By Denis Coakley

BALLYCONNEELY Races near Clifden in Galway, part of a double header with Omey Beach, kicked off the busiest week in the horse and pony racing calendar where eight meetings take place over six different days within a nine-day period.

Downpatrick, Co. Down rider Caoilin Quinn announced his arrival onto the big-stage with a magnificent treble, a feat matched by reigning champion Jack Kennedy.

Quinn got his day off to the best possible start in the opening 12.2hh race where his well-judged front running ride on his own pony The Rattler ensured victory over Pierces Cross.

The rider then went on to take both 14.2hh races for Gerry Murphy. First up on Drive On George, he was content to let Take That and Snowdrop dispute the pace until he produced the winner to lead two furlongs out.

In the following 14.2hh non-winners race, Quinn partnered Georgie’s Girl where the pair looked to have blown their chances at the start.

However, the rider showed great maturity by not panicking and slowly working his way into the race. Evan Daly and The Sprout looked set for victory when leading three furlongs out but Quinn and Georgie’s Girl gradually wore them down to win by a couple of lengths.

Jack Kennedy made his trip from Dingle a worthwhile exercise with a treble. Kennedy and the Finnerty stable have a good strike rate together, and this meeting was no exception as they shared two winners.

Omega bounced back to form with a devastating front running performance in the mile race stretching clear from half-way to win untroubled from southern raider Razzle Dazzle.

They then proceeded to take the featured Errismore Derby over 10-furlongs as Kennedy produced Mr Grey between University and Donnacha’s Delight inside the distance to win.

The Kennedy hat-trick was completed in the two-mile race where he partnered Monday Blues for The Flannery stable. It came down to a match between the winner and the Harry Bleahen-ridden Where’s Johnny over the final four furlongs with possession of the inner proving decisive for the winner.

The most popular winner of the day was in the 15hh race where local hope Treasure Beach produced a tremendous performance under Evan Daly to score for Priscilla McNamara and her family.

Eleven-year-old Graignamanagh rider Mikey Sheehy moved onto the 18-winner mark for the season with a hard-earned win on Pat Collins’s Another Nun in the 13.2hh race where the Caoilin Quinn-ridden Micky Finn pushed them all the way.

Killian Leonard was another rider to make a long journey and the trip from his Kanturk, Co. Cork base was rewarded with a winner in the 12-furlong race where he made all to win for the Lisa Cregg-owned Fully Loaded, who came home in front from the Mark Crehan-ridden Red Conquest.

Results

Saturday, August 2nd

12.2hh (6f): 1. B. Laird’s THE RATTLER (Caoilin Quinn); 2. The 5 Counties Syndicates PIERCES CROSS (Danny Sheehy); 3. M. McGuane’s SUNDANCE (Mikey McGuane).

13.2hh (6f): 1. P. Collins’ ANOTHER NUN (Mikey Sheehy); 2. L. Bergin’s MIKY FINN (Caoilin Quinn); 3. S. Carey’s TWINKLE (Evan Daly).

14.2hh (1m): 1. G. Murphy’s DRIVE ON GEORGIE (Caoilin Quinn); 2. J. Finnerty’s SNOWDROP (Jack Kennedy); 3. Going Broke Syndicate’s TAKE TAHT (Luke Bleahen).

15hh (12f): 1. R. McNamara’s TREASURE BEACH (Evan Daly); 2. J. Gormally’s GINGER MAN (Andrew Kennedy); 3. A. Loughlin’s LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE (Rossa Ryan).

Open horse (1m): 1. J. Finnerty’s OMEGA (Jack Kennedy); 2. B. Maher’s RAZZLE DAZZLE (Darragh Maher); 3. D. Cregg’s BLACK MAGIC (Niamh Crehan);

Open horse Derby (10f): 1. J. Finnerty’s MR. GREY (Jack Kennedy); 2. P.J. Donnelly’s UNNIVERSITY (Evan Daly); 3. B. Maher’s DONNACHT’S DELIGHT (Danny Sheehy).

Open horse (12f): 1. D. Cregg’s FULLY LOADED (Killian Leonard) 2. M’l Rafferty’s RED CONQUEST (Mark Crehan); 3. B. Maher’s ROISIN’S DELIGHT (Darragh Maher).

Open horse (2 m): 1. K. Flannery’s MONDAY’S BLUES (Jack Kennedy); 2. S. Ryan’s WHERE’S JOHNNY (Harry Bleahen); 3. M. Fahy’s MR. BEAN (Rossa Ryan).

14.2hh (1ml) Non Winners (1m): 1. G. Murphy’s GEORGIE’S GIRLS (Caoilin Quinn); 2. I. Daly’s THE SPROUT (Evan Daly); 3. M. Grenham’s PENNYS FROM HEAVEN (Paddy O’ Hanlon).