Annaghmore Sunday

JONNY Cowden from North Belfast drove a double at Annaghmore last Sunday and also scored a notable milestone.

The 23-year-old was mentioned in 2021 for the fastest ever 50 in Irish Harness Racing and he has kept up the run rate to record the fastest ever 100 wins in Ireland.

Jonny rides out every morning at the Stuart Crawford racing yard at Larne, then comes home to help at the Cowden barn in Mallusk.

Jonny’s 100th win came in the opening grade G pace with West Belfast man Jim Galway’s Long Island Artist (touched 5/2). The winner is a short-coupled type but he has a great stride and seems to have an eager attitude. They beat the well supported Vinnie Camden (4/6) driven by Alan Wallace jnr.

Jonny’s brace came with a Coleraine-trained pacer, namely Sweet Caroline handled by Lawrence Stewart. The five-year-old mare has some finishing kick and Jonny could afford to hunt around on the inside knowing that if a gap came, she has the gears. The gap duly came, 4/5 favourite sweeps the field in a matter of strides, bookies pay out.

The win was Sweet Caroline’s fifth since joining Lawrence Stewart. The mile went 2.04.7. By way of comparison, a three-year-old colt – Confederate - by the same stallion (Sweet Lou) broke the world record for a three-year-old with a win in 1.46.1 at The Red Mile, Kentucky, over the weekend.

Sweet Lou is siring winners left, right and centre and his name on the page will help Sweet Caroline’s worth as a broodmare.

Carmel Stewart also has ‘pedigree’ as the mother of two winning drivers, Wattie and Jimmy, and a winning trainer Lawrence. Husband Walter got the owner’s credit on Sunday as Jimmy steered Lets Get To It to a lifetime best of 2.00.4. The daughter of Arts Professor looked well in, as she has been placed from the back line in large fields.

John Richardson rarely leaves the venue without a winner. As usual Dusty Jiel was fractious before, during and after his race. The 10-year-old actually forced a false start in the C to E trot, as he was playing up. At the second attempt, he got away on gait and had the speed to pass Hot To Trot (Mary Gilligan) and Feline des Noes (Simon Duggan).

“That’s his first win this year ‘’ said John, “he’s not the easiest horse to drive but he’s honest.”

John’s nephew Joseph Caffrey also coaxed a win out of another ‘monkey’ when he kept a good hold of Helios de Lara in the E to G trot.

Handsome does

The six-year-old is an equipment retailer’s dream come true because he wears all sorts of aids to keep him balanced. Handsome is as handsome does and Helios de Lara trotted well to fend off four rivals.

There was good word about Alpine Lucas before he ran at the Delaney Memorial in North Wales. The eight-year-old broke several times but still showed glimpses of speed on that occasion.

All was forgiven on Sunday as the Gavin Murdock-driven gelding led out, made all for a 1.59 victory. Rhyds Rival put in a big effort to get to within a length off 40 yards but the winner is unexposed and came with a handy ‘Grade E’ handicap.

Owner Sean Morgan’s family have been associated with some decent horses over the years; Just Decision, Eden Chief and Barn Behave to name but a few and it is nice to see the Omeath team back in the winner’s enclosure.

“I bought him from Ronnie Ralph in England. He missed nearly three years, first I hurt my back and then the horse got the virus. So he’s a lightly raced eight-year-old,” said Sean who trains the horse himself.

The concluding top-grade trot was unusual in two aspects for those who study the fractions in a race. An opening half of 1.09 and a mile in 2.13.4 would suggest that the leader, Fair Play Briolais, was allowed a soft lead.

However, a final half of 1.00.5 would confirm that the Longford runner is all class. Usual pilot Ronan Norton was in the bike, as he was when the horse won heat and final at the Red John Meeting.

Annaghmore resumes tomorrow, with increased prize money for the Trotteur Français races and the Black Horse juvenile series for young pacers. First race 2pm.

Full results, race cards and other information can be viewed at www.irishharnessracing.com. Replays of all races can be watched on the IHRA Facebook page.

Latest Standings

National Leading Driver at Sept 6th

Driver Wins

John Richardson, Ballyboughal 16

Troy McAleer, St Margarets 14

Billy Roche, Cloghran 12

Jonny Cowden, Glengormley 11

Sean Kane, The Naul 10

Jamie Hurley, Reenascreena 9

Eoin Murphy, Baltimore 8

Patrick Kane jnr, Trim 8