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West Cork, IR – Oisin Quill is on the crest of a wave at present and the Kenmare Co Kerry based teenager drove two winners at the Dunmanway harness races Sunday.Quill has forged a great partnership with Hail Spartacus and this eleven year old son of Swingman was recording his third victory in a row in the Grade F Pace.
The pair drew pole position and led from the start with American Rebel who was well supported in the market chasing on. The order remained the same going out on the final circuit .All the while Honor Code crept into the race and at “The Road Crossing” was on terms with the leaders.
Turning for home it was between the two with Hail Spartacus holding on by a neck to deny Honor Code. In the resulting stewards enquiry the placings remained as they past the post.
“He loves it around here and I knew I had them all covered once he led in the final straight” said Quill of the winner.
Quill completed his double in The Apprentice series Trot.
Bella D’Espana was away quickly here with Valiant Forgion tagging on in second. With a quarter of a mile to race Quill made his move on Vallanzana going three wide down the back straight and hit the front turning for home and ran on to a 2 1/2 length win. This took the career earnings to just shy of 50,000.
Rhyds Panache, like Hail Spartacus, made it three wins from three in the Grade F E & D Pace. Springhill Doyle set the early fractions with IB Felicity. On the Bell Lap IB Felicity led and looked a winner but Chris O’Reilly was quietly creeping into contention and hit the front with 300 yards to go and ran out to a resounding 7 1/2 length victory.“The plan was try and work our way up the handicap and go back to Lyre in August for The Red John Memorial which we won last year” O’Reilly briefed the media post race.
John Shanahan seems to have a nice horse in the making in Resolute Diamond who landed the odds in the Grade G & G1 Pace. This three year old son of Foreclosure N in only his second ever start was really impressive and made ever yard of the running under the confident drive of “Cool Hands” Timmy O’Leary and never looked in any danger winning by two lengths.
“He ran well in Portmarnock last week on his first ever start in the three year old series and today will bring him on a lot. My brother Denis who is based in London owns him and we always thought a lot of him” said winning trainer John Shanahan.
The top grade pace was full of drama. Rhyds Destiny “a catch drive” for Jamie Hurley was away quickly and had a right set too with Supreme Sunshine. With this battle probably taking its toll, Llwyns Delight was next to challenge and led with a quarter to race but went off stride turning for home but John Manning Jnr got him foot perfect and won by 2 2/4 lengths from the staying on King Wills Arrival.
Patrick Hill gave Brutenor a text book drive in the top Grade trot. Destin De Larre and Devoument Absolu shared the lead but Hill on the winner was never too far away and this consistent nine year old was 1 1/2 lengths in front at the finish.
The Next local meeting is on Tuesday 4th August back in Dunmanway.
by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink
RESULTS
All races 1 1/4 Miles
GRADE F PACE
1st – Hail Spartacus O Quill
2nd – Honor Code P Gilligan
3rd – American Rebel T O’Leary
DIST NK 3/4L TIME 2.28.6
GRADE G & G1 PACE
1st – Resolute Diamond T O’Leary
2nd – Sugar Cane Howard P Gilligan
3rd – Darkhill John J M O Reilly
DIST 2L 6L TIME 2.32.5
IHRA APPRENTICE CHAMPIONSHIP
1st – Vallanzana O Quill
2nd – Bella D’Espana L Kelleher
3rd – Vaillant Forgion J Hurley
DIST 2 1/2L 5 1/4L TIME 2.33.6
GRADE C & A PACE
1st – Llwyns Delight J Manning Jnr
2nd – King Wills Arrival O Quill
3rd – Supreme Sunshine J Boyle
DIST 2 3/4L 2L TIME 2.28.0
GRADE F E & C TROT
1st – Brutenor P Hill
2nd – Devoument Absolu J O’Mahony
3rd – Destin De Larre S Quill
DIST 1 1/2L 3/4L TIME 2.33.8
GRADE F E & D PACE
1st – Rhyds Panache C O’Reilly
2nd – IB Felicity J Boyle
3rd – Coalford Bruce D McCarthy
DIST 7 3/4L 1 1/2L TIME 2.27.0
