Annaghmore Sunday
JIMMY Stewart from Coleraine won the highest-grade pace, an A to C Grade affair on Sunday 13th at Annaghmore.
There was not much brotherly love about, as Jimmy’s drive Letsgettoit had to fend off the attentions of Always Skye, trained by his brother Lawrence and driven by Jonny Cowden. The numbers of entries are starting to thin out a bit, understandable in mid-October, but the little five-runner race was great to watch.
Jimmy judged the pace well with Letsgettoit, going fast enough to get the rest off the bridle and yet saving a bit for the home straight. Always Skye, narrowly favoured in the market, lost nothing in defeat. Transparency (Alan Richardson) got closer than on his previous run in third. The race pulled up in a respectable 2.01.3.
“She’s just a super genuine mare, who thrives on racing,” said Jimmy during the week, “she has kept her condition all season.”
The crowd was smaller than usual, as many of the regulars were in York for the sales weekend (see accompanying article).
Better than ever
The top-grade trot on the card went to Extrem Ryld (2/1 to 5/2), who has been racing better than ever for young Adam Corey. Hernani d’ Orient (John Richardson) and Gamin Marandais (Jonny Cowden) both briefly flattered, but Extrem Ryld is all class and usually when he is within striking distance, he wears down the opposition.
“The key thing was getting him away from the gate. He likes further than the mile (Sunday’s distance), but I moved at the right time to catch John on the line,” stated the Glengormley man.
Larne-based Ryan Hanson made it three wins from four runs, with the ultra-dependable EJ’s Dragoness in the Grade F pace.
Effectively, a mare bred in Portrush beat a mare bred in Pennsylvania, which doesn’t happen every day. I’m Great Hanover (Alan Wallace jnr) was said runner-up.
“Cacie (daughter) and I over the moon with how Dragoness has been running in the late season,” was the comment from owner Eugene Hanson.
Ryan Hanson drove the first double of his career, as Crecora Storm had earlier upset the odds in a two-horse race by beating Meadowbranch Teddy (Mark Kane). The winner is owned by Ryan Boyd.
To France
The IHRA and Le TROT of France recently organised a sales process, whereby three of our professional drivers and several trainers went to France to pick around a dozen horses. Each buyer pledges the same sum (around €5,000) and horses are selected by ballot.
Quite often, the Irish owners run their new horses as soon as possible on arrival in Ireland. The horses are sold ‘in training’ and should be reasonably fit. If you bought a sports car, you’d want to try it out! Also, with the good prize money on offer, a few placed runs will offset the purchase price.
None of the newcomers actually won, but Joe Sheridan seems to have drawn a cracker in the shape of Korasonne d’ Aborney, a four-year-old out of a Workaholic mare, only pipped by Biniou du Beuvron (Charlie Flanagan), who had a much kinder position on the gate.
Workaholic was one of the few US stallions allowed into France by Le TROT, who are precious about protecting the purity of their Trotteur Français breed.
With regard to the 2/1 winner, Charlie said: “He’s 13 years old and just keeps giving.”
Another new import was placed second, namely Juvenile (actually a five-year-old) for Sean and Simon Duggan. She looks like she will win races.
The winner of that Grade D to F trot was Darren Timlin’s Funky Du Noyer, making a late first appearance of 2024.
Outside the box
“He’s a rock steady horse with tons of speed. I’ve actually been galloping him under saddle to get him fit,” offered Darren. They think outside the box in Fermanagh.
Lieutenant Dan confirmed his superiority over the rest of the three-year-old trotters in the latest leg of their series.
The Kanes share Lieutenant Dan with Jeremiah O’Mahony from Dunmanway and the runner-up Little Miss Sarah with Alex Cuffe of Sligo. The 2.08.5 is a good clip for a three-year-old trotter.
Ayr Corleone was a classic winner at three, but has been quiet this year. The son of Hasty Hall got back on track at the meeting, taking out the Grade E to F pace for Gavin Murdock and owner Bobby Barry in a time of 2.02.
Most of the runners are starting to get a winter coat. Unlike the National Hunt game, there is not much point in clipping the horse as most will be heading for a well-deserved rest. The season is to close on Sunday, December 27th.
Racing continues tomorrow, normally 1pm start at Annaghmore Raceway (Junction 13 M1) or eight miles west of Richhill. Full results and racecards at www.irishharnessracing.com. Replays can be watched on IHRA Facebook page.
A HUGE crowd attended the annual York Standardbred Sale, followed by racing, last Saturday. At times, we are all guilty of ‘doom and gloom’ when discussing the state of the sport, but there was a strong trade for yearlings and, also important, plenty of young people bidding and buying.
There was an Irish-trained winner on the track, when Coalford Annabelle (albeit bred in Sunderland) won the fillies’ division of the Sales Graduate pace for the crop of 2022.
The filly is owned by the McAleers from St Margarets and was driven by Troy McAleer.
In the sales ring, the top lot was bought by Paddy Kane with the Ball family of London. Ayrodrome (£35,000) is a half-sister to their Ayroplane, who carried all before him at two this year.
Oakwood Stud of Offaly consigned the dearest colt - Oakwood Loucious at £22,000. The son of sire of the moment Sweet Lou was bought by Paul Johnston of England. Sweet Lou is siring winners on three continents.
There is no room for sentiment at a horse sale, but you’d have to be moved by the fact that Jack Manning from Limerick had picked the 2023 top three-year-old Coalford Goodfella from the catalogue and intended to travel and buy. Jack passed away on October 4th, but his sons went to the sale anyway and bought the now four-year-old. The circle of life goes on. Thanks go to Craig Stevenson of York Sales for the data. Some lots of Irish interest are listed above.
Oakwood Loucious, bred by Oakwood Stud of Offaly, made £22,000 at York Sales