Niall McCullagh given 14-day ban for mistaking winning post at Listowel
Niall McCullagh seemed to stop riding after passing 50-yard marker and Iamimmaculate was beaten by a head at the line by Dragon of Malta. Pic: Healy Racing Photo
Veteran jockey Niall McCullagh was given a 14-day suspension after appearing to mistake the winning post on day two of the Harvest Festival at Listowel.
McCullagh was partnering Gerard O’Leary’s 10-1 shot Iamimmaculate in the Liam and Joan Healy Memorial Handicap, with the pair locked in a final-furlong duel with the Pat O’Donnell-trained and Julian Pietropaolo-ridden Dragon Of Malta inside the final furlong.
But McCullagh seemed to stop riding after passing 50-yard marker and Iamimmaculate was beaten a head at the line.
Dragon Of Malta won twice at this meeting 12 months ago and is set to be given the chance to emulate that feat, having been declared to run again on Tuesday.
O’Donnell said: “What can you say about this horse? We had tried him over a mile and a quarter as a three-year-old and it was quite obvious he didn’t stay, but that is a long time ago and the track suits him here.
“He didn’t break as sharp as he usually does, but I thought Julian did very well to get his position, without burning too much gas. Once he got the position, I watched it with confidence.
“He is in again and has to come, unless something untoward happens, which I don’t expect, so we’re looking forward to it."
Magna Victoria (9-2) made a winning debut for Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden, while Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle-winning rider Daniel King was seen to good effect on the Flat aboard Denis Hogan’s Majestic King (7-2) in the GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap.
King, who will be reunited with the Willie Mullins-trained Galway Plate hero King Alexander in the Guinness Kerry National on Wednesday, said: “I am lucky that I am light enough to ride at the bigger weights on the Flat and when Denis and the owners asked me to ride, I was looking forward to it.
“We had a nice draw, he broke well and it was simple enough from a long way out.”
Jessica Harrington’s Storm Ready landed strong market support in the Tote, Never Beaten By SP Maiden under Shane Foley.
The previously unraced three-year-old was backed down from 13-2 in the morning into 11-4 favouritism and duly delivered under Shane Foley, seeing off Zelani by a neck.
“He is a nice horse who had a great prep from Jim Ryan, who takes care of John Kirkland’s horses, and will only go on improving,” said Harrington.
“He is probably a horse for next year and I don’t quite know where we’ll go next.”
