Top Canadian driver, Jody Jamieson, will be at Portmarnock Raceway on Sunday afternoon to drive in the final of the Ladbrokes Vincent Delaney Memorial.
“I’m coming over to drive Newtown Rock in the Delaney Final,” Jamieson said late Saturday night via email, “Look forward to seeing you all there!”
Jamieson did not elaborate on this late move. Speculation is that he is trying the colt for perspective buyers who could want to bring Newtown Rock over to North America to race. Sired in the USA by Rocknroll Hanover from the No Pan Intended mare, Hannah M, Newtown Rock is her first foal.
Currently trained by Alan Wallace Sr. and owned by Liam Wallace, Newtown Rock has been sensational in his debut season. On Saturday, he led from start to finish in his elimination division of the Ladbrokes Vincent Delaney Memorial, cutting the mile and winning with ease by three open lengths in 2:01 over the half-mile oval.
His clocking was just one-fifth of a second from the track record for two-year-olds at Portmarnock that was set earlier in the day by Breeders Crown UK/Ireland winner, Miraculous, in 2:00.9. These two top colts will most certainly be going head and head in the Delaney Final Sunday.
Jamieson will be joining two other world class drivers who have come to Ireland to race in the Delaney Memorial, New Zealander Dexter Dunn, who put on a show Saturday at Portmarnock, winning three races on the program, plus USA’s great reinsman, George Brennan, who was winless Saturday in his debut in Ireland.
Jody Jamieson has 7,152 career wins and purses won by the horses he has driven totaling more than $111 million.
Post time at Portmarnock Sunday is 2:00 p.m. The Delaney Memorial is scheduled as the last of 12 races on the program and with a purse of 18,500 Euros, is the richest race in all of Ireland and the UK.
(With files from Vincent Delaney Memorial Weekend)