3 minute read

Visiting Irish hoop 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 Monday’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.

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.

"I'd like to get a winner or two on the board, I'm just starting to get a few more rides so I thought I'd stay a bit longer,'' Coen said.

"I've settled down into the style of racing, I've had a couple of seconds.

"I always knew I wasn't going to come half way across the world and just jump on a winner straight away. Especially when it is so competitive in Sydney.

"It's about letting people know I'm here and showing if I can get on the right horse I'm able to do the job.

"John's been very good to me, he's kept me on Lion's Roar after he ran so well in The Ingham. 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 that ride was a big help when it came to The Ingham, and the Ingham run 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, so he obviously likes the place,'' 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 got a lovely pitch just one off the rail the whole way and he travelled sweetly.

"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, $8 with TAB on Sunday, has drawn the inside barrier in the Summer Cup and Coen said it won't influence him to change how he's ridden on Monday but it will allow an economical run early, especially considering he'll carry top weight of 58kg.

He's one of three runners in the Boxing Day feature for O'Shea alongside Diamil, who was a shade unlucky in The Ingham, and the grey Berdibek.

"He's probably going to be ridden similarly anyway because he likes to get back a bit and get a bit of cover, to come with one clear run,'' Coen said.

"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."