TREATY SHOWS HIS BRILLIANCE IN EASTER CUP ROMP
Ian Fortune
Clonbrien Treaty doesn’t produce his best around Shelbourne Park.
That was the perceived view ahead of the Bresbet Easter Cup before the sensational home-bred son of Pestana and Clonbrien Millie produced a scintillating display of early speed to leave a top class field in his dust in the final of the Bresbet Easter Cup at the famous Ringsend venue on Saturday night.
GREAT TUSSLE IN EARLY YARDS
If you pressed paused fifty yards into the contest, all six greyhounds were within a length of each other with Droopys Fidget, Undulation, Glengar Martha and Clonbrien treaty virtually in a line.
To highlight the fact, their sectionals of the first four were identical with each clocking 3.54.
But from this point into the turn, none of the remaining five could live with Clonbrien Treaty. Showing incredible acceleration into the bend, the Graham Holland trained star was clear of those on his inner. He was able to increase his lead as Glengar Martha attempted to cut the bend, holding up many of those on the inside of the track.
CLONBRIEN ENGAGES THE AFTERBURNERS
In a matter of strides, Clonbrien Treaty had shot into a decisive lead.
Somehow Clona Duke drove his way into second on the opening bend to take up the chase but his efforts would prove futile. There was no stopping Clonbrien Treaty.
The Leger and Kirby Memorial champ was on his way to a third classic success. Clona Duke did all he could to close the gap but destiny was awaiting Clonbrien Treaty. Owners Jim and Muireann Murphy would have little to worry about as their flying blue powered to the line to beat his kennel companion and market leader Clona Duke by two lengths in 29.77. Droopys Fidget ran a fine race just a length adrift in third.
TREATY THE FINISHED ARTICLE?
This felt different from Clonbrien Treaty. It felt like a more mature display.
The manner in which he put his rivals to the sword into the opening bend was a sight to behold and perhaps a sign that he has finally become the finished article.
That will be a concern for his rivals going forward, where ever he turns up. He now has a hat trick of classic victories and on this latest evidence he may not be finished. Foer trainer Graham Holland it was another special night as he captured his fifth Easter Cup crown.
He also trained the runner-up Clona Duke. A slightly missed start would ultimately cost the dual Select Stakes winner but the attitude he displayed to drive his way through into second on the opening corner suggests he too has big prizes in his sights going forward.
Hopefully we will see the kennel companions meet many more times in the coming year. Now that is something to look forward to.
Richard O'Regan GRI presents the trophy to Jim Murphy after Clonbrien Treaty victory in the 2024 Bresbet Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park. Also included are Gerry Murphy, Michael Dempsey Racing Manager Shelbourne Park, Conor Matthews Racing Support Officer, Derek Frehill Director Of Racing GRI and M Murphy. Pic: Imelda Grauer
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Remainder of card
DOMINANT DANICA
It was certainly no surprise to see Ballymac Danica produced a serious display to set the standard in the opening round of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks.
The recent Limerick track record breaker was utterly dominant in Heat 3, showing a clean pair of heels to the always second Fairy Footsteps.
Smashing from trap three, the daughter of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Arminta was never under any real pressure. Fairy Footsteps did show fine early speed to turn a close second but she just couldn’t live with the pace-setter. Opening up- a commanding lead to the third turn, Ballymac Danica maintained a merciless gallop to the line to emerge a facile six and a half length scorer over Fairy Footsteps in a fast 28.28. Flying Desire did finish well to sit just four lengths behind Fairy Footsteps in third.
ELSIE A DESERVING WINNER
Ravenswood Elsie picked a fine time to open her account, showing fine early speed and determination to emerge a deserving 28.47 winner of the opening heat for Leslie Barber and Cathal McGhee.
The Gerry Barber trained daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Esther faced a tough draw in five but made light work of the wider trap, shooting from boxes and edging inwards to lead into the turn.
Sober Sparkle displayed plenty of pace to challenge the leader at the third turn but Ravenswood Elise was in no humour to surrender her advantage, closing the door on her rival. This was to prove decisive with Ravenswood Elsie stayed on well to see off a renewed effort from Sober Sparkle by a three parts of a length. Youandme Babe flew home to grab third, a further two lengths adrift.
WRIGGLE MAKES A STATEMENT
Fresh from her success in the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Bitch Unraced at Newbridge, the exciting Droopys Wriggle did absolutely nothing wrong on her Shelbourne debut, leading from start to finish to win the second heat in 28.45.
This was a picture perfect run from Denis Cronin’s daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Charm as she came away racing to dominate. The Robert Gleeson trained star may have blown up a little in the latter stages but was always in command before containing the fast finishing Crafty Bondi by three lengths.
The latter was held up early in the back straight when making her move. Carrigmore Grace was best of the remainder in third, another two lengths back.
FLOWER BLOOMS
The final heat also went to the pace-setter with Sober Flower showing improvement on previous form to make every inch for Murt Leahy and Sean Malone.
Shooting up the fence, the well-bred daughter of Droopys Sydney and Sober Pearl quickly built a clear advantage.
Five lengths to the good into the back straight she was never under any real pressure although Kerogue Lady did escape the pack to give chase and she managed to close the gap somewhat. Between the last two bends, the margin was down to two lengths but Sober Flower seemed to sense the danger and she kicked again off the home turn. She provided Murt Leahy a second win on the night by crossing the line three length clear of Kerogue Lady in 28.81. Ardera Freya caught the eye on debut, finishing just a neck away in third.
TREND BACKERS ON A HIGH
2023 Laurels champion High Trend had a perfect draw in the seventh race on the card and made full use of it, showing his electric trapping ability and superb early speed to emerge a ready winner over Hawkfield Blu.
The pair had it between them from the opening corner when Superfast Gorden took a tumble and it was High Trend who emerged a comfortable winner. Once striking the front in the early yards, the Graham Holland trained son of Droopys Sydney and Beaming Smasher was always in the driving seat. Despite the best efforts of Hawkfield Blue, the RT & C Syndicate owned High Trend hit the line four lengths clear in 28.36.
BEACH AT HIS INCREDBLE BEST
The switch to 575/600yds has seen Ryhope Beach return to his confident best and he made it three wins from his last three starts in the finale over 600yds.
In truth, this was little more than a walk in the park for the awesomely fast son of Droopys Sydney and Calzaghe Jan.
Despite the blustery conditions and a strong headwind, Alison Bandurak’s powerhouse eased his way to the front before the corner. Rough Frankie attempted to get up the inner of Ryhope Beach on the turn but he couldn’t manage it.
Once turning in front, Ryhope Beach put on an exhibition of power and pace. Going further and further clear with each ground-devouring stride, the flying brindle went on to beat Rough Frankie by an ever-widening ten lengths in