The more recent win came last October, which means Ballagh Star hasn't broken the tape since then — a 12-month drought without a victory. Over the past six races, the horse has managed only one place finish (a fourth), with several mid-field efforts that show declining form. The most recent run, just a day ago, was another blank, suggesting the current winning streak remains firmly in the past.
Mrs Y Dunleavy's yard has had a modest season, with just one winner sent out, so Ballagh Star represents solid middle-order material rather than a standout performer. Shane Fitzgerald, the horse's regular rider, has never managed to post a win across five rides together, though that partnership may simply reflect that Fitzgerald tends to be aboard on the harder days rather than when the horse is at its best.
The real story here is a straightforward one: Ballagh Star belongs at Sligo. Whether circumstances, the track itself, or pure coincidence have created that pattern, the numbers don't lie. For a horse approaching its later years with two career wins to its name, finding even one course where it competes at such a high level is something worth noting.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sligo Sharp |
5 | 2 wins, 3 other | 30 Sep | 40% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
5 | 1 second, 4 other | 12 Sep | 0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
3 | 3 other | 4 Aug | 0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 4 Nov | 0% |
| Galway Tight |
2 | 1 second, 1 other | 9 Sep | 0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 13 May | 0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
2 | 2 other | 21 Dec | 0% |
| Naas Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 26 Feb | 0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 22 Sep | 0% |
| Tipperary Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 1 Jul | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 27 Jul | 0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 28 Dec | 0% |
| Tramore Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 15 Aug | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 | 1 third | 22 Aug | 0% |