Image © Healy Racing
This year’s renewal of the historic Gain Mares’ Final was held at Ballynoe on Sunday 23rd March and, as usual, the race was fiercely competitive with 13 of the season’s best mares in the line-up.
Gain has introduced an exciting new incentive this year; In addition to the €3,000 presented to the winning owner of the Gain Mares’ Final, the winner will also receive a free entry to the Mares’ Point-to-Point Bumper at Cork on Easter Monday, 21st April.
Gain has also very generously put up a €3,000 bonus to be added to the winning prize-money, making a total bonus of €6,000 available to connections if their mare can go on to win the bumper.
With last year’s Ballynoe fixture being cancelled, the eagerly-awaited 2025 edition of the Gain Equine Nutrition Gain Mares’ Final was won in good fashion by the Jerry Baragry-trained Carry On Heidi, who had this race as her main target since shedding her maiden tag at Ballindenisk in January.
Carry On Heidi was Baragry’s initial runner in the Gain Final and he wasn’t surprised that she won.
“We fancied her strongly. said Baragry.
“After she won in Ballindenisk, my son Shane, who is a jockey, said that we should keep her for the Gain Final. He said that she would win the race.”
After filling the runner-up spot on her next two outings at Carigarostig and Borris House, the five-year-old Carry on Heidi reappeared at Ballynoe where she was ridden towards the head of affairs by Bertie Finn, she took closer order approaching the penultimate obstacle, and taking up the lead at the last fence, the bay asserted and pulled two lengths clear of runner-up Some Joy at the line.
A delighted Baragry said, “It was great to win the Gain bonus, plus she gets the entry fee paid for the bumper which is a big help.”
The Idaho-sired Carry On Heidi has provided former amateur rider Baragry with 2 winners and 2 second places this campaign. She is owned and bred by Baragry’s wife Patricia, and will now set her sights on the additional €3,000 incentive which she is eligible for if she can win the Mares’ Point-to-Point Bumper in Cork on Easter Monday.
“She came out of her Ballynoe race brilliantly, and she’s in great form,” reported Baragry, who has four horses in harness at his Castlelyons base where his son Shane and daughter Jennifer are a big help in the operation.
“The mares’ point-to-point bumper at Mallow on Bank Holiday Monday is still on the cards, she will go straight there without another run.
“She needs a cut in the ground so hopefully we’ll have some rain beforehand.
“I think she will run well, although she loves jumping, she’s a brilliant leaper, but we will give her a chance in the bumper, she’s got as good a chance as any.”
When asked about future plans for Carry On Heidi, Baragry replied, “I could have sold her several times, but we’ll hold on to her as we bred her.
“She’ll go out for a break after the bumper and then she’ll run in maiden hurdles in the autumn.
“The long-term plan will be to breed from her at some point in the future.”
