In a superb year for bitches in Ireland, Killmacdonnagh made an enormous statement for her gender when setting yet another Cork 550 track record with a 29.07 run, which also constitutes the fastest ever 550 race win in Ireland.
Not bad for a bitch who started at 4-1 when landing the Irish Oaks on June 1.
**There is an interesting aside here concerning Killmacdonnagh’s dam Seacrest Lady who ‘fought’ early in her career. (Technically she was marked ‘awkward’ in a race at Clonmel, though she would have received an undisputed yellow card from any UK racing office). She nevertheless recovered and went on to become a decent open racer, running second in the Southern Oaks at Youghal.
The most prestigious racing in Ireland at the weekend was the Red Mills Champion 550 where puppy Ballymac Cooper produced another impressive performance to clock 29.35. Over the 525 course, none were quicker than Melodys Dido, one of five winners for Droopys Jet at the meeting.
Despite the Nottingham disappointments, other Graham Holland trained runners were performing in Ireland, none less so than Blue East who clocked the fastest time in the Kingdom Derby at Tralee.
| CLONMEL | 29.27 | VANCOUVER DRAMA | (Royal Impact-Steely Passion, Oct 15) |
| CURRAHEEN PARK | 29.07 | KILLMACDONAGH | (Zero Ten-Deercrest Lady, Apr 16) |
| DERRY | 27.79 | TOWNPARKS PUMA | (Skywalker Puma-Judes Jules, Aug 17) |
| DUNDALK | 21.24 | CRICKET BALL | (Iso Octane-Highview Grace, Oct 17) |
| ENNISCORTHY | 30.64 | SHEILAS MACHINE | (Crash-Southest Suzie, Jun 16) |
| GALWAY | 28.99 | ROSSHILL CHARLIE | (Kinloch Brae-Leamaneigh Lisa, Feb 18) |
| KILKENNY | 29.20 | BLUEBELL CHINA | (Pat C Sabbath-Jaytee Grace, Sep 17) |
| LIFFORD | 29.01 | CLEVERMAN | (Confident Rankin-Do It Kim, Jul 17) |
| LIMERICK | 28.82 | DAIRYHILL CROFT | (Superior Product-Quivershillcroft, Aug 17) |
| LONGFORD | 29.33 | OUT BACK | (Over Limit-Killoe Patsy, Apr 17) |
| MULLINGAR | 29.24 | BECTIVE ZITA | (Top Savings-Bective Venus, Jul 16) |
| NEWBRIDGE | 28.97 | PENNYS KAI | (Kinloch Brae-Rathbride Rocket, Nov 17) |
| SHELBOURNE PARK | 28.06 | MELODYS DIDO | (Droopys Jet-Melodys Diamond, Aug 17) |
| 29.35 | BALLYMAC COOPER | (Ballymac Matt-Ballymac Scala, Sep 17) | |
| THURLES PARK | 29.28 | BAY REBEL | (Barefoot Bolt-Energise, Apr 17) |
| TRALEE | 28.24 | BLUE EAST | (Droopys Jet-Lemon Bolt, Feb 16) |
| WATERFORD | 28.46 | JET STREAM VENUS | (Head Bound-Ballyrobin Venus, Apr 17) |
| YOUGHAL | 29.10 | WATCH OUT MATTY | (Sir Paddy-Jessie Joe, Oct 16) |
