THE Fermanagh Harriers brought the curtain down on the 2024/25 northern region season with their traditional two-day meeting at Necarne Castle. The opening contest of the first day featured 11 four-year-old mares, nine of whom had previous racing experience.
The well-fancied Pigeon Forge (2/1 - 6/4 favourite) justified her position at the top of the market in the colours of Milestone Bloodstock Ltd. with an impressive performance.
The Well Chosen mare was making just her second start, having finished third on debut at Tullaherin in April for handler Colin Bowe. Always to the fore, she moved up to challenge and pass the leader from the back of the third-last and entered the straight with a commanding advantage.
Travelling notably better than her rivals, she drew clear to win by a comfortable 10 lengths from Dreamaboutit, giving jockey Barry O’Neill his first winner of the weekend as he chased the northern region champion jockey title.
“It was a very rough race with plenty of loose ones, but she overcame that,” said O’Neill. “We fancied her first time out, but she was green. She’s improved hugely and now heads to the sales.”
Out of a three-time winning half-sister to Grade 1 winner Ferny Hollow, Pigeon Forge was purchased for €26,000 at the Tattersalls Derby Sale and looks a smart prospect for the track.
No mistakes
Bee’s Kiss (5/1 - 6/1) returned to form in style when landing the five-year-old mares’ maiden. Third on debut at Ballinaboola, she had failed to complete in her next two outings but made no mistake this time. The daughter of Ol’ Man River seemed to relish the better ground, travelling well before quickening clear to win by 11 lengths from Jill Valentine.
Always prominent, she asserted smartly from the back of three-out, with only the favourite able to go with her before falling at the second last.
Bee’s Kiss was still travelling best and stayed on strongly to seal an emphatic success for owner Aidan Byrne and handler Rob Tector.
“She did that brilliantly,” said winning rider Jamie Scallan. “She ran well on debut, but next time was in season and didn’t enjoy the softer ground. We changed tactics today, and I was confident a long way out. She’ll now head to the sales.”
Memorable day for Dara
The day concluded with a memorable victory in the older mares’ maiden, as 17-year-old Dara O’Sullivan steered Brock Beauty (5/1 – 7/1) to a 10-length success for his mother, handler Claire O’Connell.
The eight-year-old Kalanisi mare quickened smartly from the back of the third-last and soon had the race in safe keeping, coming home well clear of Craan Rose.
“This is very special,” said Claire O’Connell.
“The drying ground suited her perfectly, and she’s just come into herself. Ger Farrell, who owns her, used to ride for my dad as an amateur.
“He kindly gave Dara the spin, and that’s his first winner, though he should be in school today! She might go handicapping in the summer, maybe even across to England for a mares’ chase.”
TWENTY horses were declared for the five-year-old geldings’ maiden forcing the race to divide, but the Gerald Quinn, Declan Lavery and Philip McBurney team dominated proceedings to secure both divisions.
In the first division, Monsieur Jaco (6/4 favourite) an €80,000 Goffs purchase and half-brother to Port Joulain and the four-time winner Horacio Apple, had finished third on both prior starts.
He tracked the leaders before quickening smartly from the back of three-out. A slow jump at the second last didn’t halt his momentum as he battled back strongly at the final fence to score by two-and-a-half lengths from The G Wizard.
“He’s a horse we’ve always liked at home,” said McBurney. “He loved the better ground and strong pace. He may now be sold.”
The second division went to Mistyburn (5/2 – 3/1), a €22,000 Policy Maker gelding, who had debuted just six days earlier when finishing third at Toomebridge.
Ridden patiently in mid-division, he jumped fluently and launched his challenge two-out. Staying on strongly, he fended off West Of Idaho by half a length.
THERE was an upset in the ladies’ open as outsider Everglow (6/1 - 8/1) overturned the evens favourite I Masked Du Potier with a bold front-running ride from Hannah Phillips.
A previous winner over hurdles and fences under rules, the 10-year-old Presenting gelding registered his first win since July 2022 and his first in open company for trainer Ian Donoghue, running in the colours of his wife Alana.
Setting a strong tempo from four-out and quickening again after the third-last, Everglow stretched his rivals before staying on gamely to score by a convincing four and a half lengths.
Hot form
Cosmic Blizzard (6/4 – 7/4 favourite) continued his excellent run of form with a third straight success, this time under Toni Quail, strengthening her bid for the ladies’ title.
The six-year-old Arctic Cosmos gelding was always prominent and, after being briefly headed at the penultimate obstacle, rallied strongly on the run-in to defeat Syr Maffos by a length and a half.
Producing a slick round of jumping, Cosmic Blizzard continues to rise through the ranks and looks capable of making the step up to open company in the colours of Daniel Boland.
Horse to follow
West Of Idaho - D. Christie: Was having his first start for the David Christie stable, as this son of Idaho had previously finished second on debut behind a smart winner for Liam Kenny. Ridden from the back of three-out, he battled gamely to keep tabs on the smart winner and, although never getting his head in front, it was still a pleasing performance for connections and he looks poised to shed his maiden tag in the near future.