Latest news with #DonegalBay
Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Ireland's ‘hotbed' for whales who have migrated from southern waters
For the past few years, Donegal Bay has been a hotbed for rare aquatic mammals. Part of the reason for this is that whales who may be more traditionally associated with Irish waters in the south of the country have been migrating further north, driven by a desire for one of their favourite Irish delicacies: sprat. Residents in west Cork have been drawing attention to industrial fishing of sprat in their communities through a Save Our Sprat campaign. On Tuesday, they received some encouraging news: Ireland is set to ban industrial sprat fishing in inshore waters from October next year in the move the campaign hopes will pave the way for a return of some familiar creatures. READ MORE Members of the campaign see it as a positive first step, though they are concerned that the restrictions don't go far enough and will continue to campaign. Pádraig Whooley, sightings officer for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), says that the same whales spotted off the coasts of Cork and Kerry 15 or 20 years ago are now popping up in places like Donegal Bay. 'That's obviously where the feed is at the moment,' he says. Other factors could include climate change, says Whooley. 'It could also be the fact that we're hammering what they're feeding on down here, which is the sprat,' he says. 'It's a very controversial one and local coastal communities are frankly getting very angry with the way we're allowing the industrial extraction of forage fish species like sprat. 'If you're into marine wildlife, and whales and dolphins in particular, Donegal Bay seems to be the place to be right now,' says Pádraig Whooley. Photograph: Joshua Nueva 'What we in the IWDG are saying is that the more sprat we're removing – and it's completely unregulated; they can catch as many as they want – we are saying that sprat is part of [the reason for] fewer of these humpback whales turning up in the likes of west Cork and west Kerry.' Donegal Bay is an inlet that touches three counties: Sligo , Leitrim and Donegal . There are a number of decent viewing points for activity in its waters, among them Sliabh Liag, Muckross Head and Mullaghmore Head. A number of species can be spotted in these waters. 'We also had a killer whale turn up [there] this weekend,' Whooley says. 'When the guys were out looking for humpback whales, they found one of the Scottish killer whales known as Aquarius. He was also, about three weeks ago, down off the Blaskets in Kerry. 'If you're into marine wildlife, and whales and dolphins in particular, Donegal Bay seems to be the place to be right now ... The more you see these animals, the more anecdotes you hear about them – the less they're just a number on a database. [They develop] personalities.' Even for experienced chroniclers of marine life, humpback whale sightings in Ireland are rare. [ Why are Ireland's whales disappearing? Opens in new window ] View across the bay at Slieve League cliffs, on the west coast of Donegal, Republic of Ireland. (Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) It can be a powerful moment for those that live it, as is evidenced by a video from content creator and adventurer Joshua Nueva in Donegal Bay last week. Flanked by a convoy of dolphins, Nueva's humpback emerges from below the surface, leaping up into the air and causing its travelling companions to scatter. Initially, the dolphins appear to be playing with the whale, whose movements generate a sort of slipstream on the surface. 'It's called pec slapping,' Nueva says. 'They take their fin, and they slap it on the water. There's no real data or proof to say why they do that. 'It is a playful behaviour – it's not like they're being threatened, or they feel like they're in danger. Dolphins love to swim with the whales because they're actually quite lazy. 'Whenever there are any boats or large mammals like humpbacks travelling in the direction that they want to go, they swim with it because they don't need to expend as much energy to travel.' Anyone who spots a whale is encouraged to contact the IWDG, as they can identify the animal. Photograph: Joshua Nueva Nueva logged his sighting with the IWDG, who have been documenting whales in Ireland for several decades. Anyone who spots a whale is encouraged to contact the IWDG, as they can identify the animal by its fluke – a uniquely shaped and marked tail that acts as a fingerprint. 'It takes a little while to try and find them because the bay is so vast,' Nueva says. 'When I saw the humpback fin splashing the water, I thought: no way. I couldn't believe it because there were no humpbacks spotted in the bay at that time. It was only then they started to accumulate. 'For us to see it and not be aware of it, it just goes to show what is going on around our coast that we wouldn't notice if we weren't looking for it. If we kept an eye on our coastline a little bit more, we'd be surprised at what we see.'
