WEST CORK, Ireland – 16-year-old harness racing driver John O'Mahony drove the first double of his fledgling career at Dunmanway on Sunday.
O'Mahony had to share the top driver honors with Donal Murphy, who also drove a brace of winners.
Tenor Meslos was all the rage in the Le Trot off a 65 yard trail behind Picasso but it was Un Boss who have been a revelation all season and made every yard of the running to give teenager O'Mahony his first of the day.
The high grade pace only attracted four runners but this rendition was one of the best seen at this famous grass oval.
Brywins Picasso, a catch drive for Patrick Hill, set the early fractions with Sunnyside Kildare in close attendance.
Heading into the last three furlongs, Meadowbranch Demon (off a 50 yard trail ) made his move off the back with Cruise Howard following the move. Facing for home "Picasso" was not weaning and in a titanic finish, Cruise Howard held off "The Demon" by a short head with Brywins Picasso a half a length third .This was the second winner of the afternoon for John O'Mahony, who was not over awed by his first brace of winners.
Donal Murphy is like a fine wine getting better with age and the Baltimore based reinsman was responsible for two of the winners.
Veteran Rhyds Hearbeat loves to run from the front and was not for catching in the Grade F pace for owners Angela and Martin Hurley. This 11-year-old son of Hasty Hall has been a great servant to his owners.
Three-year-old Sunnyside Unique looks a smart recruit for owner Sean Buckley. This son of Rogue Hall overhauled longtime leader Meadowbranch Matt in the final 100 yards and completed the brace for driver Murphy.
In West Cork we pride ourselves with racing horses under saddle and todays renewal saw a classic battle between Rhyds Panache and Hail Spartacus with the former getting up in the final stride. Cian O'Reilly on the winner and Eoin Murphy on the runner up must both be credited with their horsemanship (both only 12-years-old).
Brywins Starship followed up on his heat win in The Red John weekend with anothe facile win in the Grade E & D pace. Richard Kingston drove the winner with confidence and will be a force to be reckoned with next season.
by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink
RESULTS
GRADE G & G1 Pace
1st S Buckley SUNNYSIDE UNIQUE D Murphy
2nd O'Farrell / Healy MEADOWBRANCH MATT L Kelleher
3rd Cuigear Racing HILLSIDE MUSTANG D McCarthy
1st A & M Hurley RHYDS HEARTBEAT D Murphy
2nd O'Reilly/O'Driscoll LYONS STALLONE C O'Reilly
3rd M O'Donovan MR SECURITY Owner
1st C O'Reilly RHYDS PANACHE C O'Reilly
2nd P Hill HAIL SPARTACUS E Murphy
3rd D McCarthy RHYDS DILLEMA C O'Driscoll
1st M Healy BRYWINS STARSHIP R Kingston
2nd S O'Reilly SPRINGHILL DOYLE L Kelleher
3rd P J Cleary WESTERN DREAMER S Quill
1st J O'Mahony UN BOSS J O'Mahony
2nd IB Stables TENOR MESLOS D Murphy
3rd P Hill AUBADE A HEHENE P Hill
1st C O'Brien CRUISE HOWARD J O'Mahony
2nd Kelleher Bros MEADOWBRANCH DEMON L Kelleher
3rd Kelleher/O'Farrell BRYWINS PICASSO P Hill