Ballysteen, Sunday

THE curtain came down on the southern circuit on Sunday last with the return of the renowned meeting at Ballysteen, Co. Limerick.

Under the stewardship of John Long, Robert White and their enthusiastic committee, the 11-race card concluded just before the rain arrived.

Dylan O’Connor, just back from Carrickadawson, enjoyed a day to savour with four winners. Darragh O’Sullivan bowed out with a winner while Shay Wallace gained his first career win on the circuit.

Dingle Derby winning jockey Dylan O’Connor kicked off with Hello Star who bounced out and made every inch of the running to win the 13.2hh contest over a mile. Sore Loser kept on strongly up the hill for second spot.

Katie Taylor gained her eighth victory of the season when yet again proving different class to land the 14hh race. The Kerin family has enjoyed a splendid campaign and their pride and joy is likely to bid for a final victory of the season in Mullingar tomorrow.

Michelle Brosnan’s Shelly Baby was yet another all-the-way winner when landing the mile 14.2hh contest from The Low Road and St James.

Dylan’s four-timer came courtesy of Hasta La Vista who completed the Carrickadawson and Ballysteen double in convincing style. The winner is owned by the jockey’s mother Mags.

Perfect send off

Mitchelstown, Co. Cork jockey Darragh O’Sullivan who is attached to the Fozzy Stack stable got the perfect send off when Bubba Watson ran out an impressive victor of the 12-furlong non winners’ race. Deelview Racing’s multiple Dingle winner came right back to form here under a fine tactical drive to see off Mr G in a strongly run contest.

At the other end of the scale, Ballynoe, Co. Cork jockey Shay Wallace gained his first career victory when Little Baby came out on top in a driving three-way finish to the 12.2hh race over a mile.

Jockeys Brody Ferry on Little Lioness and Lily Walsh on South Of The Border took no prisoners here and they were joined by Shay Wallace off the final bend with Little Baby.

In a pulsating drive to the line, it was Little Baby’s turn for a famous victory. This was made all the more special as the winner is owned by John Long, a stalwart of the pony racing game.

Kian McNally travelled down from Co Armagh and he was on the mark when Five Stone Of Lead put up a stellar performance to score in the first division of the mile. Kian’s Dingle triple crown winner in the 14.2hh division is equally as talented in any division.

Ride of the season

Julian Pietropaolo earned a tilt at ‘ride of the season’ after Here We Go Again trounced the opposition to win the two-mile Derby.

Julian judged the fractions to absolute perfection from the front and in a masterclass ride, pulled away up the straight from market principals Volar Alto Amigo and Chloe’s Sam. This was another winner in a wonderful season for Aiden Melia.

The Shark Hanlon Ladies series has been a tremendous inception and the Ballysteen leg was certainly no different. In a highly competitive heat, She’s Got It proved herself beyond doubt as one of the top stars of the season under Nicola Burns.

Successful at Carrickadawson 24 hours earlier, Shane Crabbe’s Golden Mile winner quickened away up the straight for another hugely impressive victory.

Listowel jockey John Mulvihill who was just back from racing in Scotland completed a brace on The New House and The Rubber Man.

Kathy Flannery’s The New House always travelled best in the second division of the mile and forged clear up the straight for a facile victory. Local owner David Cahill produced The Rubber Man back from a break to land the concluding maiden contest in eye-catching style.

Next fixtures: The 2023 Irish Horse and Pony Racing season will conclude in Mullingar tomorrow with a 1pm start.

Results, Sunday, September 10th

12.2HH (7F): 1, Curragh Racing’s LITTLE BABY (Shay Wallace); 2, P. Collins SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Lily Walsh); 3, C. Ferry’s LITTLE LIONESS (Brody Ferry).

13.2HH (1M): 1, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Dylan O’Connor); 2, J. O’Sullivan’s SORE LOSER (Shay Wallace); 3, W. McGrath’s LITTLE JACK (Camillus Byrne).

14HH (1M): 1, K. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor); 2, E/D Hayes EL DORADO (Darragh Hayes); 3, J. McMahon’s WESTERN STAR (Jayden Tuite).

14.2HH (1M): 1, M. Brosnan’s SHELLY BABY (Dylan O’Connor); 2, N. Brosnan’s THE LOW ROAD (Adam Grant); 3, K. Connell’s AN CAPALL DUBH (Adam Browne Sousa).

15HH (12F): 1, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Dylan O’Connor); 2, K. Flannery’s BABY BROWN (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, M. O’Sullivan’s BENJI (Darragh O’Sullivan).

Open Horse Race Div 1 (1M): 1, M. Moloney’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Kian McNally); 2, D. Burns CHANCY MONEY (Nicola Burns); 3, M. Ahern’s RIGHT ON TIME (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race Div 2 (1M): 1, K. Flannery’s THE NEW HOUSE (John Mulvihill); 2, A. Melia’s HEY COWBOY (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, I. Worrell/S. Crabbe’s WHAT’S GOING ON (Adam Grant).

Shark Hanlon Ladies Derby (10F): 1, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S GOT IT (Nicola Burns); 2, J. J. Bailey’s OUR SOULS (Eryka Snioch); 3, K. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (Katelyn Leddin).

Non Winners’ Race (12F): 1, Deelview Racing’s BUBBA WATSON (Darragh O’Sullivan); 2, D. Burns MR G (Nicola Burns); 3, L. O’Sullivan’s MAKE A PLAN (Jayden Tuite).

Ballysteen Derby (2M): 1, A. Melia’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, M. Ahern’s VOLAR ALTO AMIGO (Dylan O’Connor); 3, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Adam Grant).

Maiden Race (1M): 1, D. Cahill’s THE RUBBER MAN (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s MAYDAY (Darragh O’Sullivan); 3, B. Daly’s THUNDER STORM (Adam Grant).