Southern region, Thomastown

THE southern region season finally resumed after the Covid 19 break on last Sunday in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.

With horse and pony racing struggling to get back on its feet after a long break, it was great to see this meeting go ahead thanks to the generosity of a number of local trainers such as Jim Bolger, Joseph O’Brien, Henry de Bromhead, Kieran Purcell, Willie Mullins, Eoin Doyle, John Nallen and Shark Hanlon who all provided much needed sponsorship to add to that of Goffs Bloodstock Sales who sponsored the day’s feature race.

Others from the racing industry such as J.D. Moore, Tramore and Gowran Park racecourses, Red Mills, Gain Feeds, George Mullins Transport and Holden Plant Hire also contributed while Horse Racing Ireland were not found wanting either and they have provided a grant to the National Horse and Pony Racing Association that covered 50% of the association’s insurance costs for this year.

There were many highlights to the day, with local rider Paddy Hanlon winning the Goffs Derby, Dylan O’Connor recording a four-timer, Darragh Hayes getting ride of the day on his winning debut, Darragh O’Sullivan edging out Jack de Bromhead in a dramatic finish to the 15hh 10-furlong race while another debutant, Josh Halford gave Silver Dollar a fine drive to finish fourth in the 10-furlong open horse race.

Feature

The day’s feature race, the Goffs Bloodstock Derby was won by Paddy Hanlon on The Auld House, making it two prestigious Derbys in a week for Paddy on Michael Flannery’s charge.

This race was slowly run to half-way where Mr Bowen and Carramor injected some much needed pace to the contest. The Auld House had them covered however, and swept to the front a furlong down under an ice-cool Hanlon drive.

Mr Bowen was probably never suited by the gallop but to his credit kept on well in second. Winning connections must be ruing the fact that the two biggest events of a normal year, the Dingle Derby and Glenbeigh Invitational did not take place this year as the winner would have been the leading contender in both.

This win completed a double for Paddy as he had earlier taken the 14.2hh race for Jim Collins as St. James confirmed the promise of his Dartfield second of the previous week by quickening through on the inner and scoring snugly from Sinclair Cartel who stayed on late for second spot.

The Hayes family from Shanagolden in Co. Limerick has been synonymous with horse and pony racing for many years with Dinny, Ellen and Elaine serving in various committee roles over the years.

A new generation made their mark on Sunday as 10-year-old Darragh Hayes made his debut a winning one as he gave El Dorado an absolutely brilliant drive to win the mile 14hh contest.

The pair looked destined for runner-up spot leaving the back straight as Dylan O’Connor went for home on Line Dancer.

However, Darragh never gave up and fought back tenaciously to lead in the very final stride. Darragh was a deserving winner of the ride of the day award and he will be hoping to emulate his cousin Chris Hayes who started off in ponies.

Four-timer

Dylan O’Connor is riding out of his skin and he kicked off a four-timer when Templehill Tamara routed the opposition in the 12.2hh race. South Of The Border kept on for second under Adam Grant.

Sam Coen finished fourth here on Honey Suckle on what was a marvellous weekend for the family with Ben landing the Ebor on Saturday and Jake successful on his first spin at Naas on Sunday.

The O’Connor double came up quickly when Dance Alone justified odds-on favouritism in the mile 13.2hh race.

However, the hearts of those who took the cramped odds must have missed several beats along the way as Dylan forced the grey up in the very last stride to deny Diamond Hill who was given a peach of a drive by Adam O’Keeffe.

The Wexford jockey won’t have to wait too long for his first winner on the basis of that performance.

Dylan then teamed up with the Newmarket, Co. Cork-based Daly Training Partnership, as he made every inch of the running to win the mile 15hh race with the Pat O’Connor-owned, former Dingle winner That’s Our Grouse.

This horse had won the very last race before the pandemic in Ballyheigue for Sam Ewing and he gave up and coming National Hunt rider Mike O’Connor, son of the owner, many great days during his pony racing career.

The four-timer came courtesy of Baby Brown who stepped up from 14.2hh class to quicken clear up the straight for an impressive victory in the 10-furlong contest.

Darragh O’Sullivan is making the transition from smaller ponies this year and he showed the benefit of that experience in a dramatic finish to the 15hh 10-furlong event. Jack de Bromhead looked set for a fairytale debut here on Silent Star when taking over two furlongs down.