News.com.au
06-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Wagga preview: Racing legends chasing Riverina double with equine siblings
CHAMPION jockey, now Riverina based trainer, Danny Beasley can present Hall of Fame legend Neville Begg with two wins inside the space of 45 minutes at Wagga on Monday. Granted, Begg and Beasley have won bigger races than today's back-to-back Wagga Maidens on offer but a win to either horse would be special for both. More so perhaps for Begg who bred the pair, namely the unraced Serenading and her year-older sibling Donegal Bay. The Begg-Beasley duo are the second and third foals respectively out of Fastnet Rock mare Rock And Rose whose sole win came at Sale, over 1717m, in January 2017. Donegal Bay, a son of Star Witness, is the mare's only foal to race prior to today; with an overall record of four placings from seven starts. The most recent two of those have been for Beasley, and both at Albury. His barnstorming Beasley-debut (second) was enough to see him sent out a prohibitive $1.40 favourite in another Bordertown maiden, and while costly for his backers, he lost no love so far as Beasley is concerned. 'He had no luck the other day,'' Beasley said. 'There was one that nearly fell in front of him and barrier one was always going to be not ideal for him because he gets back. 'He's a big horse and he needs a bit of room when he is galloping. It was pretty much a forgive run. 'I'd just love to win a race with the horse and then give him a break because I think he has got a lot more ability than what his record is showing.' Two-year-old Serenading is even more of a Begg-bred than her big brother. Not only does Begg own her mother, he bred and raced her father, namely Blue Diamond winner and emerging young sire, Written By. Serenading hasn't been sighted in public view since her low-key yet pleasing trial at home on Australia Day. 'She wasn't out there to do too much, it was an education, and I had Brodie Loy on her and I thought he did a wonderful job on her,'' Beasley explained. 'He gave her a beautiful trial and she learnt a lot from it. 'She is a really big filly that wasn't ready so we put her out and gave her a break and she's come back and done everything right so far. 'The 1000m will be okay on the Heavy ground because she probably wants it a little bit further.' And while Serenading is, on face value, bred for speed, she does possess more than her share of classic blood. Begg and Beasley would clearly love Serenading to live up to the deeds of her close family member, Serenade Rose. Trained by Lee Freedman, Serenade Rose was the dominant classic filly of her era. Beasley can testify to that; he was on fillies far behind Serenade at the finish of both the VRC Oaks and AJC Oaks. 'She was a great filly,'' Beasley recalled. 'Actually Mr Begg spoke in depth about the pedigree of these two horses and although Donegal Bay has a few little issues that would restrict him from getting out in trip, the big filly Serenading, she does give you every indication she will get out over more ground as she gets older. 'So Mr Begg has said to me, don't be afraid to nominate her for a few of those staying fillies race because you never know what happens.'
Sydney Morning Herald
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Donegal Bay can pay back loyal punters at last
The old saying of punters needing patience will be put to the ultimate test when a talented yet costly local three-year-old tries to break through at Monday's Wagga meeting. Donegal Bay, a son of all conditions sprint sire Star Witness, has been nothing as much as the bookmaker's best friend on both sides of the NSW-Victoria border since resuming in mid-April. Twice he ran home from well back into a place as a short-priced favourite when in the Grahame Begg stable in Victoria. Yet a relocation to Wagga and the Danny Beasley yard still hasn't brought that maiden success, despite having a couple of tough runs. Twice in heavy going at Albury and from a long way off the speed, clear favourite Donegal Bay again surged home late into a place, the latest as a red-hot $1.40 fancy. Connections and punters alike were left scratching their heads, but significantly over a furlong further this time in a maiden handicap (1200m), Donegal Bay can finally start mending relations. From a draw where he can settle a bit closer in the run, Donegal Bay opened around $2.90 in early betting, but a three-way home track betting battle looms. Ex-Victorian mare Belnera ($3.40) having her first run for the new Peter Morgan stable was hot on his market heels ahead of another local Bonnie Murringo ($4.00) who resumes for just her second start for the Darrell Burnet yard. Earlier the Beasley stable will attract plenty of attention when it debuts lone two-year-old filly Serenading against the older gallopers in the opening Maiden Plate over 1000m.
The Age
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Donegal Bay can pay back loyal punters at last
The old saying of punters needing patience will be put to the ultimate test when a talented yet costly local three-year-old tries to break through at Monday's Wagga meeting. Donegal Bay, a son of all conditions sprint sire Star Witness, has been nothing as much as the bookmaker's best friend on both sides of the NSW-Victoria border since resuming in mid-April. Twice he ran home from well back into a place as a short-priced favourite when in the Grahame Begg stable in Victoria. Yet a relocation to Wagga and the Danny Beasley yard still hasn't brought that maiden success, despite having a couple of tough runs. Twice in heavy going at Albury and from a long way off the speed, clear favourite Donegal Bay again surged home late into a place, the latest as a red-hot $1.40 fancy. Connections and punters alike were left scratching their heads, but significantly over a furlong further this time in a maiden handicap (1200m), Donegal Bay can finally start mending relations. From a draw where he can settle a bit closer in the run, Donegal Bay opened around $2.90 in early betting, but a three-way home track betting battle looms. Ex-Victorian mare Belnera ($3.40) having her first run for the new Peter Morgan stable was hot on his market heels ahead of another local Bonnie Murringo ($4.00) who resumes for just her second start for the Darrell Burnet yard. Earlier the Beasley stable will attract plenty of attention when it debuts lone two-year-old filly Serenading against the older gallopers in the opening Maiden Plate over 1000m.
