WITH the turf season in full swing, racing pundits around the country are looking for pointers to help spot the horses likely to capture the classics. Letterkenny man Dylan Browne McMonagle is enjoying a good run at the moment. On May 24, he scored a second win on ‘Vischio’ for trainer Donohoe and looks forward to partnering the horse once again in the Cork Derby on Wednesday. Another plum ride for Dylan on Wednesday is ‘Startedwithakiss’, which is entered in the group 3 Cork Munster Oaks Stakes. Dylan has already ridden this horse to victory twice, at both Leopardstown and Roscommon, and no doubt he and trainer Joseph O’Brien will be hoping for the hat-trick on Wednesday. In the meantime, a quick trip across to Chantilly on Sunday allowed the trainer-jockey duo to notch up another success, as ‘Brostaigh’ sprinted to victory in the five-furlong, while a bank holiday Monday outing to Kilkenny’s Gowran Park banked another winner in the form of ‘World Famous’.
Rathmullan’s Oisin Orr has made the decision to move across the puddle to England, having been offered the position as first jockey to trainer Richard Fahey. Fahey has seen considerable success over the years. Starting out with just a handful of horses, he has become one of the country’s major players with some 200 horses on his books and a career tally of domestic winners, which went through the 3,000 mark in May of 2021. Amongst the 3,000 victories were four Group 1 winners, including two with ‘Ribchester’ in 2017 in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and then the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. Oisin has already ridden two winners for his new boss and looks forward to building on the early success.
Away from the race tracks, the impact of the increasing cost of living and travelling can be seen by reduced entries across the board at various events. Whilst the likes of the Castle Irvine Grand Prix show attracted a large entry, it was at the expense of the Five-Star show due to be held at The Meadows on the same day. Similarly in the Eventing sphere, venues are having to cancel scheduled events rather than run at a loss due to small numbers attending. Local riders who enjoy the adrenaline buzz of a cross-country run headed to Cloncaw Equestrian near Emyvale (which is as close to a local venue as you’ll get if you want to do cross-country) for their two-phase competition on Sunday. Inishowen Riding Club had a great showing there, with three riders competing and all three jumping clear. Leslie McMorris won the Mini class on her own ‘Above and Beyond’, beating club-mate Samantha, riding ‘Moytown Joey’, who came third.
Lynne Thompson gave her green mount ‘Blackstown Masterclass’ a lovely schooling round to finish just outside the placings in the same class. Letterkenny’s Rachel Carton tackled the Midi class on her 12-year-old gelding, ‘Aughavannon Merlin’, and came home in fourth place having completed the course clear but too fast for the optimum time.
With diesel now topping the two euro per litre in a lot of places, the importance of staying local and supporting local events is self-evident. Greenacres Stud and Equestrian Centre held its pre-Finn Valley show on Sunday, where the showing fraternity turned out in force to enjoy the sunshine and vie for top honours. The long-established Finn Valley show takes place on June 18 and promises to be a marvellous family day out, with classes for all sorts of animals and a plethora of baking and crafts classes to boot.
The riding club fraternity will be heading to the Letterkenny club’s Orla O’Reilly Derby Show at Gordon’s Bay Equestrian in Carrigart on Sunday, June 26. As well a fun, but challenging, Derby jumping course the show is hosting the regional qualifiers for the AIRC national dressage championships, which take place in Barnadown Equestrian Centre in August. Very generous sponsorship has been sourced for the local show and it promises to be a well-attended event.
Before tackling the Gordon’s Bay course, three Donegal riders will be making the long haul to Mullingar Equestrian Centre to take part in the AIRC Riding Clubs Festival. This extravaganza of equestrian classes hosts over 80 separate classes and will see more than 600 entrants compete over June 11 and 12. Best of luck to Letterkenny’s Suzanne Deeney Wylie and Stracomer’s Ann Keaney and Magda Pliczko.
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