IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR....................
Jackie Cowan
Road racing started at Ballygurteen on December 11, 2005 and continued until the closer at Kealkill/Ballylickey on April 22. I missed Goleen, Castletownshend and Skibbereen.
Congratulations once more to champion jockey, John McSweeney, who successfully defended his title. And how! Doubles, trebles, at least one four-timer, and umpteen "jockey of the day" awards. Fidlin, He's The Man and Hilton's Genius, among others, provided easy wins, but the champion jockey needed all his skill to bring home some of his other charges.
A big "well done" too, to Anina Tanno, who landed the female title. She forged a good bond with Direct Glance and Cult Direct, to name two, but showed that she could also get the best out of less promising mounts.
Fidlin won "road horse of the year" and his young handler, Hannah Shanahan, is to be congratulated. It was a close run thing, though, as Bachelor Boy, who worked his way up to Grade B, matched him win for win. Ultimately, the decision went down to places.
Best meeting, of those I attended, had to be Ownahincha, which staged the All-Ireland. The weather was decent enough (and Ownahincha can be a cold spot) and the atmosphere was great. The well-known trotting family, the Hurleys, provided a real bonus when Whyso Mayo, trained by Raymond, won at Cheltenham. The committee provided a break so we could all watch the Gold Cup. In the All-Ireland, Fidlin was favourite, with Stoneriggs Rascal next best. The other ante post favourite, Coalford Victory, was a late withdrawal.
Heading for home, Fidlin was in front. Clever Donal Murphy had waited with Hello Fella and produced him at the business for an easy win. So kudos to connections - the in-form Murphy brothers and owner Angelo Hannon. Hindsight (always easy) showed that Hello Fella began his light season, the way he finished. He won the Open at Ballygurteen at the expense of Fidlin, who was making his road debut.
Ballydehob on Easter Sunday was another great meeting, with a huge crowd. The sound system had improved over previous years and the races were good, with the punters happy, as six favourites won six races - there were no offers in Novice. But it was at Ballydehob that we said good-bye to the great Stoneriggs Rascal, whose racing days are over. I had not been to Kealkill/Ballylickey for a couple of years, at least, and found it to be much improved, most notably in the new parking arrangements. But it was a very good day out, and that brings me, finally, to
Casey B. In the Open, Famous Hill had seen off Fidlin and looked home and hosed. But Casey B came with a late drive to win by half-a-length. Casey B, usually the only local-bred in the race, had also won the Open at Dunmanway - and in the same fashion. He's The Man had prevailed over Stoneriggs Rascal and Hello Fella, but was unable to fend off Casey B in the closing stages.
The summer season opened at Central Track on April 30 and featured the Laddie From Leap Saddle Derby, and ended in Grange on September 24, with the Jug Of Punch Final. Ger Carey conceived of the Jug Of Punch series, based on the Crock Of Gold in Wales, and the qualifiers added interest to the participating venues.
Congratulations to the following: Donal Murphy, who edged brother Tadhg out of the drivers' championship, where the latter has ruled for years; and, on the distaff, Amy O'Reilly, who ended her season on a great note at Grange, where she won beat and final of the handicap with Cole's Decision. John Reid claimed the leading male rider title. Among his wins were the All-Ireland Saddle with The Blue Fox at Central Track in September and Anina Tanno who was crowned leading female jockey on turf/track as well as road. Meadowbranch Jake shaded Direct Glance and Porterstown Jack for the title. Among his wins were heat and final of the Paddy Connolly at Ballabuidhe, when driven by Tadhg Murphy. But the four-year-old proved adept at saddle races, too, and was often partnered by John Reid.
The ITHRF provided two special awards this year. Chris O'Sullivan, webmaster of this site, was one recipient and was honoured for what we all know is his Trojan work here. Well done, Webmaster. The other was to the connections of Porterstown Jack - owners, John Burchill and Denis O'Donoghue; trainers, Tadhg and Donal Murphy (also the driver). Porterstown Jack, having won the Four-Year-Old as well as the Improver at Ballabuidhe, went over to Tregaron, and having dead-heated in his division, won the final of the Strata Florida handicap - a first for West Cork. Cheers!
Locally, the year pretty much belonged to the Murphys, as the following quick look at the major races will show. The Quill brothers provided two stars - Tom's The Man and Stoneriggs Wizard, while that laid-back lady, Sable Decision, also won when she was in the mood.
The exception was highest-grade heat and final of the Grand Prix at Central Track on Whit Weekend. Frisco Titan, driven by Alan Wallace, won both, and in the final, in particular, was given a drive that was almost audacious in its confidence.
Stoneriggs Wizard, driven by Tadhg Murphy, won his heat and the final, which was a Jug qualifier, at Ballabuidhe, and had not the slightest trouble in either.
Tom's The Man, driven by Donal Murphy, won the All-Ireland Harness Championship at Caheragh, also in August, while the Wizard was runner-up.
Stoneriggs Wizard won the Jug Of Punch Final at Grange, where Tom's The Man was second, and Frisco Titan was a late withdrawal.
Among other winners, special mention to:
Destiny's Dream who was a reserve in the Jug; won the stayers' FFA at Grange on Saturday, and with the defection of Frisco Titan, was able to run in the Jug Final where he was third.
Zidane: Not the luckiest of horses, but did win, among others, heat and final of Golden Mile at Ballabuidhe
Ayr Strike: Won, among others, heat and handicap final at Caheragh, a course he loves.
Others that impressed were Midnight Mover, Little Spike and that evergreen, Newtown Commander. And full marks, too, to Travis and Michael Goggin, jr, who thrilled the crowd at Grange when winning a cracker of a Grade B.
Both Caheragh and Grange were terrific meetings, and would be tied, in my view, for meeting of the year. Great facilities at both (the childrens' obstacle course at Caheragh was a winner), while the innovative catering at Grange was a definite winner. Finding Caheragh is straightforward; the same cannot be said of Grange. This year, the committee there did an outstanding job of sign-posting - their efficiency in that regard was the talk of the place. And the rendition of "The Jug Of Punch" that they played suited the occasion perfectly!
The season also brought the retirement, announced at Caheragh, of that great warrior, Difficult Decision. The 92' Fleet Decision/Ann Annover, owned and trained by Sean Cronin at Castlegregory, Co. Kerry, had raced earlier in the season. His last win was at Lee Valley on June 18, where he was driven by Donal Murphy. But Tadhg Murphy was his usual partner. Before Cronin bought him in 1998, Difficult Decision was a prolific winner at Corbie Wood. In races, it seemed to suit him best to be a front runner; if not, to settle in behind the leader. He seldom came home without a pay-cheque, and won on almost every course. One of his most memorable victories was in the consolation at Wexford, where he beat Slingshot Scoot (which this year broke the track record at Corbie) by a neck. One of his best races (and the most heart-breaking) was in the final of the Paddy Connolly at Ballabuidhe last year, where he was caught on the line by Destiny's Dream.