Colin Keane booked for She’s Quality’s Breeders’ Cup challenge

Jack Davison has booked Colin Keane to partner star sprinter She’s Quality at Del Mar, as the Irishman fulfils a longheld dream of saddling a fancied runner at the Breeders’ Cup.

It will be the Dunboyne handler’s first runner at the American showpiece and an event he has wanted to be part of since a young age.

He now finally gets the opportunity with his ultra-consistent performer, who has been an ever-present at the business end of some of the season’s hottest sprints and could cap a fine campaign in the most fitting way in California when she tackles the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

“Hopefully it’s a fruitful trip and we’re looking forward to it,” said Davison.

“She’s been great all year and it would just be amazing if she could go and win in America. I think conditions will suit and I’m just really looking forward to it and it’s a very exciting time for us.

“It’s been a dream of mine to have a runner at the Breeders’ Cup with a chance and it looks like it’s going to happen, so that is great.

“The Breeders’ Cup has always been a highlight of my year since I was a kid and it’s a championship meeting. I love all the hype around it and I’m proud to have a European contender against the American team that I think has a chance.

“It’s been a long journey to this point, but I think we’re going there with the right horse and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

She’s Quality has only once finished outside the top four this term and picked up a silver medal on four occasions, while she was last seen finishing third in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

The four-year-old has been partnered by James Ryan on all of those occasions, but Davison has reached for the experience of Juddmonte’s retained rider Keane this time, a man who is a seasoned veteran of the Breeders’ Cup these days and found the scoresheet for Ger Lyons at the meeting last year.

“Colin Keane is going to ride and we were all feeling we would like to use a jockey who has experience there and who has ridden winners at the Breeders’ Cup,” continued Davison.

“We didn’t think there was any point looking any further than Colin Keane. He’s had significant success for me in the past and won me a Group Two on Mooneista and he’s a phenomenal rider and I’m looking forward to legging him up.”