ANNAGHMORE last Saturday held probably the best attended meeting so far this year. As in any form of racing, the public like to see the classic generation do battle and there was €42,000 of Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine sponsorship on the card (administered by Horse Sport Ireland) up for grabs plus around €28,000 raised by the IHRA/Le TROT initiative.
Sean Kane from The Naul was the hero of the hour as he pulled off a giant-killing performance with The Groomsman to beat Ayroplane (Patrick Kane jnr) in the three-year-old colts’ division. Sean also guided Kondor De Vandal (5/1) to win his first race on Irish soil in the Grade F trot.
The Groomsman had been bridesmaid, pardon the play on words, behind Ayroplane ‘four times in races and 30 times in workouts’ according to the Kanes. The Ball brothers from London were over to see their stable stars in action, but they had reckoned without catch driver Sean Kane’s fierce will to win.
Where Patrick normally cruises to the front with Ayroplane, this time Sean got down to drive The Groomsman and the pair outbattled the hot favourite by a head. First and second are trained by Paddy Kane and this was a major shock result.
John and William Ball had better luck with their other investments on the card. Stateside Phoenix came to Ireland with a reputation for extreme speed but a propensity to gallop.
Great advantage
As this column has mentioned before, it is a great advantage to have a farrier (Patrick) and an equine dentist (Mark) in your corner. The addition of old fashioned spreaders (strong straps to widen the gait of the forelegs) may have helped but, however they arrived at it, the son of Tom Hill stayed level to score in a modest 2.06.1. The winner was well-backed at 4/7.
The two-year-old fillies was a no-contest, whereby Ayroplane’s half-sister Ayrodrome paced around at her leisure with Patrick in the bike in 2.03.6. Local hope Coalford Look At Me (Simon Duggan) was flattered by the official two and a quarter lengths.
To sum up, the Ball family had two wins and a near miss in Armagh. The news came in later that night that a former Kane charge, Rhyds Superfly, won at The Meadowlands in New Jersey in 1.50.4 with Lauren Tritton in the bike. ‘Lovely jubbly’ as their fellow Londoner would say.
The Liam Wallace Next Generation Pace (for young drivers), sponsored by Mr and Mrs Mc Nevin, usually brings out fierce competition. The five youngsters went into the first bend like the charioteers in the movie ‘Ben Hur’. The Roches from Cloghran are tough businesspeople, but John Roche dropped his poker face to cheer home John junior (John Boy), who produced Always B Puffing late on to win in 1.58.2.
John snr clocked 1.57 himself dancing along the railings! “This was her last run in Ireland; she has been sold to the Burke Stable in the USA. I couldn’t be happier with things,” said a delighted John Roche.
The Roche stock was trading well, as second string One Cool Touch was runner-up with Calvin McAleer in the sulky.
Great support
“I owe a lot to my Uncle Martin who has always been a great support to me,” said John Boy, who was winning The Liam Wallace for a second time.
Longford-based school principal Rachel Norton will let the kids off from homework this weekend, as she won the Bernie Kelly Memorial Ladies’ Race with the family’s Iron Paddy (evens best). Rachel hit the front early and shook off the attentions of Kermesse Du Crocq (Erin Flanagan).
The contest was sponsored by Vintage Locks hair boutique. Marian Sheridan was at pains to point out that this was the original Bernie Kelly Trophy, as there are several tribute races for the much-loved administrator.
Coalford Annabelle was unbackable in the three-year-old fillies’ pace, with ‘without’, ‘forecast’ and ‘distance’ markets offered by the layers. The pride of St Margarets duly obliged, with usual partner Troy McAleer holding the lines. Churchview Meow (Billy Roche) is decent, but can’t lie up with the daughter of Henry Hill.
Similarly, Another Smile was 1/4 for the two-year-old colts’ with Troy’s cousin Eoin Joyce doing the steering. Simon Duggan led with Sweet Pa and drove like the guy in the chuck wagon being chased by Apaches.
Lifetime best
Simon ensured a strong pace and set up Another Smile for a lifetime best of ’59.8’. The winner looked fractious in the winner’s circle and will be better at three.
The Grade F pace had seasoned harness watchers searching for superlatives as the skewbald sensation Sweet Royalty toyed with the opposition in a sharp 1.59.7, said by some to be a world record for a coloured mare on a half-mile track.
“I’ve had some nice offers for this mare,” confirmed owner Johnny Cross. “And her dam scanned in foal to Always B Miki during the week.”
There is a race in the runner-up Tarawood Larry (Gavin Murdock for Charlie Bennett).
Billy Roche has kept faith with the quirky Hope De Guinnette and his patience was rewarded when the chesnut (5/2 and bigger) saw off Cork raider Graal Du Dollar (Jamie Hurley) in the top grade trot. Epsom Des Corvees (Darren Timlin) was the beaten favourite on a day where the layers had the better of the skirmishes.
No-nonsense drive
Springhill Lockdown would be second in 1.59 and second in 2.06. The likeable son of Joe Sheridan’s own Ayr Glory got a no-nonsense drive from Bernard Nicholson to shed his maiden tag in a respectable 2.02.1.
Lisleen Skater and Billy Roche forced a photo-finish, although Billy could be heard laughing ruefully, “He beat me,” as he jogged back to the paddock.
The win brought up a double on the card for Cootehill-based Bernard Nicholson.
The Mannings from Limerick don’t travel unless they have a live chance. Fermanagh driver Darren Timlin was out and away with Coalford Goodfella (5/2) in the C to E pace.
The ‘jolly’ Coalford Henry H (Simon Duggan) put in an uncharacteristic skip and did well to recover for second place. Breeders Gary and Joe Maw of the Coalford Stud, Sunderland were in attendance and will have a nice draft of yearlings at York Sales.
Proceedings closed with an all-the-way victory for Adam Corey and Isba Quick in the C to F trot. The circumstances meant that favourite Ilda Machette (Martin Loughran) was left at the start, but takes nothing away from the winner’s performance.
“We call her Big Kate. We say you’re never late with Big Kate, that’s three in a row she has won,” said a delighted Adam after racing.
The action moves to Lyre, near Clonakilty today and tomorrow for the prestigious Red John Memorial meeting (see preview).
Red John Memorial Weekend preview
THE by now traditional late summer highlight on grass, The Red John Memorial Weekend, takes place at Ger Hegarty’s fine field at Lyre, halfway between Enniskeane and Clonakilty this weekend.
The meeting commemorates ‘Red’ John O’Donovan, a young man who died in a farm accident in 2015.
The fixture is usually in late August, but has been put back by continued issues with the intended construction of a hard track on this very site. The committee will have to box clever to run two days given the weather forecast, but contingency plans are in place.
The meeting owes much to main sponsor Bill Donovan of Florida. Bill’s ancestors came from West Cork. The Maven Trot is named in honour of a trotting mare who Bill raced at the highest level in America and then sold well, like a true Corkman.
Entries are down slightly and word from the committee is that this is a standard meeting before a renewed vigour in 2026.
Nonetheless, the country’s finest pacers and trotters will be on show.
The McAleer’s Northern Pride and Paddy Kane’s Harry Knows will be warm order for the top grade pace and trot.
Patrick Hill’s Brutenor will relish softer going. For A Few Pearls More from the Roche barn smacks of a mare being laid out for this meeting.
The Loughrans from Omeath had several options and are bringing only one runner, I Want You Back - three points win is the recommendation.