A MARATHON 15-race card for the Tommy Doyle/Ned Maguire Memorial last Sunday produced something for everybody.
One of the country’s brightest stars made a comeback after an injury lay-off, there were doubles for two big name drivers, a win from an impossible position and best of all three of the smaller yards won races.
Most races on the day were named after horses of yesteryear owned by Tommy Doyle. Some of the names of races brought back memories of great gambling coups.
There is always a tangible sense of relief under any code of racing when a former champion makes a successful reappearance after injury.
Oakwood Starcam provided a mini Sprinter Sacre moment when she won the Zidane pace by a wide margin. She was laid at 4/6 and better and was only that price due to her long absence.
“It’s nice to have her back,” stated driver John Richardson as the Flanagan brothers unyoked Brian Redmond’s 2018 VDM winner. “Every time we had her right she picked up some freak injury.”
JR’s double came when Immaculata kept up her unbeaten record on a hard track in the Trotteur Français three-year-old gold division. The filly had another Rachmaninov Seven, Iron Paddy in second place.
Unfortunately, the stalwart volunteers in the stewards’ box called a wrong result in the placings of the race. The error was corrected about 30 minutes later, and thankfully such slip-ups are rare.
The other driver to score a double on the day was Gavin Murdock of Belfast, nowadays based at Annaghmore Raceway. In fact Gavin’s two winners are owned by Annaghmore owner Clive Richardson (no relation to John).
The Market man won with two mares who both started favourite. Sweet Sunset won the Black Horse two-year-old division while The Gypsy Queen took the three-year-old version sponsored by the same Finnish company.
Blaze
The stallion Sweet Lou stamps many of his progeny with ‘the Sweet Lou blaze’. With Sweet Sunset, Sweet Art and Sweet Rock all in the same race, commentators such as James Griffin will be hoping that Irish breeders come up with a more imaginative approach.
Sean Kane is still in the pack chasing after his cousin Patrick for The Irish Field drivers’ title, although it looks like Patrick has slipped the field. In Britain they have an award for ‘drive of the year’ and if such an accolade existed here, Sean’s performance with Feugeres Erem in the Ned Maguire Memorial Trot would be hard to beat.
The small mare was slowly away, you might say ‘left at the start’ yet she crept back into the race. Amazingly with a lap to go, she was on top of them and won by five lengths in the end. Andy McTaggart owns the six-year-old and she will be will toasted in East Antrim over Sunday and Monday.
“You can’t rush her, she has to do things her own way,” Sean told The Irish Field. “Andy has gotten some fun out of her, She’ll be entered in all the big races next year.”
Comete Des Landes and Bibi Dairpet filled the places for the Murphys and co-owners.
Newtown Rock is not blessed with gate speed but a bit like another Wallace stallion, Sure Cam, he is very good ‘off cover’, as they say at The Meadowlands.
For the second time this season, the son of Rocknroll Hanover came with a swooping run after the leaders set fast fractions. Simon Duggan and Jonny Cowden went at it hammer and tongs with Someones Fantasy and Fairdays Western respectively. The old dog ran down the young pups, except that Alan Wallace is adamant he never grew old.
The 1.58.9 is another nice time for next year’s stallion advertisement for ‘The Rock’, a great favourite of Liam and Emily Wallace.
Smaller yards
Three winners from smaller yards each got a rousing cheer from the attendance. IB McGregor started the ball rolling for owner John Paul O’Callaghan and driver Freddy Kavanagh junior.
‘Rockin’ Jonny Burns rocked in the sulky as usual but his Meadowbranch Roman could not get to the winner. John Paul’s son Jake was proud in the enclosure in the family colours.
Joseph Caffrey misses Coalford Showtime and Romalus d’Augenais. His firepower in recent seasons has been diminished. Therefore Joe and cousin Aidan Caffrey will be delighted that Bella d’Espana took out the Dads Affish trot.
Buster Gilligan is another trainer finding winners hard to come by. The popular Swords man won the closing event with Ayr Frankel. The race was named for the great Solo Knight. Solo Knight’s old partner John Smith was in attendance.
‘The Red Baron’, Billy Roche has had a quiet season by his standards. Dariana Start ended a fallow period for the Cloghran trainer/driver in winning the Difficult Decision trot. The mare is owned by a great supporter of the venue Andrew Joyce. Destin De Larre was second for the Quill, Kenmare firm.
Mikey Kelleher from Macroom is equally at home at Dromahane point-to-point as he is at Portmarnock. The accomplished horseman loves a challenge.
All four of the runners in the silver division for French Trotters made ‘skips’ at some point. Mikey managed to hold Inspire Me together for a win although the clock of 3.26.9 was far from inspiring.
“I’m supposed to be retired,” said Mikey with a wide grin. Perhaps the yellow and purple jacket will be around for a while yet.
The opening contest of the day saw the Meadowbranch second string, Carre Chic, make a liar of the betting. The outsider rallied well in the final quarter to beat the ‘jolly’ Brooklyn Trixie (Gavin Murdock).
Mooreside Captain benefitted from a confident drive by ‘The Iceman’, Alan Richardson and won the Saunders Spartan pace. Drimoleague-based Brywins Magician (Cian O’Reilly) was not disgraced in second place.
Beat The Clock (Jonny Cowden) was all the rage for the Earned Income pace. Alan Wallace aboard A Kind Of Magic made Cowden work for the top spot. In the end, Mark Kane with Immortal John came with a well-timed run to land the spoils.
Calvin Brougahn from Cabra extended his lead at the top of the apprentice table when he won the latest leg of the series.
Fermanagh apprentice Luke Timlin moved early with Epsom Des Corvees but Calvin waited with Bingo De Connee and produced him on the line.
Harness racing action this weekend is tomorrow at Annaghmore Raceway, Co Armagh (J13 M1). Start time, runners and recent results can be seen at www.irishharnessracing.com
YORK Harness Raceway hosts the only standardbred sale in these islands today. Offaly-based Oakwood Stud is expected to be amongst the leading consignors. The full sister to last week’s Juggete third Oakwood Annabella is called Oakwood Carmelita and is expected to make a fancy price.
The UK and Ireland record price for a pacing yearling is £51,000 set in 2015 for Rhyds Megastar. The record could well go this year.
As usual there will be Irish trainers at the sale, with orders from clients. The Irish Field will keep you abreast with the auction results.