Serendipity played a big part in how Donovan and Murphy became partners in the resultant quest to win the coveted Vincent Delaney Memorial a race that's firmly captured the hearts of harness fans the world over.
Overhearing a conversation between Irish trainers Donal Murphy and Finbarr Quill at the USA Harrisburg Sale last year, Donovan introduced himself and discovered that Murphy lived in the same town of Skibbereen West Cork as Donovan's famed ancestor Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa who was exiled to the US in 1870 for plotting an uprising against the British Government who controlled Ireland at the time.
A partnership was quickly struck up and Donovan and Murphy subsequently acquired 2 prospects a colt and a filly to race in Ireland with a view to winning both divisions of the Vincent Delaney Memorial.
IB Coyote, a filly by Share The Delight out of Jill N Jones (Hasty Hall), is the first of the pair acquired to hit the track and she was contesting Sunday's final of the Irish 2 Year Old Sire Stakes sponsored by the IHRA, Oakwood Stud and Brian Doyle Air Cargo.
Five went to post in this and despite showing signs of greenness at the starting gate, IB Coyote and driver Donal Murphy was settled in second spot behind favourite She's Royal before showing a scintillating turn of foot in the home straight to land the spoils with plenty in hand. The mile went in 2:10.
Donovan will now go down in the history books as the first US owner to ever have a winner in Ireland and he now intends to be there in person when the filly next appears at the Vincent Delaney eliminations at Portmarnock on August 13th.
The 2 year old colts division of the Irish Sire Stakes was also held yesterday and had only 2 runners but both put in stellar performances to clock 2:03 for the mile. At the business end of the race at was Rhyds Rival and driver Billy Roche that outgunned Talavary Motivator and wild celebrations ensued in the winners enclosure post-race by connections.
Again only 2 went to post in the 3 year olds Sire Stakes final, but the healthy attendance were treated to a nail-biting speed duel between Meadowbranch Roman and Meadowbranch Titus, both by stallion Kikicolt. Although Titus tried valiantly to peg back Roman throughout the mile, driver Billy Roche used the inside draw to best effect and was holding on to win quite snugly in 2:00.
In speaking with promoter of the event, James Delaney claimed that he was thrilled with the whole occasion highlighting the fact that almost €9,000 was on offer for the 3 races on the day.
He was quoted as saying "for a series that's only in its infancy, more and more stallion owners are now signing up to become a part of the Irish Sire Stakes which can only be a good thing for the sport of harness racing and safeguarding its future in Ireland."
For more information visist http://sirestakesireland.com/
by Thomas Bennett, for Harnesslink