Annaghmore Sunday

SUNDAY past saw some heats of the Juvenile Series for pacers, sponsored by Black Horse Equine Supplements of Finland. Our headline story is the continued upward trajectory of a smaller stable, Galway brothers, based near Carryduff.

Over the ‘classic heats’ Gavin Murdock drove a double while both Patrick Kane and Ronan Norton upset more fancied runners in their respective divisions.

John Galway from Belfast was a popular regular on the harness racing circuit before his passing in 2008. John would be really proud of the progress that his sons Jim, Stephen and Paul have made with their stock.

Last week they combined with Jonny Cowden to win the opener with the Christy Foran-bred Long Island Art. On Sunday, Jonny used similar waiting tactics to score with Forever At It (5/2 best) who goes back to the family’s decent mare Miss Ayr.

Cowden is on fire at the moment and also produced Sweet Caroline late to win in a lifetime best of 2.01.5 in the Grade E to F pace.

John Boy Roche led everywhere but the line with One Cool Touch and it was a shame there had to be a winner. Sweet Caroline has now won six since moving to Coleraine trainer Lawrence Stewart.

Grand scale

Jay and Gavin Murdock operate on a grand scale. The brothers have not been as successful in 2023 as they were last year. A couple of close finishes came against Gavin, the gap did not come in some races. Such is the nature of the game.

The Market men (an area in Belfast) were happier on Sunday night as last year’s VDM heroine Maid Sweet returned to form and Oakwood Mick lived up to his fine pedigree.

Maid Sweet is owned by Byrne, Bennett, Keenan and Dunne of Dublin. Oakwood Mick is the property of Ruari McNulty. Maid Sweet won a leg of the three-year-old fillies, Oakwood Mick the two-year-old colts.

Always Be Puffin driven by Billy Roche was favourite for the two-year-old fillies’ division by virtue of her win at the Breeders’ Crown in North Wales.

Patrick Kane jnr is no respecter of reputations and picked up €750 first prize with Anglesey Hall, from one of the last crops by Hasty Hall.

The bookies opened 1/2 Vinnie Camden, even-money Ayr Harbour for the two-runner three-year-old colts’ race. Horses don’t know what price they are on the boards and the Longford runner (Ayr Harbour) followed the Dublin-based Vinnie Camden until they got past the farmyard last time around. Ronan Norton’s charge beat the favourite fair and square.

Ronan and his partner Rachel Norton are carving out their own corner in these harness reports, they are having a breakout season. Rachel also got on the score sheet when the likeable Iron Paddy won in his highest grade (he was Grade D on the day) to date. Isora de Source trotted level for second place with John Richardson.

Great supporters

The Duggans from nearby Cappagh are great supporters of this venue. Tiernan Loughran is a capable young driver and he was seen to good effect with Simon Duggan’s Feline des Noes in a Grade E to F trot. The winner has a turn of foot and the mile would be her strong suit.

The striking grey Nineteen Forty Seven has both looks and ability. Owner/driver Joseph Caffrey followed up the previous week’s victory on the trot with Helios de Lara with his own Nineteen Forty Seven (2/1). The winner traces back to the bloodlines of the Maw family’s Coalford Stud. He clocked 2.02.4,

The Grade B to D pace was a lively betting heat. Stateside Deuce (7/4-5/2-6/4) saw off Mooreside Captain (6/1) and Alpine Lucas (7/4 to 5/4).

Patrick Kane jnr brought up his double with the good looking Stateside Deuce. Calvin Broughan gave the unfancied Moorside Captain a great drive, they found just one horse too good.

Sean Kane has struck up some rapport with Andy McTaggart’s Feugeres Erem. Were it not for some tough luck in running, the little mare could have been sitting on four wins as opposed to 12315 before Sunday. Sean timed his run well to beat Extrem Ryld (Adam Corey) in the Grade A to B trot.

Replays on IHRA Facebook page. Results and cards on www.irisharnessracing.com

Latest Standings

National Leading Driver

at September 14th

Driver Wins

John Richardson, Ballyboughal 16

Troy McAleer, St Margaret’s 14

Jonny Cowden, Glengormley 13

Billy Roche, Cloghran 12

Donal Murphy, Baltimore 12

Sean Kane, The Naul 11

Patrick Kane jnr, Trim 10

Welsh raids planned

TOM Heavey’s Northern Pride has been invited to run in the Billy Williams Memorial Crock of Gold at Tir Prince, north Wales, tonight. Darren Joyce’s Rhyds Rival has drawn the coveted ‘1 on the gate’ spot in a free-for-all at Aberystwyth tomorrow.

The Little Brown Jug for three-year-old colt pacers takes place in Delaware, Ohio, on Thursday 21st around 11pm Irish time with the Jugette (you’ve worked it out) on Wednesday night.

Check the Ohio Harness Horsemen website for coverage of this $1 million event which was also carried last year by the main US publication DRF (Daily Racing Form). The fair features a 20-race card, which requires a lot of beer and crisps.

CORRECTION:

Last week this column stated that 23-year-old Jonny Cowden drove the fastest career century in Irish harness racing. Several readers made contact to point out that Patrick Kane jnr actually clocked up his ‘ton’ in his first three seasons of driving and therefore had driven 100 winners by the tender age of 18. We are happy to set the record straight, and acknowledge the achievement of both reinsmen.