Suzie Songs in tune to upset Flushing Meadows

Colin Keane conjured a fine tune from Suzie Songs to edge out Flushing Meadows in a thrilling finish to the Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.

Keane and trainer Ger Lyons may have been disappointed to see Lady Iman lose her unbeaten record only 35 minutes earlier but quickly gained their revenge on Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore with the Moyglare Stud-owned daughter of Starspangledbanner.

A winner on debut at Cork, Suzie Songs was sent off the 7-2 second-favourite for this Group Three event and it was the market principals who came to the fore inside the final furlong, as Suzie Songs and 1-4 favourite Flushing Meadows engaged in a duel to the finishing post, with only a short head separating the pair at the finish.

Lyons had won the race with his Group One star Babouche 12 months ago and was delighted to find the scoresheet once again, as he now eyes stepping up in trip for the Moyglare Stud Stakes back at the Curragh in September.

He said: “It was a last-minute decision (to run), but the beautiful thing about training for Moyglare is you are allowed to do that, there are no set plans.

“I’m blessed with owners like that, I wake up and I change my mind and do whatever.

“We were watching the entries, it wasn’t the plan and she hasn’t worked since Cork and I just threw her in.

“I thought it got to her today so we’ll give her a wee break and we’ll come back for the Moyglare. It’s a race I’d love to put on the CV.

“We’ve a horse last night that ran well (Justiciar) and this filly. We have a nice bunch of horses heading that route.

“Colin said in Cork that she wanted further and sticking to the original plan her next race would have been seven, but this presented itself during the week with no entries, so here we are.”