DANICA SETS STANDARD AGAIN IN PUPPY OAKS

Ian Fortune

The semi-finals of the Suncroft Festival were very much the feature at a busy Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and Ballymac Danica used the stage to again display her immense promise and ability, setting a strong standard with a fastest of the night 28.34 return.

The other heat may have been a messy affair but Kerogue Lady eventually emerged a comfortable winner.

DOMINANT DANICA

Ballymac Danica was the star, however.

A week after posting a sizzling 28.28 in the opening round, she faced a tough draw in the stripes and again made light work of the task. Breaking smartly and showing fine early dash, she was in charge by halfway to the corner.

The fast-starting Ardera Freya turned second but was soon under pressure from Sober Sparkle. Meanwhile, Ballymac Danica was racing clear although Sober Sparkle was to make it interesting. Showing huge back straight pace, Sober Sparkle moved second before closing the gap into the third turn.

Ballymac Danica was never going to be denied but it certainly did make for wonderful viewing. Behind the front two, Crafty Bondi also displayed fine pace to go third on the third turn but Ballymac Danica was not for catching.

Liam Dowling’s brilliant daughter of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Arminta ran right to the line to emerge a tremendous two length winner. Sober Sparkle was second with Crafty Bondi another half-length back in third spot.    

LADY GIVES RIVALS THE SLIP

The opening heat was a less straightforward contest despite only four going to traps.

Fairy Footsteps broke fastest to lead but was soon headed by Ravenswood Elsie into the bend. Up the inside of the track.

Kerogue Lady began to show great acceleration, allowing her to challenge Ravenswood Elsie into the bend and this resulted in the pair clashing with Fairy Footsteps also getting involved. It halted the momentum of all four challengers with Droopys Wriggle also forced to check.

Suddenly, Kerogue Lady with the benefit of the inside draw found herself clear for Ashleigh and Elaine McManus. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Ella was on her way to a second major final after also reaching the Juvenile Classic decider.

Fairy Footsteps turned second but Droopys Wriggle displayed big speed to move second into the third turn. The Pat O’Connor trained Kerogue Lady continued to dictate and she cruised to a five and a half length victory over Droopys Wriggle in 29.14. Fairy Footsteps was just another half length back in third. 

Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks

Final draw

1 DROOPYS WRIGGLE

2 BALLYMAC DANICA

3 CRAFTY BONDI

4 FAIRY FOOTSTEPS

5 KEROGUE LADY

6 SOBER SPARKLE

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KEANO STRIKES IN SOME STYLE

There were three superb displays in the semi-finals of the This Runs Deep A0 Dual Distance.

The opening round was run over 525yds with next week’s decider over 550yds and Carrick Keano will be amongst the favourites after producing a fine trap to line success in the last of the three heats.

The Robert Gleeson trained star shot from trap two and this made the difference. Daleroad Duke, his great rival in the market, was soon second but could never get back on terms. Thomas Glynn’s pace-setting son of Dromana Bucko and Droopys Zero maintained a relentless gallop throughout to eventually see off Daleroad Duke by three lengths in 28.50.  

PRINCE RULES

Maireads Prince was only marginally slower in the opening heat for Fraser Black and Joe Horan.

The powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Clona Skye has shown big pace in previous outings and when he was close to the pace on the bend, the writing was on the all.

Prince Lucius went up fast only to be headed on the turn by Mr Hotstepper but his advantage was short-lived with Maireads Prince shooting around the outside to lead into the back straight. From that point it was only a case of by how far he would win. Easing on from the third turn, Maireads Prince emerged a facile four length scorer in 28.53.

SCOTTY DIGS DEEP

While his golfing namesake was leading the Masters at Agusta, Scotty Sheffler was winning Heat 2 of the Dual Distance in fine style for owner Gerry Hanley.

An ideal draw on the fence allowed the talented son of Dorotas Wildcat and Ferryforth Belle contest the early lead into the bend before asserting as they began to turn.

The Ray Melia trained star is quite strong and was always going to be hard to pass but the sight of Neon Lights turning second into the back straight would have been a major concern as he is a noted big finisher. Scotty Scheffler was in determined mood, however. Despite the best efforts of Neon Lights, Scotty Sheffler kept on finding up front and he went on to emerge a deserving half length scorer in 28.66.

KING CONTINUES HIS RISE TO PROMINENCE

A week after going just one spot slower that Easter Cup winner Clonbrien treaty over 550yds, Carmac King continued his rise to prominence with a brilliant display in the finale, as he out-pointed the hugely exciting Droopys Metaphor.

The latter actually hit the front into the turn but Carmac King turned close and this allowed him to show his outstanding pace into the third turn. Trained by Owen McKenna for Timmy Carmody, Carmac King took over from Droopys Metaphor on the third turn and then eased on to emerged a ready four length scorer in 28.50. It was a massive run and one that should make a few more stand up and take notice. 

YONKERS OBLIGES IN STYLE

Bonkersinyonkers was sent to traps the 5-4 favourite for the A1 third race and he duly obliged in pretty straightforward fashion.

The Murt Leahy trained son of Droopys Sydney and An Cailin Alainn broke smartly to dispute the lead into the bend where he took over. His owners, the McLean Avenue Syndicate, didn’t have much to worry themselves about thereafter. Maintaining a strong gallop throughout, the July ’21 whelp ran out a ready three length winner over the always second Mr Skinny Legs in 28.61. 

BLUE SHOWS HIS POWER

Glenlara Blue displayed all his power to win the second race, an A1 550, for owners Liam Kirley and Thomas Garry.

Only fourth into the back straight, the sizeable son of Droopys Sydney and Glenlara Rosa went second to the third turn before setting his sights on the early pace-setter Sawdust Storm. Finishing the better, Glenlara Blue took over on the run before easing on to win by three lengths in 29.95.

SAPPHIRE SHINES BRIGHT IN OPENER

Racing commenced with a thrilling contest won by Magical Sapphire.

Pat Guilfoyle’s son of Grangeview Ten and Grangeview Mags was off the pace for much of the way but really motored from halfway. Trinity Bella moved to the front as they turned for home but Magical Sapphire landed late and fast to win by a half length in 28.90. 

SNOWY IN APRIL

Rory McConnell sent out Snowy April to emerge a good winner of the fourth race.

The massive son of Good News and Martinstown Diva was off the pace but showed good track craft and pace to move past the majority of his rivals between the third and fourth turns. 

Hitting the front as they turned for home, the powerfully built tracker shot clear to eventually strike the line three and a half lengths to the good over Dromana Junior in 29.00.

REBA MAINTAINS FINE FORM

Graham Kelly has Beretta Reba purring at the moment and she made it three wins from four starts in the penultimate race despite taking a couple of bumps on the opening bend.

Chelsea Pat was left in front on the corner but Beretta Reba eventually slipped around second before making her move into the third turn.

The daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Boulevard Mist flew up the inside of her rival to take over only for Chelsea Pat to rally on the run in. In a tight finish. Beretta Reba held on to win by a half length in 29.06.