CORBIEWOOD, Scotland – The two finals on Sunday 4th October at Corbiewood belonged to the English raiders as Kikis Virtue and Camden Vito travelled from south of the border to win the John Mailey Jr Trophy and Joe Murdock Memorial Trophy respectively.
The bumper eleven race card at the meeting sponsored by the Murdock family, Belfast, Total Produce (Belfast), David Morton, Gary Logan & the O'Donnell family and Mark & Karen Kennedy, kicked off with the first elimination for the John Mailey Final in which the English contingent were out in force. Alf Swinbank's Springhill Dustin (Gordon Gilvear) pipped Lady Claires Best (James Haythornthwaite) on the line to both qualify for the final.
Race 1
1st Springhill Dustin (His Alibi-Onenightinpankok) – G Gilvear
2nd Lady Claires Best (Pro Bono Best-Lady Lea) – J Haythornthwaite
3rd Regal Sensation (Stonebridge Regal-Western Sensation) – W Greenhorn
7 Ran Time: 2.08.43 Dist: Sh/hd & 1L
The second race saw Kikis Virtue (Andrew Stenhouse) bolt clear of the field and look the winner however young Ross Leary kept a cool head in second with Miami Seelster and chased down the long time leader to get up alongside on the line for a dead heat. This was Ross Leary's first career win in only five starts since passing his driving test.
Race 2
1st Kikis Virtue (Scarlet And Gold-Coalford Virtue) – A Stenhouse
1st Miami Seelster (Pierce Seelster-Miamicrombie) – R Leary
3rd D Ks Happy Dream (Dream Work-D Ks Happy Moments) – G Cullen
6 Ran Time: 2.07.61 Dist: Dead heat & 1 1/4L
Race three was the last of the three eliminations for the low grade final. Wild Bill Hickok (John Smart) led out but was strongly challenged repeatedly by Vyrnwy Sarah (W Greenhorn). The race was set up for the two strong finishers, The Barrister (Hugh Menzies) and Ayr Confusion (Nicola McGregor) who fought it out at the finish, with the former coming out on top.
Race 3
1st The Barrister (The Cammissioner-Blackfield Veela) – H Menzies
2nd Ayr Confusion (Daylon Alert-Poudine Du Pan) – N McGregor
3rd Vyrnwy Sarah (Backnthesaddleapan-Vyrnwy Victory) – W Greenhorn
6 Ran Time: 2.09.20 Dist: 3/4L & 1L
The fourth race was the first elimination for the Joe Murdock Memorial Final. Seven runners faced the starter, with the newly-purchased Camden Vito (Vicky Gill) leading out and making all. Wellfield Liam (Gregor Menzies) stayed on for second.
Race 4
1st Camden Vito (Yankee Lariat-Seven Seas) – V Gill
2nd Wellfield Liam (Village Connection-Going Grey) – G Menzies
3rd Starzapan (Genghis Pan-Starry Nite) – S Mckenzie
7 Ran Time: 2.06.40 Dist: 3 1/2L & 4L
The next saw early pace-setter Live In Toyboy (William Drysdale) falter on the last bend, allowing the strong finishers Pentlands Maverick (Rocker Laidler) and Crackaway Jack (Gordon Gilvear) to finish first and second respectively.
Race 5
1st Pentlands Maverick (Daylon Alert-Eagle Eye) – W Laidler
2nd Crackaway Jack (JWs Best-Indiana Pearl) – G Gilvear
3rd Diamond O'Neil (Chaps-Rosie O'Neil) – W Greenhorn
7 Ran Time: 2.06.48 Dist: 1L & 1L
The sixth race was sponsored by Gary Logan and family in memory of the late Wullie Logan, and was for the top handicapped horses in the third and final elimination. American Gigolo (Tony Allan) led out however the strongly-fancied Vyrnwy Saddleapan (Grant Cullen) gradually improved his position throughout before going clear of the field and coming home unchallenged.
