The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Double for Dowling at Rathkeale coursing
LITTER comrades Ballymac Hugo and Ballymac Bingo made it a day to remember for the kennels of Liam Dowling at Rathkeale last weekend as the pair swept the boards in the Limerick Cup and Derby Trial Stake respectively.
There was further Kerry success in the Oaks qualifier as Currow owner Johnny Brosnan earned his second Oaks ticket of the campaign with Tailteann Speed.
It’s been a terrific season thus far for Liam Dowling not only as an owner but as a breeder as well. His coursing broods are producing the goods on an almost weekly basis this term, but he will no doubt savour last Sunday’s victories with his sons of Coolavanny Bingo and Ballymac Town. Both pups reached the final of the Derby Trial Stake on their seasonal debuts at Ballyheigue back in October and on the day Ballymac Hugo was declared the winner.
It doesn’t get any sweeter than on the day that Bingo earned his Derby ticket, Hugo would do the business in All Age company in the feature event of the meeting. The May whelp relished the long testing stretch at Enniscouch and produced some impressive runs en route to the final where he was pitted against Cooga Harry. The winner was a short priced favourite to collect in the final and he duly obliged. While there was little to choose between the pair to halfway, Ballymac Hugo finished much the stronger and pulled four lengths clear of his rival to take the opening score independently.
Ballymac Bingo completed the double when landing the Derby ticket following a terrific final course against the Mossie O’Connor trained Justify. Ballymac went to slips as the 1/3 favourite for victory but he was put to the pin of his collar by his rival. While Justify made all the early running off the red collar, the winner proved his class late on when outpacing his rival in the final strides to take the flag with a length in hand. The winner’s stamina will be of major benefit for his tilt at the Classic and he enters the Derby market at 20/1.
The Oaks ticket was won in impressive fashion by Tailteann Steel (NewInn Wonder/ Blades Of Steel). The winner was running in the colours of Johnny Brosnan from Currow who had also qualified litter sister Tailteann Speed earlier in the season. Tailteann Steel caught the eye from her opening round success against Maggie Our Hero. It was no surprise to see the May whelp head the market on finals morning at odds of 1/3.
Having repelled the challenge of the John Flynn trained Somelittlebling by two lengths in the penultimate round she faced the ever improving Ballymac Della in the final course. A swift exit from slips proved decisive, as Tailteann Steel stole an early lead and increased her advantage to a length and a half by halfway. The winner nursed her advantage through to the opening score. Trained by Jerry Holian, the winner is blessed with pace and earns an opening mark of 20/1 for Classic success.
Odds On favourite Blades Of Honour (Adios Alonso/ Blades Of Glory) followed up on her success at Listowel a fortnight ago with another win in the All Age Bitch event. She progressed through the Stake with the minimum of fuss and was declared the winner prior to the final following the withdrawal of Lovely Gift who had a re-run at the semi-final stage. Owned by Tar Guiney, the winner may well reappear during the busy Christmas calendar as she hopes to guarantee qualification for this season’s Champion Bitch Stake.
Southern Harbour (Razor Ashmore/ Southern Story) provided Tarbert owner Cillian Langan with a victory in the final of the Enniscouch Stake.
Having clocked impressively throughout, Southern Harbour had far too much for Glenadda Wonder from halfway in the deciding course and claimed a three-length success in the two course duffer event.
Onlinesearch (Mafi Magic/ Fireheight Una) finished with a flourish to deny Kiluran Ring by two lengths in the final of the Mike Meehan Stake. The winner is jointly owned by Larry and Pat O’Connor from Kildare.
The action switches to Lixnaw next weekend with their three-day meeting getting underway on Friday at 11.30am.