26 January 2023 - Flipbook - Page 71
HORSEWEEK
New Irish
Equine
Safety
Initiative
launched
FARMWEEK
FEBRUARY 04 2021
71
Farce at start of race
at Naas on Sunday
By Shaun O’Dea
D
ESPITE some high prole
racing, the start of the
2020 ITBA Awards Winners
Handicap Hurdle at Naas on
Sunday proved the major
talking point after a farce of a start
to the race. The contest was delayed
for a considerable time, when ‘Melly
and Me’ unseated Sean Flanagan and
galloped around the track in various
directions prior to being caught.
As
the
runners
lined
up,
‘Shakeytry’ veered left, unseating
his rider bringing both ‘Sean Says’
and ‘Aarons Day’ to a standstill
even before the tape was released
by starter Derek Cullen. Uproar
followed on the television coverage
being presented by Kevin O’Ryan
and Ruby Walsh. Even the course
commentator was unsure if the
race was actually off or started and
said: “In fact is this race on?”, as the
runners set off.
‘Winner
alright’
was
even
announced
prior
to
the
announcement of a stewards’
enquiry, further undermining the
rules of racing.
Ruby Walsh said: “That should
have been a false start - absolutely
no doubt. The tape hadn’t gone.
There is no way Derek Cullen can
start that race. If the tape hasn’t
been pulled, that’s a false start -
A
new
Equine
Safety
Initiative has been launched
in the Republic of Ireland,
which aims to highlight
the importance of being
adequately insured around
horses.
The initiative, developed
by Hive Insurance Services,
includes a new survey on
equine road safety. Statistics
will be collated from the
feedback provided, which can
then be used as part of an
Equine Road Safety campaign.
There is a link to take part
in the Equine Safety Initiative
survey on the Association
of Irish Riding Clubs (AIRC)
website: www.airc.ie
A
number
of
Irish
international riders, including
dressage rider Heike Holstein;
event rider Cathal Daniels;
and show jumpers Mikey
Pender and Seamus Hughes
Kennedy have also come on
board as brand ambassadors.
For further information
about the Equine Safety
Initiative, please go to www.
hiveinsure.ie
FALSE START?: Derek Cullen was
again involved in controversy in the
start of the Naas handicap hurdle.
(FW05-502SO)
Tattersalls Ireland announce rescheduled
date for the February National Hunt Sale
F
OLLOWING an announcement
by the Irish Government
last Tuesday (January 26),
Tattersalls Ireland has conrmed
changes to its upcoming February
National Hunt Sale. The Sale will now
be held at Fairyhouse on Tuesday,
March 9, 2021.
Due to the continued Level 5
Covid-19 lockdown, it is not legally
permitted to host sales during this
time, but Tattersalls are hopeful
that these restrictions will end on
Friday, March 5, as stated by the Irish
Government.
Entries have now closed for the
February National Hunt and the
catalogue will be available to view
online this week.
Announcing the postponement,
Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins,
commented: “It is unfortunate that
we have had to make yet another
change to the dates for the February
National Hunt Sale, but we are
constantly having to respond to the
evolving situation and to the latest
Government guidelines.
“Although matters are out of our
control, we will continue to monitor
the situation and look at any and all
options as matters evolve to provide
the best possible opportunities to
sell and buy.
“We have consulted with Goffs to
ensure that any changes to our sales
schedule are in harmony with their
plans to ensure we deliver a workable
solution for all of our mutual clients.”
DATE CHANGE: Tattersalls Ireland has confirmed changes to its upcoming
February National Hunt Sale, which will now be held at Fairyhouse on Tuesday,
March 9. (FW04-531NN)
TATTERSALLS IRELAND SALES DATES 2021
February National Hunt Sale:
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
May Store Sale: Tuesday, May 11,
2021
Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge
Breeze Up Sale: Friday, May 21, 2021
Derby Sale: Wednesday, June 23
and Thursday, June 24, 2021
NEW July Store Sale Part I:
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
NEW July Store Sale Part II:
Thursday, July 15, 2021
August National Hunt Sale:
Tuesday, August 10; Wednesday,
August 11 and Thursday 12, 2021
September Yearling Sale: Tuesday,
September 21 and Wednesday,
September 22, 2021
September Yearling Sale Part II:
Thursday, September 23, 2021
November National Hunt Sale:
Friday, November 5 to Friday,
November 12, 2021
November Flat Foal & Breeding
Stock Sale: Saturday, November 13
and Sunday, November 14, 2021
that’s shambolic!”
Kevin O’Ryan added: “It’s a
downright disgrace.”
Then detailed the costs of entry,
travel and jockey fees for the horse
failing to get a run.
O’Ryan, a former top amateur
rider, continued: “There is no way
that should have started - absolutely
no way.”
Walsh stated everyone makes
mistakes, but said: “There has to be
serious questions asked about the
start of that race and every owner,
trainer and jockey gets sanctioned
for mistakes, but nobody seems to
be (referring Turf Club).”
The issue continued to dominate
and be debated during the remainder
of the coverage of the meeting, while
it was also detailed that it was not
the rst time the starter Derek Cullen
has been involved in controversy in
the starting of races.
Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the
Irish Horseracing Regularity Board
(Turf Club), was present at the
meeting, but declined to comment,
stating the issue had been referred
to the IHRB.
A brief statement was issued in
the daily stewards’ reports, which
said: “The stewards enquired into
the start of this race. Evidence was
heard from L A McKenna, rider of
‘Aarons Day’; K J Brouder, rider of
‘Sean Says’; P T Enright, rider of
‘Shakeytry’ and from Mr D Cullen,
IHRB starter. Having considered
the evidence and the matter, the
stewards referred the matter to CEO
of the IHRB for further investigation.”
Local broodmare is a banker
for Buchanan family
By Shaun O’Dea
THE broodmare, ‘Zaffarella’ is proving a real banker for the County
Down based Buchanan family. The Goffs UK January Sale was
staged as a virtual session, however, again Ulster produce topped
the bidding when ‘Zaffarella’ daughter ‘Hollymount’, trained by Larne
based, Stuart Crawford to win a Carlisle bumper sold for £300,000
to the Moran family, who are building a high end band of broodmares
at their Bective Stud, having also recently acquired top race mare
‘Apple’s Jade’ for £530,000, creating a record price for her sex.
Four-year old-mare ‘Hollymount’, was bred and raced by Jane
Buchanan, who is an American-based bloodstock agent, while
assisting top American trainer, Graham Motion. The mare has now
been sent to Gordon Elliott to train and the Meath handler is familiar
with the family, having her half-brother, ‘Malone Road’, which cost
£325,000 from the same connections, in his team and expected to
hit the heights at the top level.
The dam, a four-time winner over hurdles, has also produced
‘Windsor Avenue’ and ‘Ravenhill’, the duo multiple winners.
The Buchanan family have long been associated with Ulster racing
and Jane’s father, Alan Buchanan a familiar figure at local race
meetings and point to points, while Jane’s brother is former jumps
jockey Peter Buchanan, who had a long association with trainer,
Lucinda Russell in the north of England.
Alan Buchanan said:
“It’s emotional, as
we lost my mum a
few years ago and
‘Hollymount’ is named
after the place where
she was born in
Northern Ireland. It
fulfils a dream for all of
us, really.”
BUCHANAN BROOD
MARE SUCCESS: Former
top Northern based jump
jockey, Peter Buchanan,
who did a lot of the
work with ‘Hollymount’,
pictured with his daughter,
Isla. (FW05-501NN)
