'It's a weight off your shoulders' - Colin Keane breaks Royal Ascot duck on Villanova Queen

You don't become Irish champion jockey – four times – without being able to ride very well and Colin Keane finally proved the point to Royal Ascot racegoers on Villanova Queen.

The 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022 titleholder has won three Classics in his home country and also triumphed on the biggest stage of all thanks to Tarnawa at the Breeders' Cup.

Yet he had never won at this meeting, where he was 0-30 in the last five years, and his prospects of making it 1-31 in the Kensington Palace Stakes did not appear great on a 25-1 shot who had been well held on her previous two starts.

But Keane, who got the ride because Shane Foley was injured, settled the filly perfectly and carried out trainer Jessica Harrington's instructions to the letter, bringing her with a sustained challenge on the outside of the field, timing it to the second as his mount hit the front close home.

Villanova Queen (Colin Keane) repels several challengers to win the fillies' handicapCredit: Edward Whitaker

Keane's first thought was for his injured colleague and he said: "It’s very unfortunate for Shane but fingers crossed he’ll be back for the Irish Derby. I’m very grateful for the opportunity.

"It’s very satisfying because I’ve been coming here a couple of years now and last year I went down by a nose or a head. It’s very sweet to get your head in front. I suppose it's a weight off your shoulders. It's the biggest stage in racing, you're coming here year in, year out trying to get one."

It was a very tight finish, with less than two lengths covering the first seven home, but Keane said: "It was very straightforward. Mrs Harrington said ride her wherever she relaxes. There was a lot of pace on early doors and I just let her find her feet.

"Mrs Harrington said, ‘Whatever you do, try and come with one sweeping run and keep it smooth'. It worked out for us. She’s probably a stakes filly having her first run in a handicap and they make it easier for you."

Villanova Queen and Colin Keane after winning the Kensington Palace Fillies' handicapCredit: Edward Whitaker

Villanova Queen was a fourth Royal Ascot winner for Harrington, all of whose victories have come in races confined to fillies and mares as her previous successes have been achieved in the Coronation Stakes (twice) and the Ribblesdale.   

The trainer, who is fighting breast cancer, watched the race from Nicky Henderson's yard and daughter Kate Harrington said: "It means an awful lot to the whole team to have a Royal Ascot winner and it's a good tonic for mum as well.

"Mum is at Nicky Henderson's. She was here yesterday and just took one day off but she's all good and will be back tomorrow. She'll be celebrating and will have the champagne on ice for when Nicky gets home this evening." 

She added: "I thought she had a good chance dropping back from Group and Listed company into a handicap. On her last run she didn't get the clearest of runs and the time before that the ground was a bit soft at Leopardstown. She picked up an injury after the 1,000 Guineas last year and it's great to get her back. We knew this was in her and it's onwards and upwards for the rest of the season."

Jack Mitchell, who rode his first Royal Ascot winner on Royal Champion on Tuesday, was beaten just half a length on runner-up Don't Tell Claire and said: “Nearly a second one – I got a bit excited at the furlong pole! She battled all the way to the line – she’s done nothing wrong."

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