Annaghmore Saturday

JONNY Cowden from North Belfast was the leading driver at Annaghmore, Co Armagh, on Sunday. The 23-year-old, who still rides out at Stuart Crawford’s National Hunt yard, had three catch drives on the card and won with Sweet Caroline and Boyardo.

Sweet Caroline is one of the seemingly endless supply of Sweet Lou progeny starting to dominate harness racing. A winner of $3.5 million himself, the stallion is firing out winners in the US and Australia as well.

Sweet Caroline (2/1) is trained by Coleraine man Lawrence Stewart for a Dublin-based syndicate. She beat the 6/4 favourite Sweet Jeff (John Richardson) under a clever drive from Jonny.

“She did that well “ said Stewart. “It makes up for a few that didn’t work out.”

Joe Sheridan, now based at Garristown, has been a constant presence in Irish harness racing right from the revival in 1969. Joe has owned dozens of winners over the years. Boyardo became the latest trotter to win in the yellow and red harness of the Springhill Stud. The hardy 13-year-old accounted for Ha’penny Chance (Hopper Foran) to pick up €1,350 and the F and E trot.

The double-winning driver told The Irish Field: “Boyardo had solid form behind our own horse, Emil Paco. Sweet Caroline is not very big but she has attitude and ability. It was nice to drive winners for Joe and Lawrence.”

Smitten

Hannah Richardson must be smitten by Jim Bolger as she has named Kickass Katie, as Gaeilge. ‘Rugadh Mé Réidh’ translates as ‘I was born ready ‘ and the name was apt, as another Sweet Lou quickly made up the ground on Forever Amour and Jonny Cowden.

Ominously for the owners of the other three-year-olds, driver John Richardson thinks there is improvement in the daughter of Kickass Katie.

He said: “I was happy enough. She is still a bit green but going in the right direction.” 2.01.8 first time out is a nice clock.

Neil McDermott is about the only resident of Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, to race at a recognised track. Saturday was Neil’s birthday and he celebrated by landing a good old-fashioned touch with A Kind Of Magic.

Any 3/1 was quickly snapped up and Bernard Nicholson gave the 11-year-old a confident drive to win in 2.00.5

Things only got better for Neil as his partner and daughter produced a surprise birthday cake out of the clubhouse. A hearty rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ was belted out. Some of the bookies politely refused a slice of cake, citing ‘indigestion’.

The high grade trot went to John Morgan of Omeath as the stylish Ecrin De Grimault strode out with panache for driver Noel Ryan. Jim McAteer’s Cyclone De Couriere fought gamely for second but the winner was too hot to pin back.

“John has him trained to perfection – it’s easy when a good horseman hands you one like that to drive.”

The 17-year-old Leah McNevin drove IB A Magician to win the A to D pace, her biggest win so far. The Rathcoole driver beat no less than John Richardson himself. The winning driver had to survive a stewards’ inquiry as there was some close driving on the first turn. Most observers were happy to see Leah keep the race as she gave IB A Magician an all-out drive.

The handicap is for a purpose and even the useful Cash All, JR’s drive could not give 30 yards to a 1.58 performer such as IB A Magician.

“Patrick Kane is now sacked. Leah is the new number on driver at Rough Diamond Stables ‘’ said a delighted father Wayne McNevin.

Annaghmore and Dunmanway results can be seen at www.irishharnessracing.com. Replays can be watched on IHRA Facebook.

The next fixture is the Bernie Kelly Memorial meeting tomorrow at Vicarstown, Co Laois, first race 2pm.

LEAH McNevin’s neighbour Anthony Haughan junior (originally from Newcastle, near Rathcoole) sent home a good news story as he partnered four winners at his usual track Grand River Raceway in Ontario on Monday June 26th. Anthony (47) was profiled in The Irish Field in January of 2020. In 1998 he arrived in Canada to stay in a grooms’ dormitory and has since amassed over $10 million Canadian in prize money as a driver.

Monday’s fourfold was a nice reminder to the Irish industry that he is still going strong.

ON a sadder note Brian Doyle, an Ontario native but of Irish descent, passed away on June 21st. He was well known in Irish and British trotting circles as a bloodstock agent and transport arranger. Many of the blue blooded racehorses and breeding stock that have come in from North America passed through Brian’s hands. Brian was 81 when he succumbed to pancreatic cancer. His son David intends to carry on the business.