WEST CORK, IR – Hail Spartacus and Rhyds Panache both winners at the venue the previous Sunday continued on their winning runs on a night of close finishes and top class action at Dunmanway on Friday evening.
Rhyds Panache last years Red John Memorial winner was quick to leave the start followed by Coalford Bruce and Supreme Sunshine. Heading out on the final circuit Rhyds Destiny began to close in on the leaders but Chris O'Reilly on the winner had all moves covered and ran out an easy four length winner.
"Like everyone my preparations have been interrupted and after his second place in Portmarnock a few weeks back I knew he was in good form. All going well he be back to defend his crown in the Red John at Lyre in august" said Chris O Reilly of his horse.
Hail Spartacus is still owned by the Hill family but has moved a mile down the road to be trained by Mike O'Donovan and his new trainer has found a good tune out of this veteran.
Oisin Quill gave him a masterly drive .he led out the gate and everyone seemed to want to have a "rattle" off the leader . Laneside Louis badgered the leader for a lap then IB A Warrior joined in on the fun but Hail Spartacus loves it around the Dunmanway venue and the former Grand Prix winner after all the best efforts of his rivals had a 3 1/2 length winning margin.
Racing opened with a win for the West Cork/Florida alliance of Donal Murphy and Bill Donovan. IB Notorious who enjoyed a stellar 2 year old campaign but lost his way a bit in 2019 bounced back to winning ways . Driver Donal Murphy sent him to the front early and despite a late challenge of Moorside Myra the 1/2 length winning distance could have been more.
American Rebel who ran in to all sorts of traffic problems on his last outing made no mistake tonight. Timmy O Leary sent this regally bred four year old to the front after a lap and despite being headed in the last two furlongs by IB Felicity he battled back and won by 3/4 length.
"My brother Denis owns him and he won The Little Welsh Dragon last year as an immature three year old and we think a lot of him." commented winning trainer John Shanahan.
Pan Cam Income is another who has taken time to come right and Luke Kelleher on the son of Earned Income had to be patient as the "gap" to get out didn't appear until the final straight but when he saw daylight he coasted to a 3 length win.
Jeremiah O'Mahony who trains his stock at the race field seems to have picked up a nice trotter in the shape of Devonment Absolu . Sean Kane made the long spin down from Co Meath to partner this one and Bella Despana had to play second fiddle to the winner in the mile and a half contest.
Credit must go to the IHRA and Ballabuidhe Race Committee who had all the social distancing procedures and Covid 19 protocols in place at the venue which will again stage racing on Sunday 26th July.
by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink
RESULTS
All races 1 1/4 miles unless stated
GRADE G & G1 Pace
1st – IB NOTORIOUS D Murphy
2nd – MOORSIDE MYRA S Kane
3rd – HAIL CAESAR P Hill
DIST 1/2L 1 1/4L TIME 2.31.8
GRADE F PACE
1st – AMERICAN REBEL T O'Leary
2nd – IB FELICITY J Boyle
3rd – HONOR CODE P Gilligan
DIST 3/4L 4L TIME 2.26.8
GRADE G & G1 PACE
1st – PAN CAM INCOME L Kelleher
2nd – RIGHT OF REDEMPTION C O'Reilly
3rd – WESTERN OCEAN P Gilligan
DIST 2 1/2L 3 1/2L TIME 2.28.0
GRADE D C & B PACE
1st – RHYDS PANACHE C O'Reilly
2nd – SUPREME SUNSHINE J Boyle
3rd – RHYDS DESTINY T O'Leary
DIST 4L 1 1/2L TIME 2.24.1
GRADE F & E TROT 1 1/2 MILES
1st – DEVONMENT ABSOLU S Kane
2nd – BELLA D'ESPANA L Kelleher
3rd – BRUTENOE P Hill
DIST 4L 1L TIME 3.24.4
GRADE F & E PACE
1st – HAIL SPARTACUS O Quill
2nd – LANESIDE LOUIS J Manning Jnr
3rd – IB A Warrior J Hurley
DIST 3 1/2L 7 1/2L TIME 2.28.7