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Albury, Hawkesbury previews: Legends to combine in bordertown raid
Grand Armee's jockey will combine with Emancipation's trainer at Albury on Tuesday with two lightly-raced prospects both of who are placed to win. Wagga trainer Danny Beasley is honoured with the task of conditioning a handful of gallopers owned and/or bred by the living legend Neville Begg at his Riverina HQ. Two of those, namely Begg-purchase Jato and Begg-bred Donegal Bay, will carry the famous black, white armbands and red cap in their respective missions on Tuesday. First of the pair to step out is Donegal Bay, who was up to recently housed in Melbourne with champion trainer (and Neville's son) Grahame. The Star Witness three-year-old, who has placed at two of his five Victorian starts, makes his NSW debut in today's Albury Plumbing Service Maiden Plate (900m). 'He's in great order as you'd expect of any horse coming out of Grahame's stable, he looks magnificent so I haven't had to do much with him,'' Beasley said. 'Because he is not eligible for those Country Boosted races yet, we were a bit limited in what we could run in. 'He is a big heavy horse and I am just sort of taking the punt that over 900m, he won't have too much time to think about things. 'He'll probably get back off a pretty good and he'll run at them pretty quick late. 'I've kept him fresh and kept him well and I'll have a look at him in a 900m race and win, lose or draw, I'll learn something about him.' Beasley and Begg's second and final runner on Tuesday's Albury program is Jato who has come a long way in a short time. Born and raised at Rosemont Stud in Victoria, Jato opened her current campaign with a second at Wagga on April 13. She followed up with an emphatic win here at Albury 11-days later before an honourable fourth in an uncommonly strong edition of the MTC Wagga Guineas at the start of May. It's a winning debut for Jato at Wagga! ðŸ'� @DanBeasley111 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 1, 2024 'I was really happy with her,'' Beasley said. 'It was a race I always wanted to run in but I had a few hiccups with her early in the preparation so I got there in a roundabout sort of way. 'She's trained on well. 'I think she has probably got enough ability to go to a Highway one day but her temperament is just not quite there yet so I still want her to have a bit more racing and get a bit more experience before we throw her into anything too deep again.' Jato was purchased by Begg at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale in 2022 for the sum of $25,000. The filly's dam, Rahveel, is a daughter of Zabeel, and while she only managed one win in her 21 starts, she was runner-up in the Wakeful and Auraria Stakes in Adelaide as well as fourth in the MRC Thousand Guineas (to Atlantic Jewel). Not only does she derive stamina from her dam, Jato's sire is Starcraft who won five Group 1s around the globe. One of those wins was at Royal Randwick in the AJC Derby, a race that Beasley remembers well given he rode the 100/1 shot, and runner-up, Braeloch for Guy Walter. 'That was heartbreaking,'' Beasley said. 'I think (Starcraft) only got us the last stride.' â– â– â– â– â– HALL Of Famer Ron Quinton is hopeful the Hawkesbury -bound Like Anything can win her first race on Tuesday almost 30 years to the day that her grand-dam rolled Hareeba and Telesto at the Gold Coast. Like Anything is the third of her generation to be housed at Quinton's High Street HQ. The eight-time Sydney Jockeys Premiership winner and six times Group 1-winning trainer won two races at Canterbury with Like Anything's dam, Duchess Pedrille. He won 11 races with Duchess Pedrille's dam, Mamzelle Pedrille including the STC Theo Marks, VATC Sandown Stakes and the Winter Stakes in Brisbane, now known as the Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara. A daughter of Maurice, Like Anything was $31 out to $41 back into $31 when she made her debut in a deep two and three-year-old maiden at Canterbury on April 21. Quinton's filly handed in an honourable fifth behind the Chris Waller pairing Mia Ballerina and Hidden Achievement. 'It was certainly a pass-mark for sure,'' Quinton said. 'It was probably short of her best distance. She goes up to 1400m this time, the track will be heavy of course and it is hard to know how she'll handle the real heavy ground. 'She is quite a nice filly but she is a filly that I think is probably going to step up over a bit of ground.' Like Anything will wear the black, yellow seams, carried to victory by the Quinton filly Bulla Borghese in the 2002 VRC Oaks. Her early afternoon mission today will be closely watched in Hong Kong given Like Anything was bought at sale (for $130,000) by leading local trainer, Casper Fownes. Super Nui, Quinton's other runner at Hawkesbury on Tuesday, will wear the same predominantly orange silks that Mamzelle Pedrille wore both in Australia and on tour in Hong Kong. A daughter of Super One, Super Nui won't be held back by the prospect of a Heavy track given her eight-plus lengths win on a '9' at Wyong at her most recent outing. 'You get these big margins on wet tracks,'' Quinton warned. 'It wasn't a super race by any means but she won well. 'Handicappers don't forget when they win by margins, they don't forget to whack them up a massive lot of points. 'That put her up six points. 'She's been very honest and consistent. She is very tough actually.'
