ANNIE ON FAYA IN OPENING ROUND OF FONEZ GALWAY OAKS

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by Fonz.ie, the opening round heats of the Fonez Galway Oaks featured a brilliant card at the Connacht venue on Saturday and the standout performance was that of Annie On Faya as she spearheaded a treble of heat wins on the night for Murt Leahy.

One of the outright favourites for glory, Annie On Faya was the quickest of the first round winners and that came as no surprise given she has produced some outstanding performances throughout her career, most notable a 28.21 success around Limerick. Indeed, Cian Mulrooney’s charge was duly installed as the 4/5 favourite to land heat two and this top-class lady went about her business in fine style as she led from trap to line for connections. Running from trap two, it didn’t take long for ‘Annie’ to assert as she pinged the lids to post a smart 3.27 early sectional. In doing so, the daughter of Superior Panama and Cabra Skylar opened up a healthy lead over Airfield Katie and it was lights out in terms of a contest as she set a scorching gallop into the penultimate turn. There was little relent from Annie On Fire thereafter as she motored into overdrive around the bottom two bends before drawing clear of a staying-on Westway Rossa to win by four lengths, with Airfield Katie relegated a further neck back into third. The time was a brilliant 28.72 .10s.

A MURT TREBLE

In the opening heat of the night, recent Kilkenny Derby winner Julies Gem got the ball rolling on what would prove a terrific night for popular trainer, Murt Leahy.

Julies Gem has been in outstanding form of late and her clocks around Kilkenny in recent times have been rarely rivalled. As a result, it wasn’t surprising to see the September 22’ whelp installed as the 4/5 favourite to bounce back from a luckless recent outing at Curraheen Park. That said, she was made to work really hard to come out on top and will remain one of the leading players for outright success given the manner of her victory. Running from trap three, the daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Meteor broke on terms, however, immediately collided with Lissatouk Gem in two and this saw her occupy the rear positions early on as Airfield Best led the way in one. Indeed, despite ‘Julies’ showing a burst of speed down the back straight, she was again forced to check and still had plenty to do just to qualify around the bottom bends as Airfield Best continued to dictate up top. However, a closely knit pack entering the home straight saw Julies Gem finally get daylight and once getting onto the fence there would only be one winner. Storming up the Galway straight, this was a really determined display from The-Gem-Spring-Synd owned bitch as she crossed the line a half length clear of Lady Aston in second. Now Were Talkin claimed third and the time, although irrelevant given the traffic, was 29.22 .20s. One suspects there is a huge run in this lady in the coming weeks.

KAMARI SEALS THE HAT-TRICK

The treble of heat winners was completed for Murt Leahy in the concluding heat of the night as Droopys Kamari, the joint favourite for outright glory, finished with a wet sail to record a sensational eleventh victory.

A serial winner, Droopys Kamari was chasing a hat-trick of victories heading into the concluding heat and although looking in a spot of trouble, she showed her customary burst of stamina prowess to come through strongly. At traprise, it was Galway regular Brickhill Fayla that showed first from trap three and she just about turned in front of Epic Chick, who it must be said was luckless out wide in six at the opener. Shooting into a three length advantage down the back, Brickhill Fayla looked to have this contest sewn up, however the even money favourite Droopys Kamari quickly halved the deficit before being forced to check at the third turn. However, this didn’t deter the impressive daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Hunch as she swung wide around the final bend before storming home to break the heart of the longtime leader, Brickhill Fayla. Just a half length separating the pair, it was further length back to the third place finisher Omey Mist. The time was 29.08 .10s.

PEARL SPARKLES

Evan McAuliffe is a Galway regular who is no stranger to winning big races and he guided Drombeg Pearl to victory in heat three of the night.

Sent to traps as a 7/2 chance, Drombeg Pearl broke well from one but was headed by both Newport Pier in three and Dapper Rose in six, who recovered for a poor start to show stunning early speed to get into contention. Three in a line entering the back straight, Newport Pier and Dapper Rose both tangled at this point which in turn, allowed McAuliffe’s bitch to shoot into a commanding lead at the midway point. From here, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Blastoff Kat set a scorching gallop and she tracked brilliantly to stay on well and secure a one and a length win over Headinthewindow, who also ran a fine race in second. Claiming the third qualifying position was the Francis Murray owned Location and the time for Drombeg Pearl was 29.03 .10s.

*****

GEM SETS THE STANDARD IN STEPHEN MOLLOY MEMORIAL

On the undercard, the opening round heats of the Stephen Molloy Memorial got underway and it was Rinnwood Gem that set the standard in heat two for Des Flaherty.

A fine second last time out after her seasonal return, the daughter of Pestana and Rinnwood Pearl took no prisoners on this occasion as she produced an eye-catching performance to put her in the driving seat in this competition. Gainstown Choice was first to show from trap two, however, his lead was short-lived as Rinnwood Gem powered around the outside to take charge heading into the back. From here, the 2/1 chance drew clear of Gainstown Choice in second to cross the line six lengths clear, in a brilliant 28.88 .10s.

In the opening heat, Evan McAuliffe recorded his first winner of the night as Drombeg Apollo won at odds of 7/4. Showing the best of the early gears from trap one, the son of Grangeview Ten and Grangeview Vicie opened a very healthy lead down the back and he held on gamely in the closing stages to repel the fast finish of Droopys Sophia in second. The time was 29.11 .10s.

The remaining heat was landed by Springwell Eddy as he stayed on expertly to claim a third straight win for owner Gerard O’Dowd. Running from his favoured trap six berth, ‘Eddy’ broke well but was headed early doors by Glynnscross Ted in five. It was nip and tuck down the back between the duo, however, it was Springwell Eddy that showed the superior stamina to take control off the final turn. Drawing clear late on, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Springwell Mouse emerged a four length winner over Glynnscross Ted, in a time of 29.14 .10s.