Crossword Genius

Mounts donkey, keeping colt to last (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ascends

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'mounts' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'donkey keeping colt to last' is the wordplay.
'donkey' becomes 'ass' (ass is a term for a donkey).
'keeping' indicates putting letters inside.
'colt' becomes 'c' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'to last' becomes 'end' (I've seen this in another clue).
'c'+'end'='cend'
'ass' going around 'cend' is 'ASCENDS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ascends that I've seen before include "Moves upwards" , "Rises" , "Travels upwards" , "Climbs, mounts" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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