By Ray Hickson
Visiting Irish jockey Ben Coen is hoping to repay trainer John O’Shea’s faith and give his extended stay in Sydney a kick along when he partners Lion’s Roar in today’s Group 3 $200,000 Chandon Summer Cup (2000m).
The 21-year-old, who has a Group 1 Irish St Leger win on his CV, was initially set to head home at the end of the year but has decided to stick around until mid-February having taken a little while to adjust.
Ben Coen pilots Lion’s Roar in the Summer Cup.Credit:Getty
Coen went within a head of scoring what would have been his biggest win from a prizemoney perspective when Lion’s Roar finished second to stablemate Kirwan’s Lane in the $2 million The Ingham (1600m) two weeks ago.
“John’s been very good to me, he’s kept me on Lion’s Roar after he ran so well in The Ingham,” he said. “It was unreal to get on a horse to run so well in a race like that.”
Lion’s Roar was a high class three-year-old, winning the Group 1 Randwick Guineas and finishing a close third in the Group 1 ATC Derby in 2021. He had a mixed spring last year and missed the autumn when he picked up a joint injury.
Coen had his first ride on the now five-year-old in his second-up run in the Festival Stakes and he said The Ingham was a confidence boost heading into the most suitable race he’ll contest in his comeback campaign.
“He’s been out for a long while and he’s only coming back to form now but the ability is definitely there and his form around Randwick is very good,″ Coen said.
“I thought he ran okay at Rosehill and John was happy with him going into the run at Randwick. He was spot on and he ran a cracker. I thought at the 300m when I got out into the clear he was really going to pick up and go on to win the race.”
The gelding has drawn the inside barrier in the Summer Cup and Coen said it won’t influence him to change how he’s ridden but it will allow an economical run early, especially considering he’ll carry top weight of 58kg.
“I thought everything went smooth the other day, it’s just he probably needs that bit further now. I think the step up to 2000m will suit.”
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
