Gone to the dogs: Offaly owners looking forward to bountiful new year

Year end racing paid out bumper winning purses with over €130k given out in prize money during the annual winter racing festival taking place over Thursday and Friday. There were five AAO races on Thursday with an additional thirteen on Friday. With this massive prize money up for grabs all the top class dogs had remained in training hoping to land some end of season Christmas presents.

It was also a good week for Offaly dogs in a year where the Faithful dogs won over three hundred and fifty races with some quality winners again this week.

Early Week Racing

Thursday, Galway, in the final of the Paul McKenna Memorial A3 575, Rocket Fergie (Peregrine Falcon - Dream Delight) won the €1.5k first prize for local trainer Stephen Murray in 31.84 (10 slow) by seven lengths at 4/1. Two Offaly winners on the supporting card, in an A7 525, Malbay Tiernan won for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.89 (10 slow) also by seven lengths at 2/1. In an A1 contest, So Its Rapid was first home for Birr owner Paul Pardy in 29.16 (10 slow) by two lengths at 2/1 with Vincent McKenna training.

The best race on a quality night’s racing in Shelbourne was the final of the this years A1 Dublin Cup. The €7.5k first prize went to Cheque For Sir (Droopys Sydney - Yahoo Ava) in 28.53 by three lengths at 15/8 fav with Stradbally trainer Karol Ramsbottom at the helm. Runner up was Craggan Mor for Mullingar trainer Francie Murray who received a cheque for €3k. Six other finals took place on the night, in an A4 grade, Tommy Hewick (Jaytee Jet - Me Penny) was a most popular winner, for The Horse That Bought A Dog Syndicate and the Shark Hanlon, in 28.77 by seven lengths at 4/9 fav training with the €1.75k first prize going to trainer Michael Donnelly.

In the final of the This Runs Deep A3 stake, the €1.75k pot went to Storys Law (Loughteen Blanco - Droopys Berry) in 27.67 by five lengths at 3/1 with Murt Leahy training. Garry Dempsey trained the winner of the A2 final, Rathnagore Syd (Droopys Sydney- Zari Session) was too good for his rivals in 28.89 by three lengths at a generous 10/1 with 2.25k going his way.

In the A1 stake final, Jirano Jetstream (Droopys Jet- Ballymac Scala) won for ever green trainer Liam O’Rourke in 28.68 by one length at 11/2 with a purse of €1.75k going to the Garristown trainer. Another legendary trainer won the final of the AO stake, A Lucky Lady (Ballymac Eske - Julies Paradise) won for Robertstown trainer Gerry Melia in 28.78 by two lengths at 9/2 with €1.75k heading his way. In the final of the RCETS AO 600, Callaway Masters (Droopys Sydney - Callaway Razl) came from off the pace and to get up on the line to win by a head in 32.95 at 7/4 with another €1.75k going to Owen McKenna.

Friday Racing
Kilkenny, the Mickey O’Sullivan Memorial ON2 unraced semi-finals were the two standout races in what was a decent card in the Marble City. Bogger Lucky won the first for Liam Peacock in 29.38 (30 slow) by three lengths at 3/1. The second semi went to Glory Sara for Sheila Duncan in 29.62 (30 slow) by a head also at 3/1.

All roads lead to headquarters for the conclusion of the winter racing festival. Thirteen races of the highest quality. Three races each valued at €2k to the winners, four valued at €5k and six at €10k each to the successful ones who cross the line in front. A super crowd turned out with not a spare seat in the restaurant and standing room only in the bars and stands.  Two of the €10k races went across the pond to the UK which is only good for competition moving forward.

Results Highlights

The Open Sprint went to McCool Blue (Ballymac Best - Ballymac Natalie) in a shock result at 12/1 by two lengths with €5k going to owners David McCool and Shea Campbell.  In the Open 850 yard race, the €5k went to Magical Poppy (Confident Rankin - Cabra Twister) and Pat Guilfoyle in 48.05 by three lengths at 5/1.

The last six races on the card were the €10k to the winners. In the open bitch race, Fabulous Azzuri (Magical Bale - Fabulous Artist) in 28.42 by two lengths at 4/1 for Patrick Janssens (GB). The Open 575 went to probably the fastest dog in the country Ballinabola Ed (Confident Rankin - Dolls Lady) in a rapid 30.72 by nine lengths at 4/5 fav with Pat Buckley training.  The Open DDO 750 went across the pond again as Savana Ruinant (Kinloch Brea- Redzer Ruby) in 41.39 by six lengths at 4/1 for Diane Henry (GB).

In the Open 525, Derby winning trainer Jennifer O’Donnell had The Other Kobe (Ballymac Best - Mountaylor Queen) in top form when winning by seven lengths in a trap to line victory in 28.37 at 13/8 fav.  The Open 550 went to Rathangan as Dolores Ruth trained Mustang Jet (Droopys Jet - Mustang Kay Cee) in a derby time of 29.68 by three lengths at 11/2. In the Open 600, Guilfoyle completed a great night for him as Magical Mary (Droopys Jet - Mystical Doll) made it a hat trick of winners on the most toughest of nights in 32.18 by one length at 10/1. It was a super night’s racing in Shelbourne and what a way to finish off the year.

The highlight of the year was of course our blue ribbon event, the Irish Derby won by Born Warrior and Jennifer O’Donnell. Some other highlights in 2022 were:

Irish Oaks  Rafa Mofo, Con and Annie Kirby

Memorial Swords Rex, 

Waterford Select Stakes Explosive Boy, 
Produce Stakes Gaston Pecas,
Easter Cup Susie Sapphire, 
Race Of Champions Tralee Bockos Budsit, 
Champion Stakes Shelbourne One Time Only, 
National Sprint Hawkfield Ozark, 
Juvenile Derby Clona Duke, 
Fair Warrior Airport Flying, 
Laurels Cork Good Cody, 
Puppy Derby Up The Style, 
St. Leger Bobsleigh Dream. 

What a list of champions. Add in Romeo Magico winning the English Derby for Graham Holland and it proved to be one of the best ever. Roll on 2023 and let’s hope we can keep producing champions that make us involved in our industry proud. Hopefully we can have a few Offaly dogs on that roll of honour next year.

Saturday Racing

As Saturday was New Year's eve, no racing took place

Sunday racing

First two Offaly of 2023 were at the matinee meeting in Mullingar on January 1st, both for the Jones’s in Moneygall and both in the A4 grade. 

Lingrawn Woody was first home for Liam Jones in 30.23(60 slow) by one length at a decent 11/1. Mary Jones owned Lingrawn Lola who stopped the clock in 30.11(60 slow) also by one length at 5/1.

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the Mickey O’Sullivan memorial unraced in Kilkenny and a re-run of a decent card in Newbridge that had to be postponed on Friday last due to a mechanical fault. 

Some early annual Spring competitions to look forward to would be the Gold Cup in Shelbourne, Rural Kennels unraced in Clonmel, Cork Cup in Curraheen Park, and Juvenile Classic in Tralee in March plus loads of other exciting stake’s around all tracks.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

 So Its Rapid gets the nod this week when winning an A1 contest in Galway on Thursday for Birr owner Paul Pardy in a super 29.16 (10 slow).

Offaly Winners

Four Offaly winners this week. Well done to all connections in any way.