforts elsewhere. It was a straightforward victory, with jockey Colin Keane able to keep the gelding prominent throughout the six-furlong contest before taking up the lead in the final stages, recording a three-quarter length success over Big Gossey.
"He's straightforward and I'm happy to have him. He's just improved all season," said Lyons, in an interview with Racing TV.
"We said we'd teach him how to sprint all year, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. He is just after rocking up and improving all year. I think he's won what he has deserved, a Group Three.
"He couldn't get near Givemethebeatboys early in the year but the way he has improved now, if they had to meet in a match he'd have to give him six or seven pounds.
"It's a credit to the horse. We know he'll get seven, I promised the owner that if he let me do it my way this year we'd go touring next year, so I'll have to come up with a plan to get out of that one!
"He makes you look good, he's so straightforward. You'd think these sprinters are high octane and hard to deal with, but he's so laidback and I think that's the secret to his success. He's handled any ground as well."
