Annaghmore Saturday
BILLY Roche told The Irish Field as part of the pre-season stable tours, that his nephew John Junior (John Boy to his friends) was being trained up and “would come in for the spare drives when we have two engaged”.
The apprentice outconjured the sorcerer last Saturday, as John Boy whipped the Future Broodmares Pace from under the nose of Billy and three other senior drivers. John Boy won with Forafewpearlsmore.
Jonny Cowden led out with Sweet Dreams (4/5 favourite), while Billy was on the premises with Always B Puffin.
Eventually, John Boy produced the daughter of For A Few Dollars More with a well-timed run to land the spoils. The winner clocked 2.00 on the dot.
Proud father John Roche is always good for a quote. “The first Kildare-trained winner since the days of Christy Dunne. The owner Myles Connors jogs her around Newbridge. I don’t think we’ll see John Boy in work tomorrow and that’s okay.”
Horse Sport Ireland/Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine sponsored the various mares’ races.
Lofty standards
Jonny Cowden has been quiet by his lofty standards this season and got a welcome winner when the stylish Emil Paco (2/1 best) led out, made all to fend off some decent sorts in the E to D trot.
Iron Paddy and Rachel Norton went in pursuit but a mile is the Glengormley horse’s trip. He was on song and prevailed by a head with a further neck to Kirio Scott (Martin Loughran) in third.
Another 11-year-old, Ecrin De Grimault took out the top-grade trot for John Morgan of Omeath with long-term ally Noel Ryan in the bike.
The powerful son of One Du Rib hardly turned a hair. Helios De Lara (Craig Pidgeon) trotted steadily for second money.
Jalna Lou Lou fluffed her lines last time out with Charlie Flanagan, so the driver handled the mare gingerly in winning the Apprentice Trot.
Adam Corey made the pace with Isba Quick but Charlie, who represented Ireland previously as an apprentice, reeled in the longtime leader.
“I think I gave them so much of a start it gave my dad a heart attack,” said the Ballyboughal woman.
Profitable weekend
Jamie Hurley kicked off a profitable weekend by picking up a trappy looking Future Broodmares Trot aboard Hotesse du Chassin. The West Cork raider beat his girlfriend’s father John Richardson, on Kermesse Du Crocq in a respectable 2.04.8.
No Small Talk (Christian Joyce) went off at prohibitive odds in a little Grade F pace and won befitting his price.
He is one of the hottest prospects on the circuit and will put it up to the best in Britain when the time comes. The Professor and Calvin Broughan were not disgraced in second place.
Homa opened an across the weekend double for the Murphys from Baltimore and trainer/driver Ciaran Morrison. The Murphys must think the eight-year-old prefers to hear his hooves on a hard track.
Ciaran was out and gone in 2.05.7 with Kerian Scott (Ronan Norton) best supporting actor. The opening race was a match wherein Clive Kavanagh drove his own Shes Hungry to beat Lis Avenue (Gavin Murdock).
Dunmanway Sunday
IB Paddington returned to winning ways in the featured George Deane Memorial Pace at the Ballabuidhe Racetrack in Dunmanway on Sunday past.
At the start of the second lap, Eoin Murphy sent IB Paddington to the front. The pairing went on to beat Get Me Out Of Here by five lengths with a short-head to the fast-finishing Biggins in third.
“He has been a good servant for us over the last few years and it’s good to win this prestigious race, which honours the late president of harness racing in West Cork, George Deane,” said winning trainer Tadhg Murphy.
The George Deane Memorial Trot only attracted three runners, but what it lacked in quantity was made up with plenty of drama.
At the start of the second lap, the leader Graal Du Dollar went off stride handing the initiative to his two rivals. Graal Du Dollar joined issue again and this time it was Fina Mix who made a skip for a few strides. The brief wobble allowed Graal Du Dollar to get back in front. Driver/trainer Jamie Hurley was not for catching on the winner and led home Fina Mix by two lengths. The winner is owned by Schull-based John O’Sullivan.
Jamie Hurley made it a double on the day as Down By Crecora made it three wins from five starts.
In front from the start, the son of Down By The Seaside was never in danger, eventually beating last week’s winner Sexxy Socks by three lengths. Hurley’s father James owns the winner in partnership with Douglas Byrne.
Driving double
Mike O’Mahony, another Schull native, followed up on last week’s two winners with another driving double.
In the opening Grade G pace, O’Mahony had Shut The Front Door in front from the start. Still Game came at the leader heading out on the final lap. However, Shut The Front Door sprinted clear and won by an ever-widening 11 lengths.
The winner was a first for owner Liam Power from Bandon, who bred this three-year-old son of Bolt the Duer and Jonos Bianca.
Conor Hurley from Reenascreena trains the winner.
O’Mahony completed his brace in the E to F grade trot. Irish Good Dream was the hare in this one and led for the first of three laps.
Stable companion Empereur Souverain took it up at the road crossing on the second lap with Hippie Sisu on his tail. Heading into the last lap, the front pair were as one. Hippie Sisu even briefly led, but Empereur Souverain was gutsy on the inside and stayed on to beat Hippie Sisu by a length. Niall Forbes from Leap owns and trains the winner.
The lead kept changing hands in the grade C to D trot. On the first lap, Comete Des Landes led the field. For the second lap, Humour De Cosse did the honours, however, Oisin Quill and Destin De Larre were nibbling at their heels.
Second win in a row
The Kenmare runner took it up at the business end of the race to record his second win in a row, eventually getting the nod by a length from Comete Des Landes.
Spartan Warrior for father and son combination Tadhg and Matthew O’Reilly from Drimoleague made a belated seasonal debut when landing the Grade E and F pace. Quickly away from the gate, they had to fight tooth and nail with Wasn’t Expecting That for the entire journey, but held the rail position throughout the contest and, after a hard-fought battle, prevailed by three-quarters of a length.
Racing continues at Annaghmore today. The action moves to Lyre, near Clonakilty tomorrow with The Old Chapel Memorial Race Day at 2.30pm. Added prize money and Memorial Cups for all races are on offer. Results, entries and news can be viewed at www.irishharnessracing.com. The IHRA You Tube channel shows all replays.
York success for Irish
THE Kane and McAleer contingents raced at York Raceway on Saturday, where Ball and Kane’s Ayroplane cemented his reputation as the top three-year-old in these islands with a heat and final win in the three-year-old colts. Coalford Annabelle paced a scorching 1.57.4 in winning the fillies’ division for Troy McAleer.