However, as was the order of the day, Benji was about to come with a wet sail that took Darragh O’Sullivan to the front in the very final stride.

On the mark

Keithen Kennedy who made a big impact in Dartfield a week earlier with four winners was again on the mark here with Our Souls.

The John Joe Bailey-owned former Dingle winner showed an impressive change of gear from the furlong pole to win going away from Heartbreak Hill.

The race was run in memory of Mick Conlon whose son Joe rode for John Joe during his pony racing career.

Conor Stone Walsh is enjoying his summer with Joseph O’Brien and he continued his rich vein of form with a double on Bipolar Blondie and Omega.

Bipolar Blondie looks better than ever this season and cleared away up the straight to win for Shane Crabbe with Mr James caching the eye as he stayed on strongly to finish in the runner-up spot.

Omega has been one of the greatest stars of pony racing over the years and it was heart-warming to see him make every inch of the running in the concluding maiden race (for horses that had not won more than two races in last two seasons).

Ridden to victory by the likes of Jack Kennedy and Rossa Ryan over the years, the 13-year-old veteran is still enjoying his racing and is a credit to the Finnerty family from Co Roscommon.

Results - August 22nd

12.2hh Race (6F): 1, JJ O’Keeffe’s TEMPLEHILL TAMARA (Dylan O’Connor); 2, Collins’s SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Adam Grant); 3, M.O’ Sullivan’s BISCUIT (Darragh O’Sullivan).

13.2hh Race (1M): 1, O’Sullivan’s DANCE ALONE (Dylan O’Connor); 2, S. Carey’s DIAMOND HILL (Alex O’Keeffe); 3, P. Collins/T McMahon’s DOWN MEXICO WAY (Adam Grant).

14hh Race (1M): 1, E/D Hayes EL DORADO (Darragh Hayes); 2, P.O’ Sullivan’s LINE DANCER (Dylan O’Connor).

14.2hh Race (10F): 1, J. Collins’s SAINT JAMES (Paddy Hanlon); 2, M. Ahern’s SINOLA CARTEL (Dylan O’Connor); 3, G. Murphy’s PACMAN (Frankie Murphy).

15hh Race (1M): 1, P.O’ Connor’s THAT’S OUR GROUSE (Dylan O’Connor); 2, Dream Team Racing’s CHASE THE DREAM (Killian Brophy); 3, R.O’ Neill’s ANNIE POWER (Paddy Hanlon).

15hh Race (10F): 1, M. O’Sullivan’s BENJI (Darragh O’Sullivan); 2, P. Collins’s SILENT STAR (Jack De Bromhead); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s BOUNCE (Sean Bowen).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, JJ Bailey’s OUR SOULS (Keithen Kennedy); 2, A. Melia’s BEST FRIENDS (Conor Stone-Walsh); 3, M. Flannery’s SOCIAL DISTANCE (Paddy Hanlon).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, M. Ahern’s BABY BROWN (Dylan O’Connor); 2, M. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (Paddy Hanlon); 3, S. Crabbe’s LET IT GO (Keithen Kennedy).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, Finnerty Family’s MR. JAMES (Danny Gilligan); 3, I. Worrell’s CALL THE FBI (Dylan O’Connor).

Goffs Bloodstock Sales Derby (2M): 1, M. Flannery’s THE AULD HOUSE (Paddy Hanlon); 2, A. Melia’s MR. BOWEN (Keithen Kennedy); 3, C/H O’Donnell’s TRIPLE A (Sean Bowen).

Maiden Horse Race (1M): 1, Finnerty Family’s OMEGA (Conor Stone-Walsh); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s MAYDAY (Sam Coen).

THE north-west region race tomorrow Sunday at Finner Camp, Bundoran with a 3pm start. The final fixture of the north-west region is scheduled for Sunday, September 19th at Carrickadawson, Co. Donegal

Midlands region: The next meeting is in Kentstown, Navan, Co. Meath on Sunday, September 5th.

Southern region: The region hold their next fixture in Taghmon, Co. Wexford on Sunday September 12th.

The Curragh racecourse is planning to host a 12.2/13.2hh pony race as the final race of the card on October 10th.