Curtain closes on West Cork season

WEST CORK, IE – The curtain came down on the 2020 West Cork harness racing season in Dunmanway on Saturday afternoon and it was a case of the generation game with drivers in their teens , twenties ,thirties , forties and seventies all driving winners on the day.

It was a case of Deja Vu from last week when “Elder Statesman ” John Boyle at 74 years young landing the top-grade pace with Supreme Sunshine .Only four went to post but this was a cracking renewal .Indie Hanover a winner last week led at the start but in a battle Supreme Sunshine hit the front after 2 furlongs of the mile and 300 yards contest.

The order remained the same heading out on the final circuit where Awesome Dude joined the leaders but went off stride and lost his place .On the run to the line Supreme Sunshine was still in front but Indie Hanover closed but failed by a neck to haul back the leader.

As with last week John Boyle got a rapturous reception when the result was called.

“It was a great finish and I wasn’t sure whether I had won or not. Derek Jennings the driver of Indie Hanover looked at me and neither of us knew who had won .The lads gave me a great reception in the paddock when the result was called and it means a lot,” Boyle was quoted after racing.

“Look, we came to Cork three times this year and have won two and finished second so not too bad, ” Derek Jennings said “I wasn’t sure of the result but who could begrudge John his win he’s a real nice man and the lads were joking that a 74 year old man had beat me .I couldn’t believe it he looks no older than fifty.”

Oisin Quill only recently turned 18 but this youngster has “an old head on young shoulders ” and himself and Hail Spartacus ran riot in the finish of the grade F Pace, Jay Bee and Mahogany Dreamer shared leadership but Quill was “waiting in the wings” and took up the running on the final lap and ran out an 8-length winner.

This was the pairs 4th success of the shortened season who is trained by Michael O Donovan for Hillside Farms and gave him West Cork Pacer of The Year.

Sean Kane made all the running in the Mares Trot with Dinah Washington and Freedom Well came with a storming late challenge but failed by a nose to peg back thew winner with Belkalinja third .Kane based in the Moorside Stud in County Meath comes in his late twenties in the generation game.

IB Paddington jointly owned by Bill Donovan from Florida and the Murphy Bros from Baltimore looks a horse with a real bright future .The three-year son of Foreclosure N was never too far off the pace and hit the front with an eighth of a mile to pace and won by 3 1/2 lengths from Pan Cam Income who would have been closer only for traffic but the winner was never for catching.

“He holds entries in the IHRA Juvenile series in Annaghmore and the Sire Stakes in Portmarnock so we keep him going until the end of the National season,” Winning driver Donal Murphy (Late 40s) told the media.

When asked would the home bred be a candidate for export to the USA Muphy smiled.

Brutenor a former winner of The Maven Trot Took the aged handicap.He came from off the pace and a 20-yard handicap to take the honours. Bella Despina and Banderillero Piya shared the lead but Patrick Hill always had matters in hand and won by a length .Hill clocks in the thirty ish age group.

So after the late start to the season there were 10 local meetings in West Cork with a special thanks to the Ballabuidhe Committee owners of the track in Dunmanway where 7 meetings were held .Lyre had two meetings on Ger. Hegartys track and thanks to Derry McCarthy owner of Bishopsland Raceway

Racing continues at Portmarnock and Annaghmore Raceway until November.

1,IB PADDINGTON D Murphy

2..PAN CAM INCOME L Kelleher

3.MOORSIDE MYRA J O’Mahony

DIST 3 1/2L NK TIME 2.33.7

1,DINAH WASHINGTON S Kane

2.FREEDOM WELL L Kelleher

3.BELKALINJA D Murphy

DIST NS 3/4L TIME 3.28.7

1.SUPREME SUNSHINE J Boyle

2.INDIE HANOVER D Jennings

3.AWESOME DUDE S Quill

DIST NK 3 1/2L TIME 2.28.6

1.BRUTENOR P Hill

2.BANDERILLERO PIYA D Murphy

3.DESTIN DE LARRE F Quill Jnr

DIST 1L 3/4L TIME 3.33.7

1.HAIL SPARTACUS O Quill

2.JAYBEE P McInerney

3.FRANKIE CAMDEN D McCarthy

DIST 8L 8 1/2L TIME 2,32,5