Day to remember for Leahy and O'Brien family

James 'Corky' Carroll, successful in the preceding race on John Nallen's Minella Foru, doubled-up on Denis Leahy's newcomer, Rosygo, who looked a useful type when landing the DBS@ Newbury 23rd March 2013 & Jim Flavin, Family Butchers Maiden Race for 5-y-o Mares Pegus Qualifier at Lemonfield last Sunday.

Rosygo was a huge drifter in the betting ring beforehand. However out on the track the daughter of Oscar, jumped and travelled well. She left She's Real (had the benefit of three runs and won the best turned-out here) for dead from the back of the last to triumph five lengths.

Leahy revealed in the aftermath: "She'd done everything brilliantly at home but she had been a bit exuberant in her schooling.

"I wasn't that confident today as she was coming in season. Will (Smith) who owns her, also bred her, and the dam (Sharp Single) is in Ballincurrig Stud.

"Will is a stock-broker in London and he's had horses with Oliver Sherwood and people like that before. This one's half-sister, Milly Malone, was placed a few times for Oliver.

"I don't know what'll happen with her now. She could be sold or alternatively she could go for a mares bumper."

There were emotional scenes at the number one berth when Denis Leahy made it two on the day. The Ciaran Fennessy-ridden Desertmore View took the second split of the Goffs & Leonard Mullins Maiden Race for 5-y-o geldings Pegus Qualifier.

This was a poignant success for connections as Desertmore View is owned by Brendan O'Brien. His brother, Donie was the clerk of the course at Lemonfield for many years and he sadly passed away at Christmas time (there was a minute's silence before racing in his memory).

The once previously raced (2nd at Inch last April) Fruits Of Love victor, scored in decent style by five lengths from Samson Bill (a Denis Hogan first-timer). Barry Connell and Tony Mullins were represented here by Cross Avenue and that German-bred had every chance when departing at the second last.

A thrilled Leahy commented: "That's great, things like this don't normally work out. Of course Donie was a local man and he is very, very much missed by me and so many others. He was a great horseman and supporter.

"His wife, Pat is here today and it's her first day out since. Donie went quick and this win is hugely emotional.

"This horse's bloods were wrong for six weeks. Donald McCain wanted to buy him but I wanted the horse to come right first.

"He's a bit free but he has an engine. Plan A was to take our time with him if we could but Ciaran had to go to plan B and let him bowl along. It's all worked out anyway and we'll see what Donald McCain has to say now."

The following tribute to Donie O'Brien appeared in the Irish Field in the January 12th edition under the heading - A good humour and a great love of life

It was a poignant occasion as Donie O'Brien was laid to rest at Kilkeedy Cemetery near his home at Churchfield, Co Limerick at the end of last month.

Going home was sounded by Limerick Harrier huntsman Aongus McNamara, adding to the emotion of the occasion. The seasonal rain only went to hide many a tear in the huge gathering which went far beyond his immediate family.

Donie had battled with his illness for almost two years with the fortitude and good humour which were his trademark in life.

Born in Ballincollig on the western outskirts of Cork, he came from a farming family steeped in farming, horses and racing. His father, also Donal, had horses in training with Rosemary Tonson-Rye.

Donie's career path was set from an early age, being very much the favoured nephew of his aunt and uncle, Eileen and Corrie O'Brien, who farmed near Limerick on the Shannon Estuary. They came from a tradition of hunting, point-to-pointing and farming, which would not have been unusual in Limerick at that time.

Just 18, Donie moved to Limerick and before long he was hunting, riding Corrie's pointers and modernising farming in Churchfield. Before long, a pretty girl caught his eye and he married Patricia Blenner-Hasset, whose father hunted the Limerick Harriers.

The Blenner-Hassets had been the founding family of the Co Limerick Foxhounds and this marriage set them on a lifelong path following their mutual interests of horses, hunting and farming with an occasional greyhound thrown in for good measure.

Donie rode with some success, winning the Galway National on the homebred Ce He Shin. He rode against the best of his day, Bill McLernon, Connie Vaughan, Ted Walsh and the late John Fowler. He was clerk of the course at the very successful Limerick Harriers point-to-point and was vice chairman of the hunt.

In between, he and Patricia found time to produce three children, Olive, Brendan and Conor, all of whom rode and competed at every level, particularly at pony club, while Patricia was District Commissioner.

In due course, Conor went on to become a point-to-point jockey and was placed in the Ladies Cup at Punchestown on the homebred Camas North.

Donie was a key member of Limerick Show where his loss will be sorely felt. He was chairman and then president of the Society from 1995 to 2000 and a constant steady hand in the show's affairs as well as being a tireless worker.

He was also a key player in the Hunter Improvement Society, which was founded in Limerick by the late Major Jed O'Dwyer and Thady Ryan, and they ran the very successful Limerick Lady broodmare championship. He judged at many qualifying events for this national event around the country.

He remained a key member of the re-born Traditional Irish Horse Association, which promotes the thoroughbred/Irish Draught cross which is the basis of the real Irish horse.

Undaunted by an unfavourable diagnosis, he worked to the very end and bought a foal in Goffs scarcely a week before he passed away. His good humour and love of life never deserted him to the very end.

A guard of honour, made up of members of the Limerick Harriers and Limerick Show Society, escorted the cortege as it left Ballybrown Church on its way to Kilkeedy Cemetery.

His passing leaves a void in the sporting life of Limerick and far beyond which won't be filled for many a day. D.P.

(EM)