*Sean Stack is among the owners hoping for success this weekend. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
THERE is a big Clare interest in the annual national coursing meeting which takes place in Powerstown Park in Clonmel on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
By Michael Maher
For the 98th annual meeting, a record-breaking attendance has been forecast.
In the Boyle Sports Derby, the Harte and Haugh clan from Kilkee have two runners qualified, this team includes Joe, Barry and Josh Harte and Damien, Linda, Cian, and Shane Haugh. Bayview Bandit who is owned by Cian Haugh qualified in Listowel, he is a son of Blades of Hope and Way Back West and he is currently priced at 50/1 and Intrinsic Yank who impressed at the Killimer Kilrush Meeting when he won the Working Members stake at his ease, gained his golden ticket at the Dungarvan Meeting, a son of Newinn Wonder and Cardi Bee he is owned by Josh Harte who is now based in New York, and he currently priced at 33/1.
Strikin Distance collected his ticket at Miltown Malbay for Inagh’s Noel Hehir, having previously won the Reserve Dog Trial Stake at the Ennis Clarecastle meeting. This son of Ballymac Best and Specific Wonder is priced at 25/1, Rachel Wheeler from Golden in Tipperary is a joint owner.
Michael Eustace, who has the accolade of winning five football championships with his native Kilrush is represented in this classic by Winfarm Mike, having hit the post on three occasions as a beaten finalist, he is representing the Rathdowney club, bred by George Gallery of the Cillowen Kennels, he is a son of Kyle Leigh and Colossal Delight and Liscannor’s Declan McDonagh is his trainer and he priced at 40/1.
On the card as reserves are Sammy Tiger and Malbay Houdini who both will be hoping the grace the Powerstown stretch in the TA Morris Consolation Derby Stake at least. Sammy Tiger impressed at the recent South Clare Meeting at Ballinagun, Cree for the Banner Gentleman Syndicate which comprises of Corraclare’s John Redy, Tom Browne, Michael Healy, Cross native Finbarr Keating, Mullagh’s Brendan Clancy and Pat Reidy and Frank Finucane from Kilmihil. A son of Kyle Mozart and Gaisce Buo he was bred by Quilty’s Johnny Sexton. He is trained Partick O’Connor who hails from Saleen, Tarbert.
Malbay Houdini, a son of Howdododo and Oakview Lily is owned by the Milltown Based Pure Ganders Syndicate, trained by Gerry Burke, this syndicate comprises of Gerry, Sarah, Kevin and Ciara Burke, Jason O’Dwyer and Eoin Hurley. He was a comprehensive winner of the reserve Dog Trial Stake at the Killimer Kilrush Meeting.
Runners in the Horse and Jockey Hotel Oaks sees legendary Clare hurler Sean Stack involved. The Sixmilebridge man is represented by Lady Wild, this daughter of Annual Fergie and Breaska Wild really caught the eye at the Tradaree meeting when claiming her golden ticket, she is quietly fancied at 16/1 and is currently trained by Owen McKenna from Tipperary.
The Atlantic prefix has graced Powerstown Park on many an occasion down through the years, and Miltown Malbay’s Paddy Marrinan is very excited about Atlantic Sunset challenging for this year’s females classic, a daughter of Newinn Wonder and Cracking Prim she won a very completive Trial Stake at a packed Abbeyfeale meeting during the festive period, partly owned and trained by Eamon Kiely who resides in Cork she is prices at 14/1.
Martin Keane form Kilmihil is represented by Thai Smile, who he owns in partnership with Patrick Treacy form Kilfinane in County Limerick. A daughter of Newinn Wonder and Sayyouloveme she was a comprehensive winner at the Charleville meeting and backed up her credentials and potential with an eye catching victory of the South Clare All Age Bitch Stake and she currently priced at 25/1.
Popular Nenagh native PJ Cooney who reside in Ballyalla, Ennis is joint owner of Get Lucky with his brother Michael is representing the Nenagh Club, a homebred daughter of Blades of Hope and Well Friend she is priced at 50/1.
On the card as a reserve is Johnny’s Gaisce for Quity’s Johnny Sexton. Having graced two finals she is currently reserve E and will at least take her place in the Kitty Butler Stakes, she is a litter sister of the aforementioned Sammy Tiger and is bred by Kyle Mozart and Gaisce Bui.
In the Callaway Kennels and Kevin Smith Champion Stake, for second and third season campaigners, the Harte and Haugh Clan form Kilkee have further representation in the hands of Crew Beans. An impressive winner of the White Sands Hotel All Age Stake at Ballyheigue, he followed up two weeks after that triumph to take the feature event at the Miltown.
