Inside Track: Global racing sees Irish horses at their best

It’s a race, they say, that stops a nation. This year’s running got me out of the scratcher around a quarter-to-four last Tuesday morning and switching on the TV.

Way back, the Melbourne Cup caused only the slightest of interest among the racing fraternity on this side of the world. That all changed when Curragh trainer, Dermot Weld, sent Vintage Crop to take part in 1993. The gelding was owned by Michael Smurfit and ridden by Mick Kinane.

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The Aussies thought it couldn’t happen, a horse from the Northern Hemisphere coming down and winning ‘their’ race. But it did – their prized possession going for ‘real’ export for the first time. (There had been New Zealand-based winners).

Kinane had the horse perfectly placed throughout, and then, with the line was in sight, sent his mount on for the sweetest of wins.

Vintage Crop had two more tries, and performed honourably, finishing 7th and then 3rd. Weld, however, had more to offer. Nine years after his groundbreaking win, he sent Media Puzzle on the same mission and again was rewarded.

Weld is at the veteran stage – Joseph O’Brien is much younger, but far from wet behind the ears. When still in his twenties, the Kilkenny-based trainer, who has long lost the ‘son of Aidan O’Brien’ tag, has, like Weld, won the great race twice, the first time, in 2017, with Rekindling, and three years later with Twilight Payment.

O’Brien had one of the favourites for this year’s renewal, Al Riffa, along with an outsider, Goodie Two Shoes. Also in the field was Absurde, attempting to bring off the most audacious of doubles for his trainer, Willie Mullins, and owners, the Heffernan family.

The reason, therefore, why the alarm was set for last 3.45 last Tuesday, in good time for the 4 o’clock off. No need to have a bet – the race carried enough interest to just sit back and watch.

Colours most often seen in National Hunt racing here and in England, the green and gold of that great sport benefactor, JP McManus, were prominent throughout, carried by Goodie Two Shoes. Better than that, they were flying high as the post came into the jockeys’ sight.

On board, Wayne Lordan, was giving it everything, but going that bit better was the home favourite, Half Yours. Having given it his all, Goodie Two-Shoes, a 40/1 chance, had to yield to the faster finisher, but still filled a worthy runner-up spot. The strongly fancied Al Riffa came in 7th, just ahead of compatriot, Absurde.

And that double Absurde was trying to complete for connections? Three days earlier, Ethical Diamond caused a 25/1 shock in a €2.55 million-to-the-winner Turf race at the Breeders’ Cup meeting in America’s Del Mar course.

It was ridden by Donegal-born Dylan Browne McMonagle, who, less than 24 hours later, was at The Curragh to receive his Irish Champion Jockey award.

Like JP McManus, trainer Willie Mullins is best known for his phenomenal National Hunt exploits, but just as adept at turning out winners on the Flat. The Heffernan family matriarch, Margaret Heffernan, is head of Dunnes Stores.

Ethical Diamond wasn’t the only Irish-trained winner at the Breeders’ Cup. Aidan O’Brien turned out Gstaad to win, but satisfying as that was, the win for Balantina in another of the heavily-endowed races probably meant more to the world’s greatest trainer.

This lassie is trained by O’Brien’s other son, Donnacha. The scene in the parade ring was as touching as the one you might see after an under-14 football final, a father greeting his son, the only goalscorer. And it was all perfectly understandable.

For a country of its size, Ireland is punching way above its weight. It’s home to some of the world’s equine best in both codes, many of them cared for by the peerless O’Brien and Mullins.

Neither of these handlers, however, should think there are not others around, void of the potential to knock them off their pedestals.

From Del Mar and Melbourne to Dundalk Stadium on Wednesday afternoon last. The place was well populated for the students’ day, and among the winners were horses trained by the O’Brien brothers, Joseph and Donnacha. All part of the job.