VICHY De Moem, as so often before over the past two seasons, made top-class opposition look ordinary at Dundalk’s first ever PMU meeting, last Sunday, June 4th.
The four races beamed live to France were worth €3,000 to the winner, with €7,000 across all placings right down to sixth, which was a major step forward in the sport.
Trailing in the fourth line of 14 runners, Vichy De Moem and Alan Richardson gradually crept into contention and actually won more snugly than the half-a-length announced would suggest. The win makes it 1-1 between the pride of Coleraine and Alan Wallace’s Ultimo d’Ouville, not disgraced in second.
Racing began with three races for three-year-olds. Not surprisingly, experience and form won out as the opening race went to ‘Mr Dundalk’ Martin Loughran, with recent Portmarnock winner Epsom De Corvees.
For a brief while it looked like the Cooley reinsman was going to run riot at his local track. With hindsight, however, his runners (no further winners) were probably over-bet on the rest of the card.
The second three-year-old event went to Sean Kane’s exciting prospect Ella Lou Lou who looks a real natural. Eve Du Parc picked up the cheque for second on a day where Billy Roche could be forgiven for thinking his luck was out.
The third leg of the younger horses’ races tested the officials’ knowledge of the rules. Market principal El Tejar (Alan Wallace) made a typical novice skip leaving the gate.
As befits one of Wallace’s experience, he allowed the good looking son of In Love With You to find his rhythm. In the straight they were outrun by the Kenmare entry Expert Du Loisir (Seamus Quill). As the break was for fewer than 15 strides, El Tejar was allowed to keep second place.
The meeting had a break of nearly two hours between race three and the onset of the four PMU races, a feature that didn’t sit well with the paying public. Hopefully this can be avoided in future meetings. The gap was to facilitate the live broadcast in France, so you’d have to say it was for the greater good.
The four PMU races were worth the wait. At time of writing, the feedback from Paris was that €700,000 was bet in the four PMU races. Hopefully the off-track viewers enjoyed the fare as much as the plentiful attendance.
Following the victory of betting ring favourite Vichy De Moem, the next event was a chance for Alan Wallace, just touched off by Vichy, to cause an upset. The living and the dead backed Alineka Darche (Donal Murphy) and inside the final furlong they were counting their money when the mare broke when looking all over the winner.
Three others then made for the line with ‘Spadge’ Wallace coming coolly down the outside rail with Balarou Des Iles to collect. Beach De Bellouet (Noel Ryan) ran well for new connections and should pay her way this season.
The Kingdom men made it a double when Ariane Des Tithaus (Seamus Quill) showed a good turn of foot to take the D to F grade.
Billy Roche finally shook of his ‘seconditis’ in the closer when Balzac De Villiars ran out the winner from Bolero De La Fye with the luckless Donal Murphy.
The 2013 World Champion driver Pierre Vercruysse of France drew a blank on the day but was reported to be impressed with the level of fitness of the runners.
IHRA chairman Mark Flanagan was interviewed over the PA and explained that it takes most countries seven years to achieve full PMU status, yet “thanks to the team around me” Ireland has made the grade in just three years.
RESULTS – DUNDALK
SUNDAY JUNE 4TH
Div One 3yos: 1 Epsom de Corvees (M Loughran), 2 Epsom d’Occagnes (A Malone), 3 Excal Parc (S Kane). Dist 4l, 14½l Time 2.54.1
Div Two 3yos: 1 Ella Lou Lou (S Kane), 2 Eve du Parc (B Roche), 3 En Vue (P Kane). Dist 4l, 15½l Time 2.56.8
Div Three 3yos:: 1 Expert Du Loisir (S Quill), 2 El Tejar (A Wallace jnr), 3 Epice De La Goutte (JJ Mc Leod). Dist ¾l, 11¾l Time 2.54.1
Race Four Prix de Dundalk: 1 Vichy De Moem (A Richardson), 2 Ultimo d’Ourville (A Wallace snr), 3 Tenor Meslois (D Murphy). Dist ½l, 1l Time 2.40.4
Race Five Prix de Portmarnock: 1 Balarou Des Iles (A Wallace snr), 2 Beach De Bellouet (N Ryan), 3 Socrate Du Noyer (C Brickley). Dist 1l, 1½l Time 2.43.4
Race Six Prix de Cork: 1 Ariane Des Tithais (S Quill), 2 Tonic Scott (L Darling), 3 Saxo De Marrancourt (S Kane). Dist ¾l, 8½l Time 2.42.6
Race Seven Prix de Annaghmore: 1 Balzac De Villiars (B Roche), 2 Bolero De La Fye (D Murphy), 3 Brutenor (P Hill). Dist 1¾l, 10¾l Time 2.41.0
The next Portmarnock meeting, Sunday, 11th June at 3pm