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Balmont’s Protest Win

				
Balmont Flyer, a four-year-old son of Lynward Park’s Balmont, scored his second successive win in Ireland when taking the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey And Trainer Championship Handicap (10 1/2 furlongs) at Dundalk on Friday (November 16) by protest.


Balmont Flyer, ridden by Pat Smullen, chased the leaders and was hampered near the line finishing a nose second to First Friday (Danny Mullins).


Following a stewards inquiry First Friday was relegated to second and Balmont Flyer awarded the race.


Balmont Flyer, from the family of Group 1 Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee Stakes and Haydock Sprint Cup winner Society Rock, had won over the same distance at the same course in his previous run.


The stock of Balmont certainly have an affinity with Dundalk.


Dundalk is Ireland’s first floodlit all weather track and races on Friday’s throughout winter. It is mid-way on the Dublin-Belfast intercity line being 60 minutes from Belfast and 45 minutes from Dublin.


Balmont Mast won the Listed Mercury Stakes (five furlongs) there on October 26 from a high-class field that included Starspangledbanner (four Group 1’s); Borderlescott (two Group 1’s); Kingsgate Native (two Group 1’s); Nocturnal Affair (two Group 3’s); Experience (Group 3) and Katla (two Listed race wins).