LOCAL owners enjoyed a real bonanza at the annual Dingle three-day racing festival in the face of ultra competitive competition from the rest of Ireland. While Kildare jockey Ross Coakley was the man in form, scoring an elusive treble on the opening Friday, there was plenty for local connections to celebrate by Sunday evening.

Indeed, the opening race, the divided 1 1/2 mile horse race, provided Coakley with his first winner for the Castleisland based Island syndicate, when he landed Island By Pass as a hugely impressive winner, justifying the short price from early 3/1 to clear 6/4f. Aileen Daly trains the winner at Newmarket, Co Cork.

Coakley completed his double, in the second division, on Wonderful Tonight, which won a thrilling contest for Glenbeigh owner-trainer Gerard O'Connor, and the locals had plenty to cheer when Coakley completed his treble on Sikorski in the 11/2 mile local horse race, for owner/trainer Colm O'Connor from Ballinaboula, Dingle, whose charge held on in a thrilling finish with Rock Hopper.

Athea Flair, owned and trained at Athea by Vincent Collins, won a thrilling 10f open horse race, under 16year old Conor Brassil from Kildare whose father is the well-known leading national hunt trainer.

Division two saw a piece of history being made as 15-year old Mallow jockey Jack Lenihan was seen at his very best in forcing His Big Ben home in a real thriller from That Fellow. This was some achievement, as this was his very first ride at Dingle races, and it was a winning one. The Derby trial went to Conor Keane, who won on He's The One, from Leanas Pride and Neon Tiger.

The 1-mile open horse race was divided, with Che Guevara winning impressively from Liberate Palastine, well ridden by Shane Grey, for the Castle Racing Syndicate from Dunmanway, Co Cork, with division two going to Monday's Joy for 16-year old jockey Mark Monaghan from Nenagh and Tipperary trainer Mark Flannery.

Twelve-year Shane Fitzgerald, from Buttevant, excelled on Amys Mark, which easily won the 15 hands event for the Hayes family from Shanagolden, Co Limerick.

Saturday's card was run in ideal conditions where the committee again staged a 9-race programme. Man on Fire, was a hugely impressive winner, of the opening 12f open horse race, for jockey Shane Grey and Meath trainer Carl Mullen.

Roscommon trainer Mary Brady sent out He's For Real to easily win the 1ml Open horse race, for rider Darren Egan, while Roscommon trainer Peter Finnerty created his own piece of Dingle racing history when his charge, Push The Button, won this race for the fifth consecutive time, a really unique achievement for a great supporter of Dingle races over the years.

The 14.2 pony race was divided. Dunmanway trainer Davy Keane teamed up with Shane Grey, to win division one with Credit Crunch, while Galway trainer, Tom Healy, saddled Connemara Mist to win impressively in his first outing of the season, with Colin Keane on board.

The featured Guinness Mile went to the Des Donnelly trained Liberate Palastine, with top northern jockey Paul Lecky in the plate.

Athea trainer Pat Collins was elated following the victory of Young Nun, under an outstanding drive from Shane Fitzgerald from Buttevant, who was scoring his second success at the meeting, outpointing Little Miss Cheeky in a thriller.

The Dingle ladies derby went to the Megan Carberry mount What can I Say, for Tyrone trainer Brian Duffy, while the 15 hands Derby was won easily by Tip Toes for rider Mark Monaghan and Donegal trainer Ronnie Baird.

The feature event The Dawn Milk Dingle Derby, was won in thrilling fashion by 10/1 shot Leona Pride, which was given a tremendous drive by 13year old Jordan Benson, from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, and owned by Noel O'Loughlin from Rathmullen, Co Donegal. In a photo finish they only just held Ordinary Man by the minimum margin, with Manwell in third, followed by Man On Fire fourth and It Takes Time.

Sunday's opening horse race was divided with Mr Bush and Ricky Doyle prevailing for Limerick owner B O'Riordan, while Megan Carberry was victorious on What can I say in division 2 for Brian Duffy from Tyrone.

Lady rider Laura Barry from Limerick, was excellent on The Boody Man, which made it all in the 15 hands, for Mick Flannery from Tipperary. Thirteenyear old Conor King, from Kanturk, won The Irish Pony Derby on Minnie Me, for The Growing Up syndicate from Castleisland, having produced a terrific riding performance to hold Connemara Mist narrowly for his 14th win of a great season.

Megan Carberry excelled on Rock Hopper in the local horse race to deny Changing Times, for Dingle trainer David Granville, while Jack Kennedy from Monacappa, Dingle, thrilled the local following with a splendid win in the 12.2 hands derby for his first win at his local meeting.

In the open 1ml horse race, Carpe Dam, splendidly ridden by Limerick jockey Pat O'Donnell, landed the spoils for Kevin White, and Seamie O'Keeffe from Castlemahon, Co Limerick, while Kevin Sexton excelled on Chips is Back in the second division, for Tyrone trainer Brian Duffy.

Sexton doubled up on Patsy Boy in a division of the consolation, while Ross Coakley came late and fast in the other division on Mr Brightside to win handily, and was then announced as the champion rider of Dingle races for 2010. Ross who resides in Kildare, where he is attached to the Mick Halford stable, has Kerry connections, as his grandmother, is Francis O'Sullivan from Glenbeigh, where in his earlier years he learned much of his pony riding skills.

"In my long term as chairman, this year's races, must rank as one of our best ever meetings, as we had a record entry, divides every day, fantastic races and terrific finishes, along with huge crowds especially on Sunday, which added much to the enjoyment of the occasion," Dingle Races chairman Michael Sayers told The Kerryman at the conclusion of what was yet another memorable Dingle races, enjoyed by visitors from all over the world.

The success of the meeting can be attributed to the outstanding Dingle race committee and race commentator Thomas O'Callaghan, and a limited number of DVD s of the meetingcan be ordered from Christy Riordan on 087-9226284.

- Pat Griffin