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Dermot Weld and Colin Keane teamed up to great effect as Tarnawa broke into victory at the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.
Keane, crowned champion rider once again in Ireland, was replacing the unfortunate Christophe Soumillon, who also missed a winning trip in Australian Order on the Breeders’ Cup Mile. It was his first trip for veteran coach Weld, who was also enjoying his first Breeders’ Cup success.
Tarnawa could have gone for the Filly & Mare Turf, but Connections chose this tougher task for the fit three-year-old, who had won the Prix Vermeille and the Prix de l’Opera in her last two outings for her owner, the Aga. Khan.
Keane had her at the back of the field as Channel Maker and United set the pace, with Aidan O’Brien’s Magical in a practical position not far behind the leader.
Channel Maker set sail home at the top of the straight, but the pack closed in in a furlong with Keane producing Tarnawa with a perfectly timed run that saw her hold Magical at bay for a length. Channel Maker was another feature length in third place.
Weld’s son Mark said: “There is nothing bigger than this. These prestigious races abroad in the fall are what we train them for and I’m sad my dad isn’t here, but the Covid situation put end to that.
“It was Colin’s first trip for us and there were no instructions. We left it completely in his hands and as soon as I saw Colin take it out, it was like a jet looking at a runway and he was gone.
“My father has been a supporter of American racing since Go and Go won the Belmont in 1990. He worked in the United States as a child and it is very special to him.”
WATCH: Filly Tarnawa (IRE) advances down the stretch to win the $ 4M @LonginesEq #Breeders Grass! Congratulations to your connections! 👏
Jockey: Colin Keane
Coach: Dermot K. Weld
Owner: HH Aga Khan
Breeder: His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs SC pic.twitter.com/qwHqwUM7op– Breeders Cup World Championships (@BreedersCup) November 7, 2020
Keane said, “Mr. Weld called me and told me what was going on, and then he called again today and said it would have been wonderful if I had sat on her earlier, because she needs a little knowledge.
“They had worked with her on the stalls while she was here and when I spoke to Oisin Orr she told me that the filly had done one of her jobs before she left Ireland.
“It’s been a brilliant year, it’s beautiful to get this win at home and it’s definitely the icing on the cake of the year we’ve had.”
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