Image © Healy Racing
Jamie Scallan and Barry O’Neill agreed to share the spoils in the southern rider’s title race, with the pair agreeing to shake hands mid-way through the opening day of the two-day Ballingarry fixture.
Jamie Scallan and Barry O’Neill agreed to share the spoils in the southern rider’s title race, with the pair agreeing to shake hands mid-way through the opening day of the two-day Ballingarry fixture.
The pair entered the season-ending weekend locked on 14 winners apiece, and it was Scallan that was first to strike, as he combined with Cormac Doyle to land the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden in emphatic fashion.
Scallan’s mount had been in front when running out at Tattersalls in April, and she made up for that blip by powering clear from the penultimate obstacle to triumph by 40 lengths, with O’Neill having to settle for third spot aboard Colin Bowe’s Walkingmayotomilan.
That emphatic victory saw Scallan edge one clear in the title race, but it was a lead that he would only hold onto outright for an hour, as having been forced to settle for second in the following four-year-old auction maiden, his title rival O’Neill rejoined him at the summit of the standings in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.
Bowe’s Belle Star Outlaw atoned for being a beaten favourite in each of her opening two efforts by making all of the running on her third attempt to defeat Queen Of The Gales by nine lengths.
Following the victory, the pair elected to shake hands and end their season prematurely, sitting out the remainder of the weekend’s action to ensure the title honours are shared.
A first title success for Scallan in what has been a personal-best campaign, it is the third time that O’Neill has secured the southern title following his 2021 and 2022 successes, and it is his second regional prize of the season having secured the northern title earlier in the season.
Barry and Rob will be presented with their trophy at the 44th annual GAIN point-to-point awards, which takes place at the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, on Saturday, June 7th. Tickets can be purchased here.
Barry and Rob will be presented with their trophy at the 44th annual GAIN point-to-point awards, which takes place at the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, on Saturday, June 7th. Tickets can be purchased here.
