Dunmanway Saturday

THE village of Drimoleague nestled between Bantry and Dunmanway deep in the heart of West Cork has always been a stronghold for harness racing.

Five of the six winners at Dunmanway on Saturday evening were owned and trained by horsemen from that village.

The Drimoleague take over started in the grade F and E Pace. Biggins was quickly away from the start and led for the opening two laps.

He held on doggedly to beat Yankee George by two lengths. Chris O’Reilly from Leitra owns and trains this son of Yankee Lariat who also won here a few weeks back.

Fionn O’Reilly, a son of Chris, has forged a great partnership with veteran pacer Rhyds Panache and the pair won once again on the day. West End Illusion set a frenetic pace but was eventually reeled in by Panache for a five-length margin. Another winner for Leitra.

Empereur Souverain joined the Niall Forbes yard last autumn and gave his connections their third win of the season in the Grade E to F trot.

Dinah Washington and Helios De Lara exchanged blows for the opening two circuits. Forbes had Empereur Souverain just in behind the front pair and made his move entering the back straight, taking up the lead. Hippie Sisu came from a long way back for second. Forbes is from Clodagh just outside the village.

Dramatic

The grade A to D trot ended in dramatic fashion. Duccio trained at the track by Jeremiah O’Mahony tried valiantly to make all. Going out onto the final lap, he was still five lengths clear. Disaster struck 100 metres from the finish when for no reason he went off stride.

The rule states that any break in stride in the final 200 metres will result in disqualification. Coincidentally, Scottish driver Wull Greenhorn had a first past the post, Helios de Tithais, disallowed at the same stage at Appleby on the same day.

Duc d’Arry, who had a 60-yard handicap, was awarded the race from Brutenor. To be fair Duc d’Arry has been unlucky in his last few runs and deserved a red rosette.

Owner/trainer Denis O’Reilly maybe “exiled” in Derryclough, Drinagh, but he was born and bred in Knockbue.

The rout for Drimoleague was completed in the closer, a Grade A to D pace. Teddy Camden was forced to take the scenic route. He defeated Supreme Sunshine by two lengths

Derry McCarthy, a publican in the village, is joint owner with John Forde.

The news filtered through during racing of the passing of another stalwart of racing Con “Curry” O’Sullivan who was a Durrus native but resided in Drimoleague for many years. Curry was best associated with Blackwell Peter back in the early ‘90s.