NORTH WALES, UK – It was supposed to be the finals of the Breeders Crown UK & Ireland but by the end of the harness racing card it was Miraculous who stole the limelight at Tir Prince Raceway Tuesday.
The three-year-old gelded son of Arts Conquest with driver Patrick Kane, Jr. handling the lines, not only demolished the field with his sixth length romp, but also demolished the track record for three-year-olds.
Starting from post three, Kane sent Miraculous right to the lead and never had to look back, stopping the teletimer in 1:56.9, a full three seconds faster than the previous track mark and just seven fifths of a second from the all-age track record at Tir Prince of 1:56.2.
Ayr Trooper (Dexter Dunn) was second with No Stoppin (William Laidler) third.
“He has quite a motor in him,” Kane said after the race. “I have never sat behind a better horse.”
It was just nine days ago that Miraculous erased the track record at Portmarnock Raceway in Dublin, Ireland with a lifetime mark of 1:55.9.
“Now he will get a bit of a rest and then we will take him to Ireland for the Oakwood Stud Derby back at Portmarnock,” Kane said. After that he has three more engagements and that should be it for this season.”
The Oakwood Stud Derby is one of the major stakes races August 13 and 14 at Portmarnock as part of the Ladbrokes Vincent Delany Memorial Weekend in Dublin. Many of the winners on Breeders Crown night at Tir Prince will be heading over to Ireland for that race weekend.
It took the photo finish camera to declare the winner of the Breeders Crown final for four-year-old mares.
Rhyds Firebird and driver Andrew Cairns left sharply from post eight and cut the entire mile. But after the three-quarter mile marker, driver James Haythornthwaite made a big move three-wide on the final turn and with every stride to the wire was able to collar Rhyds Firebird and win by a nose in 2:03.8. Someone Like You (Alan Haythornthwaite) was third.
Emotions ran high in the Ephie Mather Memorial Trot as trainer/driver Paul Mathers came first-over with Show Business and was able to clear to the lead and then hold on in a dramatic stretch drive to win in 2:06.2.
Paul is Ephie Mather’s son and the crowd was cheering relentlessly in the final stretch drive to see Ephie’s son win his father’s memorial race. Tenor Meslois (Rhys Evans) was second with Viva Sautonne (Gregor Menzies) third.
The Breeders Crown three-year-old filly pace featured two heats with the top four from each race returning for a final heat. The second heat saw Rhyds Gem and driver Steve Lees leading from start to finish by one and one-half lengths in 2:04.4 over Elsa Camden (William Greenhorn) and Gabriella Camden (Hugh Menzies).
The first heat saw Reeds Scarlett and driver Mick Lord win by one and one-half lengths over Natalie Camden (Alan Haythornthwaite) with Imogen Camden (William Greenhorn) third.
Then in the final heat it was Rhyds Gem and Steve Lees who left from post four and never looked back, not only winning the race in 2:03.1, but scoring in a romp by six lengths over Reeds Scarlett (Lord) and Imogen Camden (William Greenhorn).
The juvenile colts Championship was split into two divisions with the first final going by 2 lengths to Johnny Camden with the World Champion Driver Dexter Dunn in the sulky. Johnny Camden covered the one-mile race in 2:06 over Coalford Earl (Joseph Maw) second with GDs Hazzard (Andrew Carins) third.
Dunn, who impressed race fans with his artistry in the sulky last year at the Delaney Memorial Weekend, is set to return to Tir Prince next week before making another trip to Portmarnock.
There was a shock in store in the second colts final when Rhyds Decoy failed to pick up before the stretch, with the race going in pillar to post fashion to Share A Smile and driver Hugh Menzies in 2:04.2. Rhyds Rock Star (Alan Waythornthwaite) was second with Rhyds Decoy (Andrew Cairns) third.
The first Juvenile fillies final, like the second colt’s version, went to Scotland when Victoria Camden and driver Grant Cullen took the money in 2.04.9 to maintain her unbeaten record. Coalford Honey (Joseph Maw) was second with Fool’s Delight (Vicky Gill) third.
The second juvenile fillies race was won by Rhyds Mystique and Vicky Gill in 2.04.3. The daughter of Hasty Hall was given a good pocket-trip to pacesetter Borntorun (James Haythornthwaite), but was well in command by the time the line loomed up to make it 4 straight wins. Ryhds Voodoo (Dexter Dunn) was third.
The inaugural running of the juvenile fillies race for US bred pacers was won by Mick Lord and Greenhilldebatable by one length in 2.06.8. The daughter of Well Said was winning for the first time and the success was richly deserved after some tough assignments to date.
It was a classic finish as three horses nearly crossed the wire together with Crosshill Ace (Steve Lees) second and Theladieslovejim (Andrew Cairns) third.
The Haythornwaite team dominated the 4-Y-O races with Alan steering Itsmycheck to an all the way victory in the Breeders Crown Four-Year-old Open Pace Final in 1.59.6. Lyons Premier (Dexter Dunn) was second with Llwyns Delight (Lee Price) third.
Breeder Richard Walker and Alan have always believed in this horse who has now won four times this season. Trips to Portmarnock and Tregaron are now being considered.
By Steven Wolf, for Harnesslink