WEST CORK, Ireland – Hail Spartacus gave 15-year-old Luke Kelleher his first classic success when landing the George Deane Memorial at Dunmanway West Cork on Sunday writes Tim Kelleher.
Three elimination heats were held with two horses going forward to the final.
In the opening heat County Limerick raider Saunders Jubilee was "on the busses" in the betting ring and this son of Play With A Full Deck landed the odds but only just .He led from the start but just held on from Lyons Stallone who only saw daylight in the final 100 yards but the post came in time for Jubilee.
Heat two went to Llywns Allstar who loves the front and driver Mike O Brien kept this son of Hasty Hall about his business. Favourite Camden Corleone looked a winner with two furlongs to pace but "Allstar" pulled out a little bit extra two win by two lengths.
Cruise Howard second last week was the punters choice in the third heat and was put to sleep for most of the ten furlong contest by Timmy O'Leary and oozed to a comprehensive 3 length winning margin .
In the final Cruise Howard was again the punters fancy despite a 50 yard handicap .
Saunders Jubilee and Lyons Stallone led for the first mile of the contest. Cruise Howard and Hail Spartacus a 30 yard trailer soon joined issue and turning for home Hail Spartacus wore down his rival to give Luke Kelleher his first major success on the circuit .
The winner who won the Grand Prix at this venue last year a son of Swingman and Meadoebranch Katie was bred by his owners the Hill Family who run Hillside Farms one of the top breeding nurseries in Cork.
"He's as tough as nails and runs with his heart on his sleeve, " A delighted Pete Hill told the post race press briefing.
The Trotteur Francais race produced another epic battle.
Tarnao Josselyn second on the beach had everything bar the kitchen thrown at him by his six rivals but saw off all the challengers to win from lVaillant Forgion. Blanpain Le Fol led from the start but the winner took it up after two furlongs and was neverheaded.
King Wills Arrival made it a double for the Quill family when taking the low grade under saddle race .Sunnyside Kildare tried to take on king Wills Arrival after a lap, but Oisin Quill was not giving away the top spot and as Brywins Picasso also loomed large but the US import held on by a neck.
Meadowbranch Demon took the high grade under saddle race. Wellfield Ghost and Rhyds Destiny played battle up front but "The Iron Horse" showed why he earbned that name grinding down the pace setters to ease to a 3 length win.
Coalford Bruce took the Grade G & G1 Pace for catch driver Patrick Hill . This son of Rogue Hall has been "tough"to keep right but showed his true colours despite an early break
All roads lead to Dundalk Stadium next week for the big PMU meeting,
by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink
RESULTS (ALL RACES 1 Mile 300 yards
GEORGE DEANE MEMORIAL
HEAT ONE GRADE F & E
1st M Shanahan SAUNDERS JUBILEE J Manning Jnr
2nd O'Driscoll / O'Reilly LYONS STALLONE C O'Reilly
3rd J Shanahan FAIRDAYS BRET M Kelleher
DIST 1/2l 3l TIME 2.38.5 6 Ran
HEAT TWO
1st M O'Brien LLYWNS ALLSTAR Owner
2nd O'Reilly/Hurley CAMDEN CORLEONE M O'Reilly
3rd F Quill IB MOHICAN F Quill Jnr
DIST 2l NK TIME 2.37.8 5 Ran
HEAT THREE
1st C O Brien CRUISE HOWARD T O'Leary
2nd P Hill HAIL SPARTACUS L Kelleher
3rd C O'Reilly RHYDS PANACHE Owner
DIST 3l 2l TIME 2.39.8 5 Ran FINAL
FINAL
1st P Hill HAIL SPARTACUS L Kelleher
2nd C O Brien CRUISE HOWARD T O'Leary
O'Reilly /Hurley CAMDEN CORLEONE M O'Reilly
DIST 3/4l 5l TIME 2.36.6 6 Ran
LOW GRADE UNDER SADDLE
1st F Quill KING WILLS ARRIVAL O Quill
2nd O Farrell /Kelleher BRYWINS PICASSO L Kelleher
3rd S Buckley SUNNYSIDE KILDARE E Murphy
DIST 1/2l 3l TIME 2.37.0 4 Ran
HIGH GRADE UNDER SADDLE
1st Kelleher Bros MEADOWBRANCH DEMON L Kelleher
2nd J Shanahan RHYDS DESTINY M R Shanahan
3rd J Manning WELLFIELD GHOST R Manning
DIST 3l 1/2l TIME 2.32.6 4 Ran
GRADE G & G1
1st J Shanahan COALFORD BRUCE P Hill
2nd J Payne GET ROCKIN J Manning Jnr
3rd S Jennings HEATHER BREEZE
Owner DIST 3l 3l TIME 2.39.8 8 Ran
TROTTEUR FRANCAIS
1st F Quill TARNAO JOSSELYN F Quill Jnr
2nd O'Sullivan / Goggin VAILLANT FORGION M Goggin Jnr
3nd F Quill VA REINE DU PONT S Quill
DIST 2l 1/2l TIME 2.53.7 7 Ran