Dingle Sunday
THE Dingle Derby is the most iconic race on the circuit and, not surprisingly, it drew a record crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Fifteen top-drawer horses went to post for the Blue Riband and, in a dramatic finish, it was Tommy K for last year’s winning connections of Leona McLaughlin and jockey Billy Roberts who prevailed.
It was a masterful ride from the Kerry jockey, who trailed the entire field for most of the journey. Long-time leader Shake Me led to the home bend, where Our Bridget swept on by, under Nina Doherty and looked home for all money.
Inside the furlong pole, Tommy K swooped through the field to lead inside the last 200 yards for a famous victory. Billy became the first jockey in many years to ride back-to-back winners of the feature, which is now sponsored by the Barr na Sráide Inn and Paul Geaney’s Bar.
Our Bridget did her connections proud once again in second place, with Tommy Tango and Paddy Finnegan running his usual solid race in third.
The long-time leader Shake Me kept on bravely to fill the fourth spot under Kaceylou Carberry for Team Browne.
Day to savour
Cameron Cromwell had a day to savour at the festival, when completing a double on Minie Hawk and Lesson Learned respectively. Minie Hawk and great rival Tiny Dancer went head-to-head all the way in the 12.2hh race.
Up the straight, they were still locked together and in a heads-up, heads-down photo-finish, the Dingle race committee on the line camera showed Minie Hawk on top by a slender margin.
Cameron’s double came courtesy of Lesson Learned, who put up a fine performance to wear down the gallant Wee Bucks close home in the 14.2hh contest over 12 furlongs.
Thady Finnegan and Wee Bucks put it up to his pursuers all the way here and had Michael Zamm in trouble at the furlong pole. However, Lesson Learned, under an ice-cool Cromwell drive, was now in full flow and grabbed the initiative in the dying strides.
Camillus Byrne was also in double form, as he nears the end of his pony racing career. Hasta La Vista was simply supreme when gaining her second victory of the weekend in the 12-furlong 15hh contest.
Camillus took over from the half-way stage and ran on powerfully up the hill to beat Dream Dancer by five lengths.
The Byrne double was completed in the grand finale, when Green Whistle who was runner-up on Friday night, went one better in the 12-furlong race. Frances Byrne’s consistent sort justified favouritism here with the minimum of fuss and punters went home on good terms with themselves.
Doherty’s championship
Nina Doherty clinched the Dingle Jockeys’ Championship by one winner when Stepaside came right back to form to land the opening 10-furlong race.
The two hotpots here in a very strong contest were The King of Ballyhaunis and Silver Hill, but neither could get in a blow up the straight as Stepaside forged away for a decisive victory. Nina finished the weekend with six winners, just ahead of Paddy Finnegan who had five successes.
Kian McNally and Jake Cromwell fought out a titanic finish to the mile race as He’s Not There and I Like The Way You Dance went past in unison. Hard as the judges tried, the pair could not be split, with Bubbles in third place for Camillus Byrne.
It was a great festival for both jockeys, who excelled throughout the weekend. Kian will shortly sign on to the Natalia Lupini stable in Banbridge.
Full marks to Colm Sayers and all his outstanding committee for three of the most wonderful days of pony racing. Go mbeirimid beo ag an am seo arís.
ALLIHEES races take place today Saturday at 1pm in the Beara Peninsula.
Geesala beach races take place today Saturday and tomorrow Sunday at 1pm.
Cahersiveen, Co Kerry will race on Sunday, August 23rd at 1.30pm.
Results
12.2HH (1M): 1, T. Beegan’s MINIE HAWK (Camron Cromwell); 2, J. Mulvihill’s TINY DANCER (Maya Nolan); 3, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE JOEY (Thady Finnegan).
14.2HH (12F): 1, K. Cromwell’s LESSON LEARNED (Cameron Cromwell); 3, Holian Syndicate’s WEE BUCKS (Thady Finnegan); 3, S. Bergin’s MICHAEL ZAMM (Paddy Finnegan).
15HH (12F): 1, F. Byrne’s HASTA LA VISTA (Camillus Byrne); 2, McGinley Racing’s DREAM DANCER (Kaceylou Carberry); 3, B. Mahon’s U.S.A. (Paddy Finnegan).
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, DH S. Crabbe’s HE’S GOT HERE (Kian McNally); 1, DH J. O’Dwyer’s I LIKE THE WAY YOU DANCE (Jake Cromwell); 3, F. Byrne’s BUBBLES (Camillus Byrne).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, F. Byrne’s GREEN WHISTLE (Camillus Byrne); 2, S. Tierney’s FILL THE TANK (Billy Roberts); 3, Team Browne’s LET’S TRY AGAIN ( Cayden Power).
Dingle Derby Race (2M): 1, L. McLaughlin’s TOMMY K (Billy Roberts); 2, S & R Syndicate’s OUR BRIDGET (Nina Doherty); 3, S. Crabbe’s TOMMY TANGO (Paddy Finnegan).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, S & M Syndicate’s STEPASIDE (Nina Doherty); 2, I. Worrell’s THE KING OF BALLYHAUNIS (Cayden Power); 3, McNamara Families SILVER HILL (Kian McNally).