THE Horse and Pony Racing fraternity turned out in force on Sunday last for the traditional Ballyheigue races.
On a cold and crisp afternoon, the eight-race card produced top drawer action on the lands of Gerard McCarthy.
Local jockey Billy Roberts kick started the 2026 campaign with a treble while there were also doubles for Nina Doherty and Caoimhe Sugrue respectively.
Mary Mulcahy’s prolific winner Tiny Dancer landed the opening 12.2hh contest for the third year in succession. Billy Roberts’ mount made every inch of the running to see off the debutant Little Rory and Maya Nolan by a snug three lengths.
The Dingle Derby-winning jockey had to work a good deal harder when partnering Clever Crystal to a hard-fought success in the 13.2hh contest over a mile.
Paddy Finnegan made a brave bid here from the front on Mrs Lurch before Clever Crystal answered every call up the straight for a two-length victory. The winner is owned by Noel Brosnan from Tarbert, Co Kerry.
Billy quickly completed the treble in the 14hh race when David Cahill’s She’s Confrontational got up close home to deny long-time leader Rice’s Road under Jayda Kelly. The winner is a pony on the upgrade and should enjoy a rewarding campaign.
Sugrue’s fine record
Farmer’s Bridge, Co Kerry jockey Caoimhe Sugrue has a fine record around Ballyheigue and she added another brace courtesy of One Step Forward and Wise Words.
The C.V.R. Syndicate’s One Step Forward created a favourable impression when making practically all the running to land the 10-furlong contest. This imposing debutant looks destined for bigger and better things during the summer months.
Caoimhe was back in the winner’s enclosure half an hour later when Wise Words ran out an impressive winner of the featured Ballyheigue Derby over two miles.
This race developed into a match on the final circuit with Shady Lady under Paddy Finnegan. The C.V.R. Syndicate’s Wise Words was always traveling that little bit better however and stayed on strongly up the straight to deny Shady Lady by three lengths at the line.
Meath jockey Nina Doherty enjoyed a stellar season in 2025 and she began the new season with an eye-catching double. Dream Alliance landed the 14.2hh contest when getting the better of St James in a rousing finish.
The pair went head-to-head from the drop of the flag and it was a close call all the way around. However, Nina had kept a bit up her sleeve and Dream Alliance found a bit more close home for a length victory. The winner is owned by the You Know Yourself Syndicate which is made up of the Hayes family from Shanagolden, Co Limerick.
The Doherty double was completed in the maiden contest when Stick Season put up an impressive display to see off The Parting Glass by five lengths. One of the most consistent horses on the circuit last year, Stick Season is owned by the Cregg family from Frenchpark, Co Roscommon.
Compensation
Camillus Byrne who was runner-up on St James and The Parting Glass gained compensation when Hasta La Vista made every inch of the running to win the 15hh race over a mile. This was a poignant victory for the multiple Dingle winner who gave so much enjoyment to the late Mikey O’Connor.
The runner-up Gt Turbo was a huge eye-catcher here on his debut and certainly looks like one for the notebook.
Here’s to 2026 and the new season resumes in the month of May!
Results, December 28th
12.2HH (6F): 1, M. Mulcahy’s TINY DANCER (Billy Roberts); 2,Curragh Racing’s LITTLE RORY (Maya Nolan).
13.2HH (1M): 1, N. Brosnan’s CLEVER CRYSTAL (Billy Roberts); 2, S. Tierney’s MRS LURCH (Paddy Finnegan); 3, M. Mulcahy’s TINY DANCER (Maya Nolan).
14HH (1M): 1, D. Cahill’s SHE’S CONFRONTATIONAL (Billy Roberts); 2, J. McMahon’s RICE’S ROAD (Jayda Kelly); 3, W. McGrath’s LITTLE TOFFEE (Nina Doherty).
14.2HH (1M): 1, You Know Yourself Syndicate’s DREAM ALLIANCE (Nina Doherty); 2, J. Collins ST JAMES (Camillus Byrne); 3, M. Mulcahy’s FOUND A FIFTY (Billy Roberts).
15HH (1M): 1, N. Kenny’s HASTA LA VISTA (Camillus Byrne); 2, E. Donegan’s GT TURBO (Jared Huggan); 3, C.V.R. Syndicate’s TEST OF TIMES (Caoimhe Sugrue).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, C.V.R. Syndicate’s ONE STEP FORWARD (Caoimhe Sugrue); 2, M. Mulcahy’s THE BANGER MAN (Billy Roberts); 3, R. Lynch’s MILLIE (Jared Huggan).
Ballyheigue Derby (2M): 1, C.V.R. Syndicate’s WISE WORDS (Caoimhe Sugrue); 2, K. Flannery’s SHADY LADY (Paddy Finnegan); 3, Soft Touch Syndicate’s THE QUEER HAWK (Callum Mangan).
Maiden Horse Race (1M): 1, Cregg Families STICK SEASON (Nina Doherty); 2, M. Jones THE PARTING GLASS (Camillus Byrne); 3, Soft Touch Syndicate’s MAYDAY (Callum Mangan).