Sean Kane hits the heights in Mallorca

THE Balearic island of Mallorca conjures up images of colourful shirts, flip-flops and cocktails by the pool. Yet in the year-round heat there are several thriving trotting tracks on the island.

The sport in both mainland Spain and the islands was in a bit of a rut. However, just as in Ireland, LeTROT of France took that trotting nation under its wing and began exporting racehorses and helping with structure.

On Sunday, November 14th it was the Hippodrome Son Pardo’s turn to host the nations of Europe for the annual ‘Rencontres Internationale’ or International Meeting with a special race for all the leading drivers of French Trotters in their respective countries.

Sean Kane (27) from The Naul qualified to represent this country. Sean gives the story a super headline as he has only went and won on a 60/1 shot drawn 15 in a field of 16.

Calderon de Puch, a nine-year-old was the lucky recipient of a superb drive, typical of the forceful tactics employed by Sean so often at Portmarnock. He always puts his horse into

the race, and quite often they have the fitness to last home.

On the night, the combination were bang last behind a wall of horses, with a lap to go. Sean pulled out and went for it.

“The owners told me he would stay, and I knew I wasn’t winning it from there,” he told The Irish Field. “It may have looked like a mad move, but it worked. I was in front for a long time, I thought the line would never come.”

Sean was accompanied by his girlfriend Rebecca and some IHRA officials. Also on the trip were Paddy Kane and his wife Tina from Trim. They were presented with an award for ‘Best French Trotter in Ireland’ for Harry Knows who won 12 races in 2021.

LeTROT arranges an award in each of around 12 countries for the leading Trotteur Français in that country. LeTROT technical director M. Guillaume Maupas emphasised that the Irish winner was conceived, foaled and trained in Ireland. Most of the winners are made horses that were exported after a few seasons at the races.

Harry Knows, Hi Fidelity and Hibernia all show that French Trotters can be developed by Irish trainers.

The win was Sean’s second in an international race as he also won in Normandy in 2019 following a run of seconds.

Sean and his father Ger were racing trotters long before the ‘French Invasion’ and really embraced the concept when LeTROT/IHRA got their heads together. Therefore it is fitting that some of the spoils of war make their way to the Mooreside Stud.

The English representative, John Henry Nicholson, is also no slouch and came fourth from another difficult draw.

Ireland’s participation both on the track and at the conferences where rules are made can only increase our stature in world trotting.