Lyre Sunday

OISIN Quill teamed up with Supreme Sunshine to take the honours in the top-grade pace at Lyre.

Oisin comes in for plenty of catch drives in his fledgling career but few will give him as much pleasure as his win in the highest grade pace at Lyre last Sunday. Oisin, his family and the Murphys from Baltimore stepped forward to help when Supreme Sunshine’s usual driver John Boyle was tipped out of the sulky in a mishap at the start of the original race. John had to go to hospital.

In the re-run Showtime Notorious and Get Me Out Of Here set the early fractions. With a lap to go Quill produced Supreme Sunshine to take up the running and quickly edged clear. Blue Showdown briefly flattered but Supreme sunshine found plenty in the final 200 yards to ease to a five-length winning margin.

The veteran driver was back at home on Monday night with bad bruising but no fractures. Boyle is originally from the far end of the country, Ardara in Co Donegal. They make them tough up there and John was reported to be keen to get back racing. His family sent a message thanking those who took charge of the horses and the Cork trotting community.

Happy scenes

There were happy scenes on the day: “I couldn’t believe the reception I got after the race,” Quill said. “John is such a popular figure in racing, and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

This was the second winner of the day for the Kenmare-based driver. Earlier in the day he teamed up with another veteran pacer King Wills Arrival to land the spoils in the Grade F pace.

This was a tightly-run affair with Ayr Trooper and Foxfield Ranger making the running. Heading out on the final circuit King Wills Arrival got a dream run up the rail and led turning for home and despite a late challenge from both Rhyds Panache and Ayr Majesty the son of Cams Card Shark held on by three-quarters of a length from Rhyds Panache who lost nothing in defeat.

The winner is trained by Finbarr Quill who also sent out Fina Mix to win the Grade C and D trot. Banderillo Piya and Donal Murphy set a decent pace up front and were five lengths clear heading out on the final circuit.

They maintained this advantage down the back straight and turning for home it looked as if they had stolen a march on the field, but Seamus Quill produced Fina Mix with a late burst to collar the long-time leader. Stable companion Cakinap stayed on for second, making it a one-two for the Kerry outfit.

Mark Kane was another driver in top form. He made the long trip from Co Meath worthwhile by driving two winners.

Mark opened his account aboard Cyrano D’Iton in the Grade F trot. The pair led from the start and were joined by Empereur Souverain but Cyrano D’Iton pulled away in the home straight. A late effort by Holloway Road to catch the winner could only get to within half a length.

Kane’s double came in the very next race. Bugsy Malone shed his maiden tag for Dublin-based owner Craig Malone. The three-year-old son of Total Truth hit the front from the start and did not see a rival. Said To Be Sweet was three lengths behind in second and should win sooner rather than later.

The top-grade trot looked a match between Duc D’Arry and stable companion Comete Des Landes. Destin De Larre ensured this was a true run contest by setting good fractions for the opening half. Duc D’Arry went to the front on the final lap and went clear heading into the dip.

Just at the point of the corner he gave a slight skip allowing Comete Des Landes to lead. Even though Duc D’Arry came again Comete Des Landes still held on by half a length. The winner was well driven by Eoin Murphy who upstaged his uncle Donal who drove the runner-up.

Share A Smile followed up on his win at the Red John Memorial with another victory in the E to F pace. Timmy Moloney from Grange, Clonakilty drove the winner. They had Newtown Killian for company for three-quarters of the trip but pulled away in the final quarter to record a four-length winning margin.

Racing returns to Lyre today. Details of entries are available on www.irishharnessracing.com

Tir Prince Saturday

FOR the second time in a month, Irish raiders played a massive part in proceedings at Tir Prince Raceway, north Wales last Saturday night.

The Breeders Crown meeting, the brain child of Edinburgh based harness and sulky distributor Dave Wilson, is next in stature to the Vincent Delaney Memorial which is also staged at Adam Williams’ purpose built facility.

There were five ‘Irish’ winners on the 10-race card. The Professor is Irish-owned but trained by Vicky Gill at York.

The other four winners were Rhyds Scoundrel, heat and final winner of the three-year-old colts and geldings for Patrick Kane, senior and junior. Rhyds Scoundrel clocked a sharp 1’57 for the mile.

Maid Sweet (Gavin Murdock for Graham Byrne) followed up her win a fortnight ago with another victory in the two-year-old fillies.

Finally, the aptly named Churchview Frankel added the four-year-old title to those that he won at two and three. Bernard and Gail Nicholson train the exciting son of Foreclosure.

Annaghmore Sunday

THE meeting at Annaghmore, Co Armagh had that ‘After the Lord Mayor’s show’ feel about it. The fixture followed hot on the heels of the super Red John Weekend so naturally all of the top horses were getting a break. Some of the lesser lights set out to lose their maiden status, while a few journeymen types saw an opportunity to nab some soft prize money.

A win’s a win all the same and if ever a horse deserved a spot in the winners circle it is the gutsy little Kikicolt gelding, Mooreside Captain and owner/driver Stephen McHugh. The sparse attendance meant that every word the drivers were saying could be heard. “Go on Captain!” was a simple instruction from McHugh to his horse as the eight-year-old upstaged the even money favourite All Bets Are Off (Billy Roche).

McHugh races out of Smithboro, Monaghan, which does not possess many track horses.

Should Billy Roche regain the drivers title he will thank Gavin Murdock for one unexpected winner. The Red Baron came in for three catch drives on the card as the Murdocks were late coming back from North Wales. Perhaps they asked the ferry captain to do a lap of honour around Anglesey?

Billy drove the grey American Rogue for Gavin Murdock and preceded this win with a victory on Joe Gannon’s Fleche Extreme. The seven-year-old wasn’t winning out of turn.

The opening Grade G pace saw those shrewd developers of a young horse, Gabriel and Thomas McDonagh land a typical get-out-and-get-on type performance with Cracker Mach. Unusually this was a second winner for Monaghan as Gabriel now resides in Ballybay.

The A to D trot was settled by the rule book. Cyclone De Couriere (Dan McAteer) appeared to finish first but was adjudged to have been rough gaited in the straight and therefore disqualified. The race went therefore to Dusty Jiel and John Richardson.

Cyclone De Couriere was the moral victor in the race, and the Mc Ateers will be disappointed. However, if you race often enough these things happen and it was a similar situation to when John Richardson had a valuable race won with Elsa De Roche only to gallop on the line.

Action resumes at Portmarnock tomorrow. The track is off the R107 Malahide Road near Kinsealey chapel. The web site www.irishharnessracing.com gives runners, results and general information.