Donal G O’Mahony enjoys a Tuesday night treble

TWO men who were recently honoured at Tralee track, Donal G O’Mahony, of Millstreet (2018 Owner of the Year), and Johnny Kelly, of Tralee (Hall of Fame), were pretty central to the action at last week’s Tuesday SIS session at the Oakview venue.

O’Mahony actually pulled off a terrific treble, to follow up a double just two nights previously, and Kelly enjoyed a splendid double.

Among the attendance were a number of those who had watched Liam Dowling score his wonderful Coursing Oaks victory earlier in the day with Ballymac Enyra at Powerstown Park and who also saw Dan Brassil annex the Champion Stakes with Ahamore Wonder, and while the track treble and double in question fell a long way behind those achievements, they were pretty commendable all the same.

O’Mahony achieved his treble with Millridge Luna (9/4 fav), Ashwood Barry (4/1) and Millridge Tip (even-money fav), while Kelly was successful with Manhattan Chimes (9/2) and Manhattan Field (even-money favourite).

It was the kind of night when winning wasn’t easy, due not only to the usual tight grading but also due to a very heavy racing surface that made the going .40 slow for 525yds and .20 slow for 325yds, so additional merit has to be attached to the feats by O’Mahony and Kelly.

The times produced by their respective winners were Millridge Luna – 29.63; Ashwood Barry – 29.41; Millridge Tip – 18.02; Manhattan Chimes – 29.69; Manhattan Field – 18.55.

One of the other seven winners, Helenas Joker, was clocking an estimated 28.74 (29.14 minus .40) and that was very much the fastest run of the night. Owned locally by James Lynch, Helenas Joker, a 7/2 shot, ran on really well to score by three lengths from Promising, which was actually last at the third bend.

The SIS meetings can throw up big-priced winners and one of them was 11/1 shot, Atwohandreel, which benefited from trouble ahead and won the third race over the sprint distance by four and a half lengths in 18.39 for classic winning owner, Roger O’Rahilly, of Ballymacelligott (Irish Laurels with Knockeen Master in 1981).

The other winners were Glanna Madam, 29.96; Sporting Cisano, 29.51; Payyaway Clio, 29.49; Greenway Chaser, 29.66; Ballyheigue Brae, 29.47.