Ballysteen Sunday

THE southern region began its first of six scheduled fixtures at Ballysteen, Co Limerick, on Sunday last.

East Cork jockey Julian Pietropaolo took the days riding honours with his initial four-timer while there were doubles for Nicola Burns and Dylan O’Connor respectively.

Indeed, it was a special day for the Pietropaolo family as his first cousin Shane Cotter was crowned Under-21 point-to-point champion for the season at Inchydoney.

Julian kicked off his special day when Down Mexico Way ran out an impressive winner of the 13.2hh race over a mile.

The Carndonagh runner-up quickened away up the straight for joint owners Pat Collins and Maurice Ahern. The double was completed in the first division of the 14.hh contest when another Carndonagh runner-up Baby Caro made every inch of the running from Sky and Patrick McGettigan in second place.

The All For Sale Syndicate from Kildare supplied the Ballynoe jockey with his other two winners courtesy of Dell Boy and Here We Go Again. Dell Boy created a big impression at Vicarstown and he duly followed up in the 10-furlong race scoring with the minimum of fuss. This grey horse looks a leading Golden Mile candidate for Dingle.

Repeated the feat

The defending Ballysteen Derby winner Here We Go Again repeated last year’s feat when making all the running from fellow Kildare raider Bipolar Blondie under Adam Grant. This Derby Trial winner from Dingle is likely to reappear at Loughbrickland tomorrow.

Champion lady jockey Nicola Burns from Mullingar was on the mark yet again with Chloe’s Sam and Maverick.

The high-class Chloe’s Sam continued on his winning way in the Ladies Derby to see off the brave Baby Brown and Katelyn Leddin by four lengths. The winner is a possibility for the Tradesman Meeting in Scotland next weekend.

The Finnerty family from Roscommon are wonderful supporters of the horse and pony racing circuit and they were duly rewarded when Maverick put up a stellar performance to win the concluding maiden contest.

Dingle Derby-winning jockey Dylan O’Connor combined with Clare owner Shane Kerin for another victory on Katie Taylor in the 14hh race. The Dingle winning pony stayed on dourly up the straight to see off Rice’s Road under Camillus Byrne.

The Liscarroll jockey completed his double on Hasta La Vista for his mother Mags in a highly competitive 15hh contest over a mile. This pony progressed at pace last season and will be one of the leading 15hh candidates for the Dingle Festival in August.

Rising star

Mountrath, Co Laois jockey Reese Holohan is one of the rising stars and he gave Shane Crabbe’s Go On Jimmy a really polished drive to win the 12-furlong race from Right On Time. The Vicarstown runner-up is also Loughbrickland bound tomorrow.

It was a day to savour for 13-year-old Billy Roberts from Ballyduff, Co Kerry, who rode his first career winner on the grey Tiny Dancer in the opening 12.2hh contest.

The jockey who made his debut at Vicarstown scraped the paint throughout and ran on strongly up the straight to lead inside the distance. It was certainly a fine drive from the winning jockey who also competes on the show jumping circuit.

Wexford jockey Lily Walsh got the perfect present on her 13th birthday when Pacman made most of the running to win the second division of the 14.2hh event. This multiple-winning pony is owned in partnership by her mother Jenny along with Pat Collins.

Long trek

Ballyare, Co Donegal jockey Patrick McGettigan made the long trek to the Limerick venue well worthwhile when Jacob put up an eye-catching performance to win the second division of the mile over the staying on Not Now Ned in second spot.

The winner is owned by Liam Bergin snr who was in jubilant mood while also celebrating his 80th birthday on the day. Patrick McGettigan is attached to the Johnny Murtagh yard and will be taking out his apprentice licence in August.

Ballybunion, Co Kerry jockey Grace Costello landed the local contest from last to first on Mr James.

Results, Sunday, May 26th

12.2HH (6F): 1, L. Lynch’s TINY DANCER (Billy Roberts); 2, P. Collins SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Caitlin Goff); 3, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO BOY (Eoin Sheehan).

13.2HH (1M): 1, P. Collins/M. Ahern DOWN MEXICO WAY (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, F. Byrne’s LITTLE JACK (Timothy Byrne); 3, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Eoin Sheehan).

14HH (1M): 1, S. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor); 2, J. McMahon’s RICE’S ROAD (Camillus Byrne); 3, J. Collins KERRY NORTH (Kian McNally).

14.2HH Div 1 (1M): 1, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor BABY CARO (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, S. Bergin’s SKY (Patrick McGettigan); 3, K. Connell’s AN CAPALL DUBH (Adam Browne Souza).

14.2HH Div 2 (1M): 1, P. Collins/J. Walsh PACMAN (Lily Walsh); 2, M. Ahern’s QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (Adam Grant).

15HH (1M): 1, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LA VISTA (Dylan O’Connor); 2, P. O’Sullivan & Sons CALI CARTEL (Reese Holohan); 3, S. Crabbe’s BLACK TAXI (Nicola Burns).

Open Horse Race Div 1 (1M): 1, All For Sale Syndicate’s DELL BOY (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, S. Tynan’s STAY WITH HER JOHNNY (Reese Holohan); 3, M. O’Connor’s VOLAR ALTAMIGO (Dylan O’Connor).

Open Horse Race Div 2 (1M): 1, L. Bergin’s JACOB (Patrick McGettigan); 2, Dream Team Racing’s NOT NOW NED (Jimmy Dalton); 3, K. Flannery’s INDIAN LADY (Julian Pietropaolo).

Ladies Derby (10F): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Nicola Burns); 2, K. Flannery’s BABY BROWN (Katelyn Leddin); 3, L. Halford’s SMOOTH OPERATOR (Holly Halford).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, S. Crabbe’s GO ON JIMMY (Reese Holohan); 2, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor RIGHT ON TIME (Dylan O’Connor); 3, L. Bergin’s FIRE DROPS (Patrick McGettigan).

Ballysteen Derby (2M): 1, All For Sale Syndicate’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, S. Crabbe’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Adam Grant); 3, K. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (Patrick McGettigan).

Maiden Horse Race (1M): 1, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Nicola Burns); 2, M. O’Connor’s HASTA LUEGO (Dylan O’Connor); 3, L. O’Sullivan’s MAKE A PLAN (Jayden Chute).

Local Pony Race (6F): 1, MR JAMES (Grace Costello); 2, CASH OR CARD (Ryan Mangan); LITTLE RED ROBIN (Ellie McCarthy).