Kirwan’s Lane backed up from his Boxing Day victory six days ago to give trainer John O’Shea and his connections more festive cheer on New Year’s Day.
Kirwan’s Lane gave connections more reason to celebrate the festive season when he scored his second city win in six days at Randwick’s Kensington New Year’s Day meeting on Saturday.
Trainer John O’Shea described Kirwan’s Lane as a “great little horse” after he careered away with the Maroubra Mile (1550m).
This success came six days after the tough gelding scored over the Randwick 1600m course on Boxing Day.
“If I had a stable full of Kirwan’s Lanes life would be much easier,’’ O’Shea said.
“He has a great turn of speed and up to the mile (1600m) he is very, very effective.
“He’s a genuine conveyance, that’s his eighth win, and he has a great ownership group headed by Ron Finemore.
“I’ve been training for Ron for 20 years now, he’s a great friend and client which makes this win so satisfying.’’
Kirwan’s Lane ($2.90 favourite) won by the narrowest of margins on Boxing Day but made it look easy on the quick back-up as he opened up a widening winning margin of 1½ lengths from Purple Sector ($5) with three-quarters of a length to Bigboyroy ($4.40).
It’s not often horses back-up within a week in the metropolitan area these days but O’Shea deliberately set Kirwan’s Lane for the “public holiday double”.
“I thought he looked a little new in the enclosure on Boxing Day,’’ O’Shea said.
“You could see the run brought him on nicely. He was going so well at home that I thought why not race him again on his home track.
“So, coming here today I thought he would run even better today and he has.
“We will give him a break now, he will go to the paddock with another deserved win today.
“He’s the type of horse to potter around with and look at races like the Hawkesbury Cup and Scone Cup after the Sydney autumn carnival.’’
Star Sydney apprentice Tom Sherry partnered Kirwan’s Lane in both wins since Christmas and agreed with O’Shea’s assessment the gelding was better again on New Year’s Day.
“Kirwan’s Lane has backed up really well, obviously Mr O’Shea and the team has done a classic job,’’ Sherry said.
“I reckon he’s raced better today than he did a week ago. He’s racing really well, had a couple of unlucky runs early doors, but’s a nice horse going forward, he’s progressing really well.
“Riding him on Boxing Day, I really had to get out and chase hard but today he took me into the race.
“He ripped through the line, it was a really good win and obviously the time’s suggested that as well.’’
Meanwhile, trainer Gerald Ryan suggested emerging stayer Oceanic Flash could be a Sydney Cup contender next year after his tough effort in the Heineken 3 Handicap (2400m).
Oceanic Flash ($9) has stormed through the grades this preparation, scoring his fourth win from his last five starts after he fought hard to hold off Born A King ($7) and win by a head with the consistent Black Queen ($8.50) three-quarters of a length away third.
Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou, believes Oceanic Flash has staying potential but needs more time to mature and is hopeful he will measure up to the Sydney Cup at the 2023 autumn carnival.
Born and raised at Waikato Stud in New Zealand, Oceanic Flash is a son of Chris Waller’s dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls and is stoutly-bred on his dam’s side.
Oceanic Flash is out of Pinot Gris, who is a daughter of Pentire, the sire of Michelle Payne‘s $101 Melbourne Cup winner, Prince Of Penzance.
The Oceanic Flash‘s fifth dam, Petrouchka, is by Zamazaan, the sire of Beau Zam, Lord Reims, Veloso, Phizam, Chagemar and Affinity.
Originally published as Maroubra Mile: Kirwan’s Lane collects festive double after wins on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
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