Allihies Thursday
THE pony racing fraternity were back in action four days after the Dingle festival with a trip to the Allihies races deep on the Beara Peninsula.
It was a day to savour for Limerick jockey Katelyn Leddin who rode her initial career winner. There were also doubles for Dylan O’Connor and Reese Holohan respectively.
Katelyn Leddin will have fond memories of her trip to Allihies as she made every inch of the running on Baby Brown to win the 15hh contest. Katelyn took no prisoners here and ran out an impressive 10-length winner on Kathy Flannery’s charge.
This was the first leg of a double for Kathy who followed up with Heartbreak Hill landing the featured 12-furlong race. Julian Pietropaolo, fresh from his Dingle title, was always in pole position and ran on strongly to see off Lights Of London. The winner had been touched off in the Dingle Consolation race on Sunday afternoon.
O’Connor brace
Dylan O’Connor kicked off his brace of winners when Shelly Baby repeated last year’s victory in the first division of the 14.2hh event. Michelle Brosnan’s charge ran on well in the final circuit to hold off the challenge of Crystal Lady under Caoimhe Sugrue.
Dylan’s double was completed in the concluding maiden contest when Mayday made every yard of the running. The winner is owned by the Soft Touch Syndicate from Glenbeigh, Co Kerry.
Reese Holohan made the long trip from Mountrath, Co Laois, well worthwhile with victories on Hello Boy and Hello Star. The former, who was touched off by the most slender of margins in Dingle, went one better in the opening 12.2hh race. The Curly Syndicate runner proved far too strong for stable companion Hello Nettie.
Reese had to work much harder on Hello Star who got the better of a protracted duel with Down Mexico Way to land the 13.2hh contest.
Causeway, Co Kerry jockey Billy Roberts has made a big impression this season in the small pony divisions and he expanded his CV with victory in the second division of the 14.2hh race.
The Noel Brosnan-owned veteran The Low Road stayed on strongly under a canny Billy Robert’s ride on the final circuit to beat Little Bird by six lengths.
Finally, well done to the Allihies committee who were rewarded with a record crowd and loads of trade stands from local business people in splendid sunshine.
Results
Thursday, August 15th
12.2HH (6F): 1, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO BOY (Reese Holohan); 2, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO NETTIE (Dylan O’Connor).
13.2HH (10F): 1, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Reese Holohan); 2, M. Ahern/P. Collins DOWN MEXICO WAY (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, Curly Syndicate’s SORE LOOSER (Eoin Sheehan).
14.2HH Div 1 (12F): 1, M. Brosnan’s SHELLY BABY (Dylan O’Connor); 2, Tyner Syndicate’s CRYSTAL LADY (Caoimhe Sugrue); 3, J. Collins KERRY NORTH (Reese Holohan).
14.2HH Div 2 (12F): 1, N. Brosnan’s THE LOW ROAD (Billy Roberts); 2, Curragh Racing’s LITTLE BIRD (Eoin Sheehan); 3, S. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor).
15HH (12F): 1, K. Flannery’s BABY BROWN (Katelyn Leddin); 2, Soft Touch Syndicate’s RED HANDED (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s BOUNCE (Caoimhe Sugrue).
Allihies Derby (12F): 1, K. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, B.C.G. Syndicate’s LIGHTS OF LONDON (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s SHE’S GOT IT 1 (Caoimhe Sugrue).
Maiden Race (12F): 1, Soft Touch Syndicate’s MAYDAY (Dylan O’Connor); 2, C.V.R. Syndicate’s SANDRA’S SECRET (Caoimhe Sugrue).