THE midlands region had the stage to itself last weekend as it hosted the sole meeting on the bank holiday Monday at Dartfield Horse Park, Loughrea, Co. Galway.
Local rider Danny Gilligan gave his supporters plenty to cheer about as the Craughwell rider recorded a double, a feat matched by Dylan Browne-McMonagle, Sam Ewing and Daniel King.
Gilligan opened his account in the 12.2hh race where the Buddy Harrison-owned Little Mainne led from two furlongs out, staying on well under pressure to hold off a persistent challenge from the Rory Mulligan-ridden The Blacksmith.
Danny and Monasterevin-based Harrison completed a double when Try Your Best took the 10-furlong race. They had to dig deep to collect here as Dylan Browne-McMonagle and Ya Skitter went neck and neck with them over the final furlong and a half before eventually giving best by a neck.
Dylan also registered a brace of winners starting with Unhinged who stretched clear from three furlongs out before coasting home for a three-length win from the Conor McGrath-ridden Bushfire.
Browne-McMonagle has to wait for the finale to complete his double as the George Murphy-owned and Tony Beegan-trained Murphy’s Stroke 2 won the two-mile race very impressively.
Browne-McMonagle brought the winner through from midfield to lead two furlongs out and they quickly put the issue beyond doubt as they drew clear. The winner will be aimed at the Dingle Derby and all the other big two-mile contests.
Daniel King has been riding in great form this season and a double kept his momentum going. Louis Vitton took the 15hh race for Declan and Kyle McGuigan as Danny got him home in front in a driving finish from Bubba Watson and Dylan’s Pride.
Stretched clear
The same combination teamed up again to take the second division of the mile race where Who Knows hit the front three furlongs out and stretched clear to win from Whacky Three Fingers.
Sam Ewing got the first leg of his double as veteran Waratah took the 14.2hh race for Seamus Bergin.
Waratah looked beaten when headed two and a half furlongs out but she showed great resoluteness to come back and regain the lead in the shadow of the post from Susie Q.
Ewing’s other winner came on another admirable veteran Omega in the first division of the mile race. The rider brought the Finnerty family’s star through to lead four furlongs out and although there was numerous challengers stacked up behind them, they kept going well to win.
After earlier going close with Bubba Watson, the Co. Limerick-based Deelview Racing and Philip Byrnes received consolation in the 12-furlong race where The Whistleblower showed courage to come back and win by a neck despite losing the lead, dropping to third position and looking beaten two furlongs out.
Racing opened with a 12.2hh race and 13-year-old Navan rider Rory Mulligan claimed the honours here for his father Paul and Mark Carberry as Where It All Began who led from three furlongs out lasted home from a fast-finishing Sea Biscuit.
The local pony race for novice riders went to eight-year-old Leah Mahon, who won on Amber in front of her very proud dad Stephen who probably got more satisfaction from this win than any of those he trained on the racecourse.
Results
Loughrea, June 3rd
12.2HH Race (6F): 1, M. Carberry/P. Mulligan’s WHERE IT BEGAN (Rory Mulligan); 2, D. O’Sullivan’s SEA BISCUIT (Danny O’Sullivan); 3, A. Gallagher’s LITTLE LIONESS (Calum Hogan).
13.2HH Race (1M): 1, B. Harrison’s LITTLE MAINNE (Daniel Gilligan); 2, T. Beegan’s THE BLACKSMITH (Rory Mulligan); 3, T. Beegan’s MOON RIVER (Dylan Browne McMonagle).
14HH Race (1M):1, Team Browne’s UNHINGED (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, J. Smyth’s BUSHFIRE (Conor McGrath); 3, P. Mulligan’s SIMPLY THE BEST (Ben Mulligan).
14.2HH Race (1M): 1, S. Bergin’s WARATAH (Sam Ewing); 2, M. Cherak’s SUSIE Q (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, J. Donaghy’s RUBY’S DIAMOND (Conor Walsh).
15HH Race (1M): 1, D&K Racing’s LOUIS VITTON (Daniel King); 2, Deelview Racing’s BUBBA WATSON (Philip Byrnes); 3, Holian Syndicate’s DYLAN’S PRIDE (Daniel Gilligan).
Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 1: 1, Finnerty Family’s OMEGA (Sam Ewing); 2, A. Brennan’s LISA’S FANCY (Robert Whearty); 3, A. Gallagher’s PACK YOUR BAGS (Daniel King).
Open Horse Race (1M) Div. 2: 1, D&K Racing’s WHO KNOWS (Daniel King); 2, A. Melia’s WHACKY THREE FINGERS (Daniel Gilligan); 3, Holian Syndicate’s AIDEEN’S DREAM (Philip Byrnes).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, B. Harrison’s TRY YOUR BEST (Daniel Gilligan); 2, Team Browne’s YA SKITTER (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 3, T. Fennelly STORMFORCE (Sam Ewing).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, Deelview Racing’s THE WHISTLEBLOWER (Philip Byrnes); 2, D&K Racing’s CHURCHALL (Daniel King); 3,J.J. Bailey’s ABRAHAM LINCOLN (Jake Coen).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, G. Murphy’s MURPHY’S STROKE 2 (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, A. Melia’s HE’S GOT IT (Daniel Gilligan); 3, I. Worrell’s CALL THE GUARDS (Conor Walsh).
Local Pony/ Novice Riders ‘Race: 1, L. Mahon’s AMBER (Leah Mahon); 2, J. Costello’s SPRING (Jack Costello).
News
Southern Region
THE region race today, Saturday in Ballybunion on the men’s beach, the first time horse racing has taken place there since 2004. Racing is due to start at 1.30pm.
North-West Region
THE region races tomorrow in Carrickadawson, Co. Donegal with a 2.30pm start.