Feature race at Dundalk lives up to billing as Mendelssohn prevails

Weekend greyhound results round-up

WITH the Cooley Mountains standing crisp and clear to the north of the racecourse, Dundalk Stadium served up a night to remember on Friday March 9th.

There were doubles for jockey Wayne Lordan and in-form Dublin-based trainer Ado McGuinness, but the feature race, the ‘European Road To The Kentucky Derby’ Patton Stakes, a Listed Race worth €75,000 and sponsored by 32Red, fully lived up to its pre-race billing.

Heading the field was Mendelssohn, winner of last season’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in Del Mar, California. His main rivals in a class-laden field were his stable-companions Seahenge and Threeandfourpence, who finished third and fourth in last season’s Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, one of England’s leading juvenile contests, a race in which Mendelssohn finished second.

All three colts hail from the County Tipperary stable of Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The big race was a qualifier for the historic Kentucky Derby, the first leg of American horseracing’s ‘Triple Crown’, and Mendelssohn, ridden by Ryan Moore, booked his place at Churchill Downs on May 5th by first taking up the challenge thrown down by Threeandfourpence and then getting the better of him in the final furlong to secure the big prize.

Amid great interest and excitement, the winning trainer said afterwards: “We are delighted. You need a very good horse, a seasoned horse, to win the Kentucky Derby, one that is tactically quick and tough and the plan is still for all three to go to the Derby after Dubai (for the World Cup meeting on Saturday March 31st).”

Will we see a first-ever European winner of the great race come Saturday May 5th? At Dundalk on March 9th, where a Kentucky atmosphere was evoked by such items as a stirring rendition of ‘My Old Kentucky Home’, the chance to sample a mint julep - the Woodford Reserve bourbon-based drink that is synonymous with the Derby - and listen to interviews with legendary American former-jockey Steve Cauthen, the Kentucky Kid, the only rider ever to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby, that possibility moved a step closer.

All of this was captured by Churchill Downs’ very own film crew, Keith Wetzler and Richie Hayes, who had also filmed at Aidan’s stables in the build-up to the Patton Stakes. They informed us that the capacity attendance at Churchill Downs on Derby day has been extended to 173,000 to accommodate public demand. The famous race remains as captivating and popular as ever.

The road from Dundalk still leads to the 144th running of the iconic and historic Kentucky Derby, now worth $2million and still the race that everyone involved in American racing wants to win. That ambition has now seriously extended itself to Ireland.

Horse racing returns on Friday 16th March with the first to post at 5.30pm.

Friday

RACE 1 Annual Rock won in 29.10 for Paul Gallagher and Derry trainer William Mullan

Race 2 Hee Haws Fedor won in 21.56 for Ciaran Burke and Navan trainer Ian Reilly

Race 3 Young Willie Mc won in 29.24 for Ambrose Quinn & Barney O’Hare and Craigavon trainer Ambrose Quinn

Race 4 Another Obama won in 21.72 for Miss Caitlin McGarry and Belfast trainer Seamus McGarry

Race 5 Burgoyne Boomer won in 28.78 for owner/ trainer Patrick J. Harkin (Derry)

Race 6 Huntsmans Close won in 21.65 for BedTo-Work-Syndicate c/o Michael Tiernan (Drogheda)

Race 7 Geedee Allstar won in 29.25 for GeeDee-Racing-Syndicate and Rathkenny trainer Martin Lanney

Race 8 Swift Auto won in 21.67 for Jim McBride and RSaatthukrednanyy

trainer Martin Lanney

RACE 1 Boherdeel Jim won in 22.37 for Raymond Bellew & Mark Durnin (Dundalk)

Race 2 Bourbon Country won in 21.79 for Colm Farrelly (Hackballcross)

Race 3 Fridays Adele won in 29.15 for owner/trainer Paul Whyte (Lifford)

Race 4 Pats Rocket won in 29.40 for Colm Farrelly (Hackballcross)

Race 5 Groveshill Ash won in 22.30 for Arthur Boyle & Seamus Casey (Dundalk)

Race 6 Fridays Caramel won in 28.80 for owner/ trainer Paul Whyte (Lifford)

Race 7 Sadies Angel won in 29.34 for Liam Woods and Downpatrick trainer Damian Maginn

Race 8 Caw Caw won in 21.74 for Courtney Cope (Newcastle)

Race 9 Fridays Rosaleen won in 29.31 for owner/ trainer Paul Whyte (Lifford)

Race 10 Groveshill View won in 29.40 for Arthur Boyle & Seamus Casey (Dundalk)

Pictured is the presentation after Mendelssohn’s victory, (l to r) Jim Martin (Dundalk), AIdan O’Brien, Ryan Moore, Ana O’Brien, Leo McCauley (Dundalk), Brian Kavanagh (HRI) and Ciaran Kennelly (Dundalk).