Tipperary Review 2013
2013 was yet again another brilliant year at Tipperary Racecourse. Despite a shaky start with the opening meeting being abandoned on the 18th April, due to wet weather it was rescheduled for the 1st May.
On the 16th May the official opening of the new entrance building, secretaries office, pre parade ring and an Americian style barn, took place with it being officially launched by the great Lester Pigott.
Again this year the stakes races run at Tipperary were very competitive.
The Tipperary Festival Family Day on 13th July proved a great success with the highlight being the Danehill Dancer Tipperary Stakes (Listed Race). The winner of this race was Sacred Aspect trained by Ken Condon . The third placed filly in this race, Hurryupharriet who won her maiden at Tipperary continued improve and went on to win the Harry Rosebery Stakes (Listed Race) at Ayr in September.
At 9th August meeting Russian Soul trained by Michael Halford and ridden by Shane Foley won the very competitive Abergwaun Stakes in good style from the promising Timeless Call who went on to win a Listed Race.
Russian Soul has been a model of consistency in the last couple of seasons including finishing third behind Group 1 winners Sole Power and Shea Shea. Who finished first and second respectively in the Kings Stand Stakes Group 1 at Royal Ascot.
Tipperary staged a Thoroughbred Gathering race evening on 22nd August featuring the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Fairy Bridge stakes. This attracted a very competitive field including the Austrialian imported triple Group 1 winning mare Sea Siren, however on this occasion the Willie McCreery trained Fiesolana proved too good by taking her third Group 3 of the season. She has continued to improve when taking the Dubai Challenge Stakes Group 2 in impressive style at Newmarket.
To wind up the flat season at Tipperary for 2013 Sruthan trained by Paul Deegan and ridden by won a thrilling battle against the D.K. Weld trained Big Break to win the Coolmore Stud Home of Champions Concorde Stakes (Group 3).
Going on to the National Hunt scene at Tipperary, the James Lambe trained Silk Hall and ridden by Eddie O’Connell made all to take the Kevin McManus Bookmakers Grimes Hurdle Grade 3 from Steps To Freedom.
The Tote.com Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase was won by the Edward O’Grady trained Slieveardagh under Barry Geraghty by a nose in an exciting finish from the Jimmy Finn trained Ballyfinboy who subsequently went on to win the valuable Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase at the Galway Festival.
The Henry De Bromhead trained Sizing Rio who looked a decent sort when winning his Beginners Chase at Tipperary has since gone on to win the Paddy Power European Breeders Fund Novice Chase (Grade 3) at Cork by an impressive 10 lengths.
The Friends of Tipperary Hurdle (Grade 2) was won in emphatic style by the Eddie Harty trained and J.P. McManus owned Captain Cee Bee. This former Supreme Novices Hurdle winner at Cheltenham ran out an easy winner under Mark Walsh.
The Delores Purcell memorial Novice Hurdle Grade 3 was won by the Pat Shanahan trained King of the Picts under Andrew McNamara.
The Michael Winters trained former Galway Hurdle winner Rebel Fitz was a very popular winner of the Like A Butterfly Novice Chase (Grade 3) under Barry Geraghty where he was recording a fifth successive win over fences.
The final race of the Super Sunday meeting was the Super Sunday INH Flat Race which was won the Willie Mullins trained Wicklow brave was winning his third successive bumper.
Here’s hoping the 2014 season at Tipperary will provide many memorable and exciting races.