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THE McGill family from Maghera take pride of place on the racing front this week, with Dara riding two winners at Clonmel last Thursday week, one of whom, the Oakleaf Lads Syndicate’s Apologise in the two-mile handicap hurdle, was trained by the rider’s father, Gary.
On Saturday, Dara landed the concluding older geldings’ maiden at Oldtown on the Kevin Ross-owned and trained High Tea, a Mount Nelson six-year-old, who was having his fifth start. The bay is out of the Shantou mare Thanks For Tea, whose four wins included a Grade 3 victory in a mares’ chase at Clonmel.
Also at Oldtown, there was a win for rider Deckie Lavery and trainer Patrick Turley in the mares’ maiden with Simply Natural, a five-year-old British-bred newcomer by Spanish Moon, while David Christie saddled Ray Nicholas’s Hathaways Cottage to land the winners of three.
Disappointingly for owner and trainer, yard favourite Winged Leader narrowly failed to add to his record of 28 wins between the flags, when going down by a neck to fellow 2/1 joint-favourite, Early Doors.
Across the water
On the point-to-point scene across the water, the only winner with a local connection was the Tom Foy-bred nine-year-old gelding Camdonian (Shantou – Miss Garbo, by Bob Back), who notched up his 10th success in this sphere, when landing the five-runner mixed open at Duncombe Park on Sunday.
There were track wins over jumps in Britain for the Graham Morrow-bred 2018 gelding Classic Maestro (Jet Away – Shantelle Line, by Shantou), for the Liam Cosgrave-bred, Harry Smyth-owned 2018 gelding Portnacoo (Morozov – Lady Shanrod, by Generous) and for the Deckie Lennon-bred 2019 gelding Holeshot (Court Cave – Rowdy Exit, by Exit To Nowhere). On the level, the Max Ervine-bred two-year-old colt Noble Victory (Churchill – Purple Glow, by Orientate) got off the mark on the second time of asking at Chelmsford last Thursday week.
On the jockey front, Brian Hughes rode three winners in the period under review, as did Danny McMenamin, Derek Fox recorded a double at Kelso on Friday, while there was a single win for Sam Ewing at Clonmel on Thursday week last. On the flat, Martin Harley partnered two wins in Australia, Oisin Orr was on the mark at Newcastle on Friday, when Luke McAteer landed the last at Dundalk, while the preceding mile and a half-maiden was won by Peter FitzGerald’s five-year-old Teofilo mare, Aird.
Bryan jumps to it on eventing field
UNDER the watchful eye of Judy Maxwell, the final qualifying leg of the Baileys Horse Feeds Flexi Eventing league at The Meadows was held last Saturday, when the Connor McClory-ridden Bestman Bryan picked up 15 points to claim overall second and, in the process, win the Treo Eile-sponsored prize for the leading thoroughbred.
The Lauro gelding, who amassed 54 points during the league, four behind the winning Irish Sport Horse mare Lady Remarque, a 2008 daughter of the US thoroughbred I Was Framed, is owned by Vina Buller, whose husband Alfred bred the five-year-old.
The bay is the sixth foal, and the first of three by Lauro, out of the unraced Desert King mare Dans Desert, who comes from the family of Exit To Wave, Robin du Sherwood, Little King Robin, Houmayoun and Hanzala.
Tall horse
The fact that Bestman Bryan was never in training is probably best explained by Vina. “He is a very tall horse, so we decided to give him plenty of time. He is a very good mover, with great limbs and I could see him do well as a middleweight show hunter, although, as he proved through the Flexi Eventing league, he could do any discipline.
“We may do the Star of the Future performance qualifiers for Balmoral with him, as we have a six-year-old thoroughbred Mr Marmalade (by Lauro out of Supreme Cove (by Supreme Leader), the dam of Destroyer Deployed and three other winners) heading for those and then we’ll see where we go from there.
“Connor, who rides him, works with me at Scarvagh looking after the mares and foals, breaking the youngsters and then riding them away; he’s a very good horseman. Before this horse started the Flexi Eventing league, Connor did a bit of hunting with him, including with the South Tyrones on Boxing Day, and a few hunt rides.”
Qualification for Balmoral commences at The Meadows next Saturday (performance Irish Draughts and Star of the Future qualifiers) and Sunday (working hunter and ridden Connemara qualifiers).
FORMER pony racing rider Conan Faulkner, who required brain surgery in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin following two seizures last month, sent us an upbeat WhatsApp message on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old, who had just started his holidays from his job working for north Co Dublin trainer Ado McGuinness at the time of the seizures, is recuperating at home in Co Derry with his parents, Gerard and Gemma, and his sister, Keeley.
“Got my results today and my brain tumour was fortunately a Grade 2 Astrocytoma brain tumour, so I don’t require any chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The tumour was around the size of a golf ball and they said it was a very slow growing/progressing type.
“They will do a further MRI in three months’ time. This will definitely confirm that there is nothing left behind when the bruising inside goes away, but at present they are certain it’s already all gone. I will have to have another MRI six months after that, along with regular scans, to monitor that it doesn’t grow back, as there is always that risk although, since it was Grade 2, the risk of it growing back is low. The road to recovery is looking even better!”
YES, it’s that time of year, the build-up to the Prestbury Park Festival, so we are promoting Gaultstats – Cheltenham 2025 whose founder, Bryan Gault, disappointingly states on his website: “Gaultstats 2025 will be my final edition. It’s been fun, thanks, but it’s time for someone else.”
As ever, Bryan asks for donations to a nominated charity and here, recent circumstances have resulted in him making a change to his choice.
Donations
“I had originally thought of asking for donations for the British Heart Foundation. My thanks to those who have already given. But due to the tragic events surrounding Michael O’Sullivan, I am now asking for donations to the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund.
“We sometimes forget the daily risks these young men and women take for our entertainment. From what I’ve seen and read, Michael was a wonderful lad. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Fine jockey
“He definitely was a fine jockey and a stats breaker by winning the Grade 1 Supreme when still claiming 5lb. Not quickly forgotten, as he then fulfilled Momentum Theory by winning the Boodles on Jazzy Matty on that Tuesday in 2023. Two great rides. I feel privileged to have been present.”
THE ITBA Northern Region breeders’ evening at the Belmont Hotel, Banbridge, which was cancelled this week as a mark of respect to Michael O’Sullivan, has been re-scheduled to next Wednesday, February 26th.
Assistant trainer and racing commentator, James Griffin, will be hosting the meeting, where the topic ‘From pedigree to parade ring’ will be discussed by local trainer Natalia Lupini, Johnny Murtagh, Nick Nugent and Cassie Tully.
Unfortunately, this means a clash with the Cheltenham preview evening in The Station Bar, Portrush, where the panel will comprise Derek ‘Tommo’ Thompson, Daryl Jacob and Bob Champion. Funds raised will be in aid of @BobChampion1981.
Pamela Ballantine will be MC for next Friday’s Cheltenham preview night, in aid of Barretstown Children’s Charity, in Belfast’s oldest family-run bar, Laverys, where she will be joined on stage by Kevin Blake, Bryan Cooper, Tony Keenan and Archie Devlin.
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