Abbeydorney’s Horgan Cup goes to Glin with Floating Victor

Abbeydorney and Ballyheigue meetings

FLOATING Victor (Kyle King/ Floating Spirit) proved best in a competitive renewal of the Horgan Cup at Abbeydorney last Monday.

Heavy rain and strong winds resulted in day 2 of the meeting on Saturday to be deferred to Sunday. With the safety and welfare of the hare stock paramount, the committee must be commended for making the correct call under the circumstances.

Octane Wonder was a big name absentee from the Cup when coursing resumed on Sunday morning, and the opening round produced some major shocks with the under par Ballymac Vale, Killacolla Jet and Kyle Davey all failing at the first hurdle. Floating Victor got his campaign off to an impressive start with a two-length victory over local rival Killacolla Rio and booked himself a semi-final berth following a three-length success against Safe Wonder. Priced at 4/6 with four remaining, the Glin runner looked sluggish when defeating Cherrygrove Wolf in the penultimate course relying on a late flourish to ensure survival. As a result, surprise package Kerry Supreme went to slips the warm 1/2 favourite for the deciding course, with Floating Victor available at evens.

Kerry Supreme was first to show in the decider and within strides of leaving slips had opened a two-length cushion over his slow starting opponent. However, Victor began to rally from halfway and produced a tremendous turn of foot to turn the buckle on its head and took the opening turn by a length and a half. The winner is jointly owned by Mairead and Colin Wallace.

The Glin couple were denied a famous double on the card when Granard Breeze (Adios Alonso/ Granard Storm) swooped late to deny Floating Rockstar in the final of the Derby Trial Stake. Granard was favourite to collect here, but he surrendered early ground to the west Limerick runner. A late flourish proved decisive for the jolly as he just got his head in front where it mattered most to take the flag by half a length. The winner is jointly owned by Tomas and Jack Flaherty from Mallow and earns a price of 25/1 for this season’s Classic.

The Johnny O’Keffee owned Dresden Gold joined the list of losing favourites as she succumbed to Brownes Cross (Valeview Flyer/ Uptown Rosie) in the final of the Oaks Trial Stake. The winner made a slick exit from slips and to her credit she nursed her slender lead all the way through to the opening score, with less than half a length separating the pair where it mattered most. Brownes Cross is owned by John Browne from Knocklong and enters the Oaks betting at 33/1.

Local success eventually came in the final of the All-Age Bitch Stake as StraightLegs (Adios Alonso/Nicolas Babe) collected the points with a dominant final display against Oilean Cailin. Fast away from slips, the winner was always in complete control and had opened a five-length advantage by the opening score.

Owned by Batt Heaphy and Donal O’Connell, this lady is definitely on the upward curve having claimed the 3-course duffer at Kilflynn on the opening weekend of the season.

The Bill McCarthy Cup was won by Friendly Bolt who defeated Vast Majority in the final course. The winner is owned by Michael Curtain.

Misty Angel claimed the plaudits in the Scollard Family Memorial Cup for Ballyduff’s John Houlihan when defeating Yorkville Ranger in the final course.

Local bragging rights were claimed by the Don’t Tell Tom Syndicate when Drinksonthehouse proved best in the Working Members Stake. THE poor weather conditions the previous weekend also played havoc with the Ballyheigue meeting. Heavy fog on the opening day saw the meeting put back a day, and then the rescheduled final day, Monday, was further delayed until the Wednesday because of Hurricane Ophelia.

The White Sands Hotel Cup was won by the Michael McMahon trained Domain King (Kyle Basil/Lyrics) who continued on his prolific form from last season. The Ballybunion runner produced a powerful final display to get the better of Cutting Edge by a length and a half to collect the feature event.

Daydream Lady (Thomas the Tank/Barefoot Model) claimed the biggest success of her career when upsetting the odds to defeat Count Belle in the final of the All Age Bitch Stake. Owned and trained by the Herbert family from Kilflynn, she stayed on well on the rising ground to hold out for the win.

There was a thrilling finale to the Derby Trial Stake final as Ballymac Billy (Ballymac Best/Ballymac Adelpha) and Mayfield gave it their all in a thrilling final buckle. Ballymac produced a good turn of early foot, but Mayfield battled gamely to get back into contention. In the dying strides Ballymac just did enough to take it by less than half a length. Owned by Liam Dowling, the winner joins litter sister Ballymac Meena who booked her pass for the National meeting on the opening weekend at Kilflynn.

Paudie Lyons produced Wiseguy Nora (Blueview Sam/Turning Pace) to claim the spoils in the Reserve Oaks Trial Stake. She justified favouritism in the final when defeating Ballyduff Model by two lengths having led throughout.

The Island Cup meeting at Castleisland takes centre stage next weekend. Derby winner Blades of Fire makes his debut for the season and is sure to be a warm favorite to collect in the feature event.