Oldcastle, Sunday
THE sun shone brightly in Oldcastle, Co Meath, on Sunday for the latest fixture on the midlands circuit.
Pony racing folk were in really good form following a highly successful Royal Ascot meeting for graduates of the sport. Midlands racing were honoured to welcome representatives of Australian pony racing who were visiting on a fact-finding mission for the sport back home.
Local jockey Nicola Burns and Armagh’s Kian McNally led the way as they shared six winners between them.
Nicola opened proceedings with victory on Chloe’s Sam in the 12-furlong contest. The beautiful chesnut continues to go from strength to strength following yet another high-class performance here. The Ladies Derby in Dingle beckons once again for Shane Crabbe’s star inmate.
Little Chief maintained his unbeaten record for the Brady family in the 14hh contest when holding the final flourish of Flaming Porter under Camillus Byrne.
Nicola combined with the McNamara family from Ballyconneely for her treble. Vicarstown runner-up Silver Hill put up a stellar performance to win the first division of the mile race much to the delight of Nicola’s local fan club. The winning owners quickly nominated their much-loved Errismore races as Silver Hill’s next objective.
McNally success
Kian McNally kicked off a very successful day at the office when Little Fiddlers gained another winning bracket in the 13.2hh contest. The Finnerty family’s pony again proved far too strong for Down Mexico Way and Rose Of Clare.
The reigning Golden Mile winner She’s Got It came out on top in a gripping finish to the 10-furlong race when narrowly denying Caro Quintero and Dell Boy.
Julian Pietropaolo set a searching gallop here on Caro Quintero and in probably one of the races of the season She’s Got It wore him down in the last 50 yards.
The McNally treble was completed in the concluding two-mile race when the debutant Frederick justified strong market support for an impressive victory. Not surprisingly, the winner looks a ready-made Dingle Derby candidate.
McGettigan double
The Bergin family from Co Laois are enjoying a wonderful season and they combined with Patrick McGettigan for another double. The Ballyare, Co Donegal jockey timed his fractions to perfection here and both horses look well on the up-grade.
Firedrops made every inch of the running to win the first division of the 15hh race while Jacob routed the opposition in the second division of the mile contest. Patrick has really impressed this season and is looking forward to signing on with Johnny Murtagh this summer.
Julian Pietropaolo who was narrowly denied on Caro Quintero had better luck in the 14.2hh race when Baby Caro oozed class to win on the bridle. Maurice Ahern’s Ballysteen and Vicarstown winner is likely to reappear in Athea, Co Limerick.
Wexford jockey Lily Walsh is eagerly looking forward to her local meeting in Taghmon with Bubba Watson who finished like a train to win the second division of the 15hh race. This multiple Dingle winner denied Frankie who was given a really good drive by Nina Doherty to finish in second spot.
It was a day to savour for 12-year-old Mountrath, Co Laois jockey Sean Holohan who rode his first career winner on Pretty Boy. Younger brother of Reese, Sean gave Pretty Boy a peach of a drive to make all the running from Ghost Buster and Eoin Ryan.
There was plenty of interest in the two local races with Jake Cromwell and Lily Murray gaining victories on Oscar and Skarua respectively.
Many thanks to the Cosgrove family for the use of their wonderful land on the day.
THE North West Racing Board will race tomorrow in beautiful Bundoran with a 2pm start.
The Southern Region will stage their next two fixtures in Athea, Co Limerick, on Sunday, July 7th, and in Taghmon, Co Wexford on Sunday, July 14th.
The Dingle Racing Festival will take place from August 9th to 11th next.
12.2HH (1M): 1, N. Holohan’s PRETTY BOY (Sean Holohan); 2, T. Beegan’s GHOST BUSTER (Eoin Ryan).
13.2HH (1M): 1, Finnerty Families LITTLE FIDDLERS (Kian McNally); 2, P. Collins/M. Ahern’s DOWN MEXICO WAY (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, O. Finnegan’s ROSE OF CLARE (Paddy Finnegan).
14HH (1M): 1, M. Brady’s LITTLE CHIEF (Nicola Burns); 2, K. Connell’s FLOORING PORTER (Camillus Byrne); 3, S. Kerins KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor).
14.2HH (1M): 1, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor’s BABY CARO (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, J. Walsh/P. Collins PACMAN (Lily Walsh); 3, K. Connell’s AN CAPALL DUBH (Adam Browne Souza).
15HH Div 1 (1M): 1, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Patrick McGettigan); 2, Dream Team Partnership’s LIVING THE DREAM (Kian McNally); 3, S. Crabbe’s BLACK TAXI (Reese Holohan).
15HH Div 2 (1M): 1, R. White’s BUBBA WATSON (Lily Walsh); 2, F. Byrnes FRANKIE (Nina Doherty); 3, D. Burns CHANCY MONEY (Nicola Burns).
Open Horse Race Div 1 (1M): 1, McNamara Families SILVER HILL (Nicola Burns); 2, Cregg Families STICK SEASON (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, N. Holohan’s STAY WITH HER JOHNNY (Reese Holohan).
Open Horse Race Div 2 (1M): 1, L. Bergin’s JACOB (Patrick McGettigan); 2, Dream Team Racing’s NOT NOW NED (Jimmy Dalton); 3, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Nicola Burns).
Open Horse Race (10F): 1, Dream Team Partnership’s SHE’S GOT IT (Kian McNally); 2, M. Ahern’s CARO QUINTERO (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, N. Holohan’s DELL BOY (Reese Holohan).
Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Nicola Burns); 2, S. Crabbe’s GO ON JIMMY (Reese Holohan); 3, Finnerty Families MR JAMES (Adam Grant).
Open Horse Race (2M): 1, G. Yemm’s FREDERICK (Kian McNally); 2, S. Crabbe’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Adam Grant); 3, F. Byrnes LINCOLN (Camillus Byrne).
Local Pony Race Div 1: 1, OSCAR (Jake Cromwell).
Local Pony Race Div 2: 1, SKARUA (Lily Murray).