KEANE STRIKES

COLIN Keane made the perfect start as Juddmonte retained jockey when Blue Bolt recorded a bloodless victory at Newbury yesterday.

- RUAIRI MURPHY

It was the first time the six-time Irish champion had donned the famous colours of the Abdullah family since his appointment was announced on Monday, as he took the reins aboard Andrew Balding's Windsor scorer Blue Bolt, who was sent off the 6-4 second-favourite for the Darley EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

The Meath native left little to chance with a positive ride and having asked his mount to quicken and put the race to bed passing the two-furlong pole, Blue Bolt soon put distance between his rivals.