1983

THE spending spree at Keeneland was put deservedly into perspective at Ascot on Saturday when the finish of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes was dominated by three admirably tough horses that have never appeared in the sales ring.

The race, above all, was a vindication for breeding horses to race, and keeping them racing, rather than opting for the easy option of early retirement to stud.

As Lester Piggott slipped into a two-length lead on Diamond Shoal halfway up the straight, it seemed he had stolen an unbeaten advantage. Behind him, Sun Princess was trying hard to close the gap, and Time Charter, who had been ridden with supreme patience by Joe Mercer, was beginning to make progress on the outside.

Quickening again, she caught Diamond Shoal well inside the final furlong, and gained a memorable victory by three-parts of a length. Sun Princess was a length away third, with Awaasif a fine fourth.

Lesson

Joe will be 49 in October, but there is still no more rhythmic, economic finisher in the business. His style, sympathy and restrained use of the whip is an object lesson to all young jockeys, and it was no surprise afterwards to learn that Billy Newnes, Time Charter’s regular rider, had always been advised by Henry Candy to mould himself on Joe Mercer.

The one blot on the race on Saturday was the performance of Caerleon, who started joint favourite at 9/4 and finished last of the nine runners. A stewards’ inquiry into his form discovered that he had lost his front shoes shortly before the final bend. After that, Pat Eddery reported, the horse was unable to stride out freely.

[Time Charter won eight races and £489,400 including the Group 1 Dubai Champion Stakes, Group 1 Coronation Cup, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and the Group 1 Oaks Stakes. At Group 1 level she was runner-up in the Coral Eclipse Stakes and 1000 Guineas.

At stud she is the dam of seven winners, the best of which were the Group 2 winners Zinaad (Shirley Heights) and Time Allowed (Sadler’s Wells). Many top-class winners descend from Time Charter, notably Group 1 winner Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor) and Grade 1 winner Digital Age (Invincible Spirit)].

Allen claims European silver

2013

BERTRAM Allen continued his good record at European Championship level when claiming silver at the juniors in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain last Sunday.

In his final month as a junior rider, Allen partnered Ballywalter Farms’ grey mare Molly Malone to claim the medal. The rider has enjoyed a very good career so far, from multiple European pony and junior gold medals, through to recent senior international Grand Prix wins.

He is one of Irish show jumping’s brightest hopes for the future.

European junior team gold winner in 2012, the 17-year-old lost out in a three-way jump off to Italy’s Emanuele Massimiliano Bianchi and Cupido Z by less than a second. Allen finished sixth in the first qualifier with a clear in 82.49 seconds on Molly Malone, but could only manage equal ninth in the second qualifier with four faults. However, another clear improved his position.

With three riders on a total of four faults after three rounds of jumping in the individual championships last weekend, Allen, who turns 18 in August, was pitted against the Italian combination, and Lisa Nooren from The Netherlands aboard the bay gelding Zigo. Nooren was first to jump and set the target with a clear in 42.36, but that was soon improved on by Allen in 41.54. However, the Italian rider was almost a second faster in 40.60 to secure the gold medal.

Allen said: “I am absolutely delighted to win a silver medal at the European Championships. It has been a long, tough competition over four days in a fantastic facility with temperatures in the 30s. It was special for Molly Malone as we purchased her here at the Sunshine Tour as a five-year-old. I would like to thank my team members, Jeremy Sweetnam, Michael Duffy, and Tom Foley, chef d’equipe Comdt John Ledingham, and the huge Irish contingent at the championships for their tremendous support.”

“Bertram’s performance was exceptional,” said Ledingham afterwards. “He went into a jump-off as second to go of three. Lisa Nooren went very, very quick, and he went in and delivered a masterful performance to take a second off her time and clear. For the last rider, it was all duck or no dinner, and his round was quick enough to take over. I don’t think, in Bertram’s position, he could have done anything else. It was a fantastic achievement to win silver after four tough days of competition.”

The top-five in the individual junior competition secure a place for their nation on the European show jumping team at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China next August. An Irish rider will be selected for the event, where riders use borrowed horses.

Bleahen family’s day to remember

2013

THE Midlands Region raced in Ballygluinan in Galway last Sunday, on a day that will always be remembered by the extended Bleahen family.

Incredibly, all four of them riding on the day made visits to the winner’s enclosure.

Nine-year-old Ben started the day off by winning the local pony race on the veteran Snowball, who was a Grade A show jumper in his prime. Next up was 11-year-old Josh, who partnered his first winner as The Boodyman took the 15hh race for the Going Broke Syndicate.

Thirteen-year-old Luke was not going to be outdone as he then landed the 12-furlong race on X Factor for Clare-based John Queally. Having only his second run and thus obliged to carry top-weight, the winner made light of his burden as he won in highly impressive fashion.

Ben, Josh and Luke are all sons of Ballinasloe trainer John, and to complete an unprecedented day, their 12-year-old cousin Harry then went on to take the two-mile race on Where’s Johnny, for the ironically named, considering their success, Going Broke Syndicate. Harry registered his first win of the season, and his second in total.

Tom Madden and Rossa Ryan both rode doubles on the day. Ryan took the 14hh race on Fiddlers Bridge for the Finnerty stable. Ryan delivered a perfectly timed challenge to get up in the shadow of the post and deny Black Ice.

The rider completed his double and moved into double figures for the season when landing Waratah the winner of the first divide of the 14.2hh race for Seamus Bergin.

Tom Madden made his first visit of the day to the winner’s enclosure following the 10-furlong race, as Storm Force collected for owner Tom Fennily. The winner cruised into contention inside the final four furlongs to win impressively from Remember David. Madden’s second winner came on the evergreen Push The Button who won the non-winners race (for horses who have not won this season) over a mile.

‘The Button’, as he is affectionately known, didn’t find the fast ground to his liking and he also never travelled comfortably, but nonetheless he responded bravely to Madden’s urgings and battled home to win from Simply Red and Riverstown Girl. The real significance of the win was that he has now won a race in each of the last seven seasons, a noteworthy achievement for the Finnerty’s who have handled him with great skill.

The feature race of the day was the Ballygluinan Derby over a mile, and this went to Our Daryl who was partnered by Oisin Orr for Monasterevin owner Stephanie Kelly. Orr sat in third early on before striking for home, quickening two furlongs out to win from Luke McGuinness on Dancinginthedark.

Thanks Grandad continued his dominance of the 13hh class as he provided Downpatrick rider Caoilin Quinn with his third winner of the campaign. Tony Beegan’s charge was always in command and was chased home by the Andy O’Donnell ridden Another Tiger. The second divide of the 14.2hh race went to The Sprout who won for the Iggy and Evan Daly team.