KEVIN Manning brought the curtain down on an incredible career in the saddle spanning 40 years and over 1,600 winners worldwide after he steered Vocal Studies home in the Corrib Food Products Maiden.

The 55-year-old jockey was given a tremendous reception by the crowd and his fellow jockeys upon announcing his immediate retirement.

“I’ve had a great career, I can’t complain, things have gone well and I’ve enjoyed some great days. I have been very lucky to ride some very good horses along the way and owe Jim and Jackie (Bolger) everything,” he said.

“I was suspended for this weekend, which is the end of grass season, and I had some good rides today and said to myself it is time to call it quits if one of these wins.”

He added: “I have been with Jim for a very long time, he has stuck by me through thick and thin and owe him everything. It has been a great career.

“I don’t think it would be right to pick any one winner as being extra special as they are all great memories with all those good winners, but also the smaller ones were special.”

Manning rode his first winner in 1983 and was appointed as stable jockey to Bolger in 1993. He rode 36 Group 1 winners including the Irish Derby on Trading Leather in 2013.

This final winner was in Jackie Bolger’s colours and scored by two and three-quarter lengths to justify 4/6 favouritism.

RONAN Whelan rode a pair of winners on the card starting with Chally Chute (10/3 joint favourite) in the Galway Handicap over an extended mile and three furlongs.

The in-form four-year-old gelding brought up his hat-trick in dominant fashion as he asserted by five lengths in the final furlong for owner Julie White.

Trainer Mick Halford said: “He is an improving horse, is fit as a fiddle and we took a chance he’d go through the (heavy) ground and he did.

“There aren’t too many that can win around Dundalk and do that as well, and he is a lovely tough and genuine horse. That’ll be it now for the year and we’ll put him away.”

Whelan’s brace was secured in division two of the Galway Races Summer Festival 2023 Handicap when Whatcouldhavebeen (5/1 joint-favourite) defied top-weight.

The four-year-old filly hit the front over a furlong from home and drew clear in the final 100 yards to pass the post five lengths to the good.

Trainer Jarlath Fahey said: “Ronan said she was a bit out of her depth early in the race and was further back than ideal, but said she eventually got into the race nicely and stayed galloping to the line.”

Whatcouldhavebeen is owned by Fahey’s wife Suzanne.

Drew level

Colin Keane drew level with Billy Lee in the race for the jockeys’ title with victory on 28/1 newcomer Paris Secret in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden for owner Paul Hardy.

The Zoffany filly came home best to get up by three-quarters of a length after which Andy Oliver said: “She jumped, travelled well, was green obviously, and Colin gave her a lovely ride. She was doing her best work at the end.”

San Aer got the better of Excuzio Joe approaching the line in the KONE Handicap. Ben Coen sent the 8/1 shot home by half a length for trainer Tom Mullins and his wife, owner Helen Mullins.

Trainer Mullins said: “He was unlucky at the (Galway) Festival in 2021 when he got no luck in running and didn’t win until he got heavy ground at Killarney last October.”

Duke dominates for McDonogh

DUKE Of Leggagh (13/2) was an easy winner of the Swordsecurity.com Handicap under Declan McDonogh for owner/breeder Larry Mulvany.

The grey son of Tough As Nails was in the box seat tracking Tic Tac Toe and moved ahead of him on the approach to the straight.

McDonogh rode him to go and take the race by the scruff of the neck outside the furlong pole and his mount responded generously to draw five and a half lengths clear.

Trainer Michael Mulvany said: “He is coming to himself all the time and, being a full-brother to (stablemate) Ideal Pal, we had a rough idea he’d handle the ground. He was very weak early on this year, but has started to strengthen.”

Terence O’Brien’s Speckled Meadow doubled her career total in the Barna Recycling Handicap over seven furlongs when Adam Caffrey steered the 3/1 favourite home by a length and a quarter.

Brilliant

Owner Don Browne said: “That is brilliant. We thought the seven furlongs might be too short, but with the ground and hill, we thought the stamina might kick in and it worked out.

“We hoped to build up her stamina this year and it has worked out well and she could jump hurdles next year.”

Molly Kaye (8/1) followed up on her Navan success in the first division of the Galway Races Summer Festival 2023 Handicap.

Shane Foley, in Garry Fleming’s colours, worked her to the front entering the straight and she put her best work in to move five lengths clear at the winning post.

Trainer Shane Duffy said: “She is a real mudlark and has a heart as big as a bucket - Dusty (Foley) said he’s never ridden one as honest as her. She is really game and now she has her confidence back, will go back hurdling where I think she is rated to win.”