SOUTHERN REGION -

ATHEA

AFTER a break of seven years racing returned to Athea in Co Limerick where the southern region hosted the penultimate meeting of the 2015 season on a fine galloping track.

Thirteen-year-old Co Tipperary rider, Joey Sheridan had a day to remember as he partnered his first ever winner when he partnered Timmy’s Gift to victory in the first division of the maiden race.

Sheridan who has been getting experience riding out for Adrian Joyce made all and kicked clear turning in to win by six lengths for The Going Broke Syndicate.

Division two of this maiden went to The Green Monkey who was partnered by Darragh O’Keeffe for Abbeyfeale owner Rachel McMahon. O’Keeffe sat third early before striking the front turning in and stretching clear.

This completed a double for the Mallow rider who earlier landed the mile race on Shrek for Ray Keane.

O’Keeffe stalked the front-running Man Of Steel throughout before overhauling him inside the final furlong to make it three wins in succession for Ray Keane’s charge.

The feature event of the day was the Asdee Derby over two miles and this went to Pat Taaffe who partnered Mr. Bowen to victory, as the striking grey added to the favourable impression he created in winning his debut race in this code at Ashbourne.

Top-weight of 10st 7lb wasn’t enough to stop him as he saw off two proven performers in Let Me Go and Ballybrown Boy.

Let Me Go was ridden by Danny Sheehy as regular partner Rossa Ryan took a heavy fall when brought down in the mile race, a spill that required an overnight stay in hospital.

Ryan had earlier paid a visit to the winner’s enclosure when he partnered Dodge The Bullet to win the 15hh race for Adrian Browne as he got home by a pair of lengths from Farmer Boyce and No Notice after a thrilling finish.

Stellar season

The appropriately named Athea Jade has had a stellar season and he made it three wins from his last four appearances with an impressive pilar-to-post win in the hands of Listowel rider Mikey Mulvihill who partnered him for his father Mike.

Batsy Maher’s stable notched up a double on the day.

His son Darragh made a successful return from an injury enforced break as he partnered Who’s Your Daddy to win the 12-furlong race.

With no-one seeming keen to make the running, Maher seized the initiative and dictated matters from there as he won from Danny Sheehy-ridden The Commentator.

Batsy Maher turned out three in the winner of one race, and while he did saddle the winner it was the lesser fancied Onwards And Upwards who landed the spoils in the hands of Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny rider Joe Conlon.

Fellow Kilkenny rider Mikey Sheehy recorded a double as he claimed the two opening pony races.

Another Tiger maintained his unbeaten record in the 12.hh race and Raynuso saw off her two rivals, the Daniel King-ridden Twinkle and the Ben Coen-ridden Pierces Cross.

Both winners are owned by the Five County Syndicate with locally-based Pat Collins as the mainstay.

Rory King has enjoyed a breakthrough season and he moved onto the 16 winner with his success on Misty for Me in the 14.2hh race. The winner who is owned by Mossy O’Connor and Dinny Enright, got the verdict by the minimum margin from Vodka.

RESULTS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11TH

12.2HH (7F): 1, Five County Syndicate’s ANOTHER TIGER (Mikey Sheehy); 2, J.J. O’Keeffe’s TEMPLEHILL TAMARA (Darragh O’Keeffe); 3, M. Slattery’s HERE COMES THE PAIN (Andrew Slattery).

13.2HH (9F): 1, Five County Syndicate’s RAYNUSO (Mikey Sheehy); 2, S. Carey’s TWINKLE (Daniel King); 3, P. O’Sullivan’s PIERCES CROSS (Ben Coen).

14.2HH (Mile): 1, M. O’Connor’s MISTY FOR ME (Rory King); 2, B. Maher’s VODKA (Mikey Sheehy); 3, W. McGrath’s SANDYCOVE (Darragh O’Keeffe).

15HH (Mile): 1, A. Browne’s DODGE THE BULLET (Rossa Ryan); 2, Three County Syndicate’s FARMER BOYCE (Danny Sheehy); 3, D. McGillycuddy’s NO NOTICE (Ben Coen).

Open Horse (1M): 1, R. Keane’s SHREK (Darragh O’Keeffe); 2, B. Maher’s MAN OF STEEL (Darragh Maher); 3, D. Foley’s TOP OF THE MORNING (Danny Sheehy).

Open Horse (10F): 1, M. Mulvihill’s ATHEA JADE (Mikey Mulvihill); 2, J. Collins GREY RULER (Rory King); 3, Three County Syndicate’s GOOD TIMES AHEAD (Danny Sheehy).

Open Horse (12F): 1, B. Maher’s WHOS YOUR DADDY (Darragh Maher); 2, Three County Syndicate’s THE COMMENTATOR (Danny Sheehy); 3, Deelview Syndicate’s CAPRE DIEM (Rory King).

Winners of One (12F): 1, B. Maher’s ONWARDS AND UPWARDS (Joe Conlon); 2, C. Farrelly/T. O’Sullivan’s DARBY GARDEN (Danny Sheehy); 3, P. Collins CERCA TROVA (Rory King).

Maiden Horse Div 1 (1M): 1, No Money Syndicate’s TIMMYS GIFT (Joe Sheridan); 2, B. Maher’s DONNACHAS DELIGHT (Darragh Maher); 3, J. Dore’s FOOTSTEPS IN THE SAND (Rory King).

Maiden Horse Div 2 (1M): 1, R. McMahon’s THE GREEN MONKEY (Darragh O’Keeffe); 2, G. Mangan’s JUST LIKE THAT (Connor Keane); 3, V. Brouder’s SIMPLE RED (Gavin Brouder).

Athea Derby (2M): 1, A. Taaffe’s MR BOWEN (Pat Taaffe); 2, A. Browne’s LET ME GO (Danny Sheehy); 3, Deelview Racing’s BALLYBROWN BOY (Rory King).

Southern

The 2015 season concludes tomorrow, Sunday at Ballylongford in Co Kerry where the action starts at 1.00pm.