Ben Curtis makes breakthrough at top level with victory in First Lady Stakes at Keeneland

Ben Curtis’s decision to relocate himself and his family to the US paid a big dividend on Saturday when he made the Grade 1 breakthrough aboard Simply In Front in the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland.

The jockey was a multiple Group winner in Britain but had never managed to gain success at the top level, but he achieved that in just his second year in the US when he carved through the field on the Eddie Kenneally-trained 131-10 chance to take the £367,040 pot.

It was a fitting victory given the early support that Kenneally had given him. Curtis told Bloodhorse: "It's great to come over here and get a big win like this for Eddie because he put me on a lot of winners and really got me established.

"I came over for Eddie many moons ago. In the winter, there was no racing in Ireland, so I came over and worked for him."

Curtis found daylight when he needed it to come from the rear and get home in front by a neck from the Juddmonte-owned Segesta in second. It was just his second ride on the four-year-old filly, having finished runner-up in a Grade 2 at Kentucky Downs in late August.

“The key was to get her to relax," Curtis said. "We've seen that finish she's produced a few times, at Ellis and Churchill. She really closes up the stretch. So I gave her every chance and when a seam came, I put her in there and she did the rest. I just enjoyed the ride. She's a filly who enjoys her job."

A former champion apprentice rider in Ireland and Royal Ascot winner, Curtis has gradually built a reputation with US trainers and is a regular rider in the top races. Just two months ago, he won the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes aboard Giocoso for trainer Keith Desormeaux. 

Kenneally said Simply In Front will have one more run this season. He said: "She'll run at Del Mar on Breeders' Cup weekend, possibly the Goldikova. But we'll talk to John [Brnjas of Colebrook Farms] and his family and they may look at the boys' race, the Breeders' Cup Mile. Fillies have won that before, and it's a flat mile."

Read more . . .

British-based Qatari rider secures biggest win of his career aboard Wathnan runner in Canadian International 

Frankie Dettori does it again as he rockets from last to first on Charlie Hills stalwart Khaadem at Keeneland 

Derby-winning rider Adam Kirby reveals plans to become a trainer 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.