Tralee Saturday
RACING returned to Ballybeggan Park, Tralee last Saturday and Sunday for the second running of the Tralee International Horse and Pony Racing Festival.
The racecourse provides a great facility and it would be a great addition to the advancement of pony racing if it were to host racing on a more regular basis.
Saturday’s card was a continuation of the great week enjoyed by the Bleahen family from Ballinasloe in Galway. Luke took the riding plaudits with a double following on his father John’s success in consigning the sales topper at the Tattersalls Derby Sale.
Bleahen’s first visit to the winner’s enclosure came in the second divide of the 14.2hh race where he teamed up with the Are You Well Syndicate owned Whus The Feek.
Feature
The rider then captured the day’s feature, The John Browne Memorial Derby over two miles as the Going Broke Syndicate owned See You Again made it two from two as he followed up his debut win in Whitegate with a pillar-to-post win.
This race was named after the former foreman of Ballybeggan Park who sadly passed away during the year but who took great pride in overseeing a return of racing to the course. Anyone familiar with Tralee Racecourse in former years will remember the ornate flower beds and hedging John maintained with huge care and attention.
Racing opened with two small pony races and Mikey Sheehy maintained his vicelike grip on these events with his now customary double on Another Tiger and Raynuso.
Danny Sheehy had a quiet day by his standards as he had a solitary winner with One Of The Boys taking the first division of the 14.2hh race from newcomer Tinytim.
Sheehy’s main rival for jockey honours this season, Rossa Ryan replied with a winner of his own as Let Him Go turned in a hugely impressive performance in the 12-furlong race for Letterkenny-based Adrian Browne as he spread eagled the field.
BIGGEST RUN
The biggest race run on the Scottish Borders Region Flapping Circuit is Tradesman Cup and Ciara Mannion recently became the first lady rider to win this race in its near 150-year history.
She added the 10-furlong race to her impressive and growing haul of winners as she produced the biggest shock of the day claiming the scalp of Good Times Ahead on the Michael Flannery-owned Amongst Friends.
Seventeen year-old Schull, Co Cork rider Niamh O’Callaghan missed most of last season with a wrist injury and she showed she is intent on making up for lost time as she delivered the Isabel Burke-owned On The Edge with exquisite timing to come through a wall of horses and hit the front in the last 50 yards.
Craughwell, Co Galway rider Liam Gilligan continued his successful association with Castle Racing when they teamed up to take the concluding maiden race with Rex Barron.
RESULTS
SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH
12.2HH (6F): 1, Five County Syndicate’s ANOTHER TIGER (Mikey Sheehy); 2, P. Collins ROCKETS BOY (Joe Conlon); 3, Three County Syndicate’s TAIL TO TAIL (Dylan Browne McMonagle).
13.2HH (1M): 1, Five County Syndicate’s RAYNUSO (Mikey Sheehy); 2, R. Kennedy’s PIERCES CROSS (Ben Kennedy); 3, P. Egan’s RELIABLE LADY (Darragh O’Keeffe).
14.2HH Div 1 (10F): 1, Five County Syndicate’s ONE OF THE BOYS (Danny Sheehy); 2, C. O’Donnell’s TINY TIM (James Bowen); 3, W. McGrath’s SANDYCOVE (Scott McCullagh).
14.2HH Div 2 (10F): 1, Are You Well Syndicate’s WHUS DA FEEK (Luke Bleahen); 2, Three County Syndicate’s DARRAGHS DELIGHT (Mikey Sheehy); 3, R. Sugrue’s THE WHISTLER (Ross Sugrue).
15HH (10F): 1, I. Burke’s ON THE EDGE (Niamh O’Callaghan); 2, A. Browne’s THE WAGON WHEEL (Rossa Ryan); 3, Three County Syndicate’s ENGLISH BILL (Danny Sheehy).
Open Horse (10F): 1, M. Flannery’s AMONGST FRIENDS (Ciara Mannion); 2, Three County Syndicate’s GOOD TIMES AHEAD (Danny Sheehy); 3, B. Harrison LAST CHANCE PADDY (Luke Bleahen).
Open Horse (12F): 1, A. Browne’s LET HIM GO (Rossa Ryan); 2, M. Flannery’s MONDAY BLUES (Ciara Mannion); 3, Three County Syndicate’s THE COMMENTATOR (Danny Sheehy).
Open Horse (2M): 1, Going Broke Syndicate’s SEE YOU AGAIN (Luke Bleahen); 2, Three County Syndicate’s FOLLOW JACK (Danny Sheehy); 3, B. Maher’s ONWARDS AND UPWARDS (Darragh Maher).
Maiden Horse (10F): 1, Castle Racing’s REX BARON (Liam Gilligan); 2, B. Maher’s DONNACHAS DELIGHT (Darragh Maher); 3, Deelview Syndicate’s PEBBLE BEACH (Rory King).