Doonbeg Making European Headlines

Former O’Brien Award winner, Doonbeg, got the job done in his biggest task so far since relocating to

Europe early last year.

With driver Jonathan Dunne in the bike, Doonbeg pocketed the Connolly’s Red Mills International Free For All Pace at Musselburgh Racecourse in Scotland – the most prestigious FFA of the British and Irish Harness Racing season. Just for good measure, the one time James ‘Friday’ Dean pupil set a track record in the process.

The FFA is contested on turf, in a clockwise direction and over a distance of one mile and three-eighths. Doonbeg’s clocking of 2:49.7 is the fastest time recorded in the history of the 119-year-old Musselburgh Harness Racing Festival.

The seven-year-old son of Camluck-St Mattricks Way moved to Porterstown Stable in County Kildare, Ireland in January 2009, eventually winning on his first start in his new continent in August of that same year at Amman Valley Racetrack in Wales, clocking a shade over 2:00.

He took to racing on turf like any good horse should – becoming to first horse to ever record a sub-two-minute mile on turf in Ireland on his very first start on the surface at Tyrella Beach in County Down last season.

Since then he has shown particular fondness for the grass going, winning four of seven starts this season – all in FFA competition.

Owner/Trainer Geoff Dunne explained how winning the Musselburgh FFA was one of his trainee’s two main goals for the season.

“We were always looking at the International FFA and the Crock of Gold series (held in Wales) as being his two main goals for the year. The Crock of Gold has several heats run throughout the season, he has been third in one already so he will need to race in some more in order to qualify for the final. I believe there is four heats left before the final (late September at Tir Prince Raceway, Wales) so his next running in a Crock heat is likely to be on August 16 back at Amman Valley where he won last year.

If all that wasn’t enough, the speedster has also found time to become a father this year, with a filly out of the Sable Matters mare Porterstown Scoot born in recent weeks. If the good looks of his first offspring count for anything, Doonbeg may well prove a winner in the breeding shed as well as the racetrack.

The main event of the Musselburgh Festival is the 119-year-old Famous Musselburgh Pace which is a two-day ‘heats and final’ event – the jewel in the crown of the harness racing season in the UK and Ireland.

This year’s main event also went to Ireland, with the much-fancied Forafewdollarsmore (bh,2005 The Panderosa-Oh My Dear-Artsplace) edging out British favourite Stoneriggs Mystery in a thrilling final for driver John Richardson, trainer William Flanagan and owners Walter and Carmel Stewart.

(Trot Insider exclusive by Eric Haughan)