Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan
While the fashion stakes have already been well documented, the racing was just as exciting at the JulyFest in Killarney which delivered a fun-filled programme, fantastic crowds and top-class racing.
The first white flag of the five-day festival was raised on the Monday with father and son Aidan and Joseph O’Brien were rewarded for the trip to Killarney, training four of the seven winners on the card for their independent training establishments.
Another family affair also graced the winners’ enclosure when jockey Andrew Slattery rode Independent Expert to victory for his father, Andy Slattery Snr, who trained the winner of the Torc Mountain Handicap.
In the trainer’s post-race interview, Slattery suggested the next outing could be at the Galway Races: “She is fit and well now. If she gets in, we’ll take our chances and if you’re not in you can’t win”.
Tuesday evening offered a good evening for punters with five of the seven races won by favourites, leaving the bookmakers licking their wounds on Bucrower. With a good spread of winners from all the top yards represented and a double on the card for Meath trainer Gordon Elliott who saddled the last two winners on the card.
On Wednesday, jockey Wayne Lordan and Trainer Aidan O’Brien, enjoyed a double on the card including the feature race the Cairn Rouge Stakes of €50,000 when Greenfinch galloped her rivals into submission to land the listed contest in which the Justify filly was sent to post 3/1 joint-favourite.
On Thursday, jump racing took center stage to a packed crowd of racegoers with Frankie Foster from
in attendance meeting and mingling with the crowd and sharing content live on his influential social media channels.
Top jockey Rachael Blackmore got the upper hand on Red Glory winning the KPH Construction Handicap Hurdle for trainer Henry de Bromhead in fine style, at 4/1 joint favourite.
Last but by no means least, the final day of JulyFest was an extraordinary day with Jack Kenned, Kerry’s first ever Champion Jockey, presented with a framed token of his racing highlights by the Killarney Racegoers Club.
Back on the track the exciting thrills and spills of jump racing captivated patrons. Wudya was a popular winner on the card in the hands of Kennedy for trainer Gordon Elliott in the Europe Hotel and Resort Mares Maiden Hurdle. It was also his first ride back in over two-months as he returned from injury, much to the delight of the crowd.
Killarney Races has two more wonderful festivals to look ahead to in August running from Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 inclusive and for the final race meeting in October.
