Runaway win for Tiermana Dream in Sprint Cup decider

TIERMANA DREAM, trained by Colm Fitzgerald, was a runaway winner of the BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Final at Dundalk on Saturday night.

Owned by the zero syndicate in Co Clare, the son of Ballyhimkin Jet and Tiermana Jet came into the stake with a huge reputation as one of the fastest two bend performers in Ireland following outstanding performances in Cork and Shelbourne earlier in the year.

After a smooth opening round win in 20.96, Tiermana met with two defeats, although in his defence he didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages in either race.

As the only middle seed left in the competition, and no wide seeds qualifying for the decider, Tiermana drew the six box, and the destiny of the 20,000 euro first prize was never in doubt from early on.

Rallying Billy from the kennel of Christopher Delaney showed from trap rise but Tiermana quickly seized the initiative to go clear into the all important first corner.

Entering the home stretch the Dream was over for his five rivals as the Fitzgerald representative powered away to an emphatic victory from Rallying Billy with the Martin Lanney trained Barerfoot On Fire doing best of the rest in third.

Tiermana’s winning time was an impressive 20.96.

After the race Mr and Mrs Barney O’Hare were on hand to present the Irish Sprint Cup to winning connections.

It was good night for the local kennels with the Brendan Matthews trained and Plunkett Matthews owned Id Prefer Not running an astonishing race to win the Bar 1 Betting ‘Downlaod Our App, final. Consolidation brought up the Matthews double on the night but it needed the evidence of the camera to confirm a short head win over Drumdoit Clover in the A3 575. Brendan Mullan trained Frisky Ruby maybe over four years of age but recorded win number 14 in the Avenue Inn 525 posting a very fast 28.71.

Another impressive winner on a night a great racing was the Eugene O’Neill owned Ellie Knows which made all  on her way to recording a best ever 28.74 in the A2 525.

Horse Racing

The BAR 1 Betting Dual Raceday also featured eight races on the All Weather surface.

Twelve months ago trainer Aidan O’Brien won the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden with a certain Pierre Bonard who finished the 2025 season as ante post favourite for the Derby.

The Ballydoyle maestro had three runners this around and it was the well backed Lle De France, ridden by Wayne Lordan, who showed good battling qualities to take the win. However, one for the notebook.

The O’Brien third string, Aachen, a colt out of Gun Runner and Monday ran a race full of promise in his first outing. After a slow start from the stall he raced in the rear before closing up in the home straight.

Inexperience was evident in the final furlong but once straightened by Cleary finished strongly. One to watch in the coming months.

The August 15 races at Dundalk are firmly established as one of the highlights of the year.

The 2026 version certainly didn’t disappoint before an almost capacity attendance.

Roll on 2027!

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Peter Bayne; Editor

Newry Democrat, Co Down