DARCIA TAKES THE HEADLINES ON SPECIAL NIGHT IN ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

There really was a special atmosphere at Enniscorthy on Sunday evening with a huge local support.

And the big crowd were treated to some superb action including a wonderfully determined effort from Ballymac Darcia in the feature, the final of the Future Champion & Michael Fortune Memorial Unraced 525. 

The outsider of the party, Ballymac Darcia was in need of a career best effort to open her career account but it duly came with the Packie Whelan trained bitch seizing her opportunity when it arose. As predicted, the race to the turn was very competitive with Stefans Rock and Roanna Scoby going up fastest from traps four and five. Ballymac Darcia and Future Tune were poised just behind.   

It was on the corner that the whole complexion of the race changed.

Things got tight and Stefans Rock checked wide, ending his own chances and those of both Roanna Scooby and Future Tune. Suddenly, Ballymac Darcia was in front with Paradise Moldova stalking her in second.

The pair had a great buckle into the third turn with Paradise Moldova looking certain to assert on the inside of the track. In fact, he seemed to show in front on the bend but Ballymac Darcia was in determined humour.

Driving the third turn, she again took charge and stayed on strongly to contain the renewed challenge of Paradise Moldova in a driving finish. Owned by Declan Kelly and Bernard Farrell, the daughter of Bull Run Bolt and Jaytee Pearl hit the line with a half length to spare over Paradise Moldova in 28.90. There was a further two length gap to the luckless Future Tune in third.   

LODGE CAUSES UPSET IN PLATE DECIDER

There was also a turn up in the Future Champion & Whitewood Kennels Plate final with the rank outsider Likeable Lodge repelling all challengers to come on top for John Brady and John Hand.

Leading from the opening bend, the daughter of Droopys Roddick and Kebe Lady kept on finding out front as she saw off Ballinabola Lucy by three lengths in 29.15. 

CONCORDE TAKES OFF IN RECORD BREAKING DISPLAY

The undoubted performance of the night came in the opener, however, with Cushie Concorde producing a brilliant display of front running to break the thirteen-year-old track record of Rossa Baby.

Flashing from traps to record a sizzling 3.06 sectional, John Codd and Diana Brodie’s found himself clear into the opening turn.

He was left further clear at this point but it scarcely mattered as nothing was going to land a blow. The powerful son of Cushie Jet and Tree Tops Beauty, who was bred locally by the Tommy ‘Gymstar’ Mahoney, strode out majestically to race further and further clear of his rivals. By the line, he had fourteen lengths in hand on Lisnakill Benson in a stunning 28.38, taking some .02sec off the previous best which had been set way back in 2009.