Race 6
1st Vyrnwy Saddleapan (Backnthesaddleapan-Vyrnwy Victory) – G Cullen
2nd Hail Maximus (Village Jasper-So Rhiwd) – J Haythornthwaite
3rd GDs Trick (House Of Cards-GD Follow Me) – R Thompson
8 Ran Time: 2.04.41 Dist: 1L & 2L
Race seven was for maiden horses and it was Camden Rocco who won impressively by 8 lengths, giving Rocker Laidler his second winner on the day. Coalford Mystery (George Drysdale) showed consistent form to finish second, with the newly-qualified Wealdstone Drive (William Greenhorn) finishing third.
Race 7
1st Camden Rocco (Arts Conquest-Magical Sign) – W Laidler
2nd Coalford Mystery (Wolfdancer Mindale-Coalford Surprise) – G Drysdale
3rd Wealdstone Drive (Jennas Beach Boy-Maidstone Drive) – W Greenhorn
6 Ran Time: 2.08.75 Dist: 8L & 1/2L
The next race was for horses with one lifetime win. Second Affair (Gregor Menzies) showed great improvement on its second start for the new training establishment to beat Ayr Fella (Vicky Gill).
Race 8
1st Second Affair (Hasty Hall-Lyons Love Nest) – G Menzies
2nd Ayr Fella (Daylon Alert-Unforgotten) – V Gill
3rd Sing My Song (Hasty Hall-Styx Soprano) – W Drysdale
5 Ran Time: 2.10.16 Dist: 1L & 1 1/2L
Race nine was the Dark Rum FFA and an early speed duel between Mr Yewkay (George Drysdale) and Stoneriggs Banner (Hugh Menzies) allowed Camden Daniel (Grant Cullen) to come home in the fastest time of the day as the early front runners ran out of steam. Grinnin CT ran notably from last off the bend to finish a strong third.
Race 9
1st Camden Daniel (Yankee Cruiser-Roaring Good Time) – G Cullen
2nd Robhall (Dreamfair Vogel-Yoko Hall) – G Gilvear
3rd Grinnin CT (Grinfromeartoear-Heaven Can Jate) – W Drysdale
6 Ran Time: 2.04.33 Dist: 6L & 3L
The penultimate race was the John Mailey Jr Trophy Final for the lower grade horses who qualified in the first three races. Kikis Virtue (Andrew Stenhouse) led out and made all, and did not want to share the spoils on her second attempt, coming home a length in front of Springhill Dustin (Gordon Gilvear). Lady Claires Best (James Haythornthwaite) and Miami Seelster (Ross Leary) dead-heated for third, which meant Miami Seelster was involved in two dead heats in the same day.
Race 10
1st Kikis Virtue (Scarlet And Gold-Coalford Virtue) – A Stenhouse
2nd Springhill Dustin (His Alibi-Onenightinpankok) – G Gilvear
3rd Lady Claires Best (Pro Bono Best-Lady Lea) – J Haythornthwaite
Miami Seelster (Pierce Seelster-Miamicrombie) – R Leary
7 Ran Time: 2.07.27 Dist: 1L & neck
The final race of the day was the Joe Murdock Memorial Trophy Final presented by members of the Murdock family who had travelled from Northern Ireland to attend. Camden Vito (Vicky Gill) led throughout, until Vyrnwy Saddleapan (Grant Cullen) off a 30 yard trail challenged at the seven eighths.
The Scottish horse passed the long time leader up the straight but veered off his line, allowing Camden Vito another bite at the cherry and he did not need asking twice, ensuring that both trophies went to England.
Race 11
1st Camden Vito (Yankee Lariat-Seven Seas) – V Gill
2nd Vyrnwy Saddleapan (Backnthesaddleapan-Vyrnwy Victory) – G Cullen
3rd Pentlands Maverick (Daylon Alert-Eagle Eye) – W Laidler
7 Ran Time: 2.05.80 Dist: 1/2L & 2 1/2L
The next meeting at Corbiewood will be Sunday 11th October, first race at 2pm.
By Sarah Thomas, for Harnesslink