THERE can be only one headline after the Dundalk harness racing fixture of September 11th.
Local trainer and driver Martin Loughran, based at Omeath, stole the show with a superb five-timer, and with two second place finishes as well. Leading GB commentator Darren Owen was the parade ring anchorman and he commented on the magnitude of Loughran’s achievement “at a meeting as competitive as this, not a little local meeting.”
Sunday must rank as the best day so far for the quiet and unassuming Loughran.
He was once asked on a live microphone, going behind the gate, about his horse’s chance. “I think he’ll go like hell for the first quarter and then blow up,” stated the straight-talking Louth man.
Beneath the happy-go-lucky exterior lives a serious horseman. Careful listening to Martin’s post-victory interviews with Darren Owen told the crowd that he puts a lot of thought into his drives. Like all the great drivers over the years, he can switch styles. Get out and get on, or come from behind, this was a man at the peak of his powers.
As he dominated the proceedings, we’ll deal with Loughran’s quintet first. He got off the mark with Romeo Tricastin, owned by Ciaran Brickley of Baltimore. This fellow has had issues with faulty brakes but Loughran has the hands to steady him. Randalstown runner Soprano Gede (Sean Kane) kept up his good record at Dundalk in second place.
The second leg of the five-timer came in the Prix de Lissadell Equine, this time with the mare Urmine De Mai. Loughran recounted that in the stable, he daren’t even lay a brush on her! Ariane Des Tithaus took second for Seamus Quill.
rewarded
Where there’s a trotting meeting, you’ll find the Bennetts from Crumlin. It was nice to see one of the smaller stables rewarded with a win - the only one of Martin’s five that he does not train himself.
Tommy Bennett spoke for the family. His brown and yellow horizontal stripes earned him the nickname ‘The Bumble Bee’ in his driving days. Lucky Cam (Greg Dean) stayed on well for second and will win another race soon.
In the James Quinn Transport trot, Universe Extreme (from the 10 hole), overturned favourite Balzac De Villiars (Billy Roche) for Loughran winner number four.
Finally, the diminutive coachman outbattled Fair Enough (Alan Wallace snr) with Coalford Commander, owned by Ger Cooke of Cork, to make it five on the day. Darren Owen looked genuinely excited and the Frankie Dettori comparisons were flying.
Other notable performances included an opening race win for another smaller stable. Grace Kelly was the heroine (that has a familiar ring) with her father Paul’s Lyons Super Nova. Martin Loughran had to give best on this occasion with the grey Young Deano.
The Omeath man had also to settle for the second place money with Two Score.
Two Score was backed as if defeat was out of the question. Kick Ass Katie, who actually drifted in the market, came round Two Score to win, with Coalford Silk rallying late for second. Joe Caffrey got into all the photos with Katie as her usual driver, John Richardson, was on holiday.
gamble
A good old-fashioned gamble was landed in the Templetown Transport trot. Patrick Kane jnr did the steering aboard Bobby Barry’s Twist Du Layon.
From 3/1 to 4/6 was the business. Kane noted that this was a really nice horse and was previously unlucky at Portmarnock. Tornao Josselyn (Finbar Quill) continued his recent good form as runner up.
The Whites Agri trot saw the unusual sight of a defeat for Vichy De Moem and usual partner Alan Richardson (4/6-1/2). The mare Star De Fruitier is coming into form for Noely Ryan and was the 10/1 winner.
The winner broke the track record for trotters in 2m 40.1s. Considering that Vichy De Moem was trailing 25 yards and got to within two lengths of the winner, he too raced very well. Star De Fruitier was napped by co-presenter Mick Dempsey.
The final race, the Grade A pace, went to the Leaning Demon (Jonny Dunne) aboard Matthew Roche’s Deans Alibi. The race saw another track record fall, 2m 02 and change, some clip for a one mile pace.
Kyle McSparron from Dungiven will be delighted with the game second place of Astounding, while second favourite Meadowbranch Demon (Mikey Kelleher) could only manage third.
Racing returns to Dundalk for the fourth and final time this season on Sunday, September 25th. Local success story Horseware Ireland has been secured as main sponsor.
CROCK OF GOLD
Belated congratulations are due to the Dunne stable of Co Kildare as they trained the winner of this prestigious race at Wales’s Tir Prince Raceway on August 20th.
Unfortunately, the big night was not carried by S4C television as in previous years.
The gelding Porterstown Road is owned by the Webster family who are local to the Rhyl track.
Driver Jonny Dunne was over the moon with the win as the Dunnes had previously won seven heats of the Crock of Gold without ever managing to win the final.
RESULTS
DUNDALK Sunday September 11th
Race 1: Cooley Pace Grade G & G1: 1 Lyons Super Nova/Grace Kelly 2 Young Deano/Martin Loughran 3 Brywins Magician/Sean Kane Time: 2:11.4 Dist: 1.5L
Race 2 Prix De Irlande Trot Grade E: 1 Romeo Treicastin Martin Loughran, 2 Sporano Gede Sean Kane, 3 Alienor Dupadoueng/Billy Roche Time: 2:44.9 Dist: 2L
Race 3 Boyne Pace Grade C & D: 1 Kickass Katie/Joseph Caffrey, 2 Coalford Silk/Simon Duggan, 3 Two Score/Martin Loughran Time 2:05.1 Dist: 9L
Race 4 Prix De Templetown Transport Trot Grade C & D: 1 Twist Du Layon/Patrick Kane Jnr 2 Silvano Bello/Donal Murphy 3 Tornao Josselyn/Seamus Quill Time: 2:43.7 Dist 5L
Race 5 Prix De Lisadell Equine Trot Grade B & C: 1 Urmine De Mai/Martin Loughran, 2 Arianes Des Tithais/Seamus Quill, 3 Aubade A Helene/Patrick Hill Tim: 2:41.7 Dist: 0.5L
Race 6 Louth Pace Grade E: 1 Cool Night Ayr/Martin Loughran 2 Lucky Cam/Gregory Dean, 3 Ib Maximus/Noel Ryan Time: 2:07.02 Dist: 5l
Race 7 Prix De James Quinn Transport Trot Grade E & F: 1 Universe Extreme/Martin Loughran, 2 Balzac De Villiars/Billy Roche 3 Saxo De Marancourt/Sean Kane Time: 2:43.0 Dist: 2l
Race 8 Carlingford Pace Grade F: 1 Coalford Commander/Martin Loughran, 2 Fair Enough/Alan Wallace Snr 3 Kick On/Brenda Hudson Time: 2:09.7 Dist: 5l
Race 9 Prix De Whites Agri Trot Grade A: 1 Star Du Fruiter/Noel Ryan 2 Vichy De Moem/Alan Richardson, 3 Ulysse Perrine/Philip Gilligan Time: 2:40.6 Dist:1.5L
Race 10 Dundalk Pace Grade A & B: 1 Deans Alibi/Jonathan Dunne, 2 Astounding/Kyle McSparron, 3 Meadowbranch Demon/Mike Kelleher Time: 2:02.1 Dist: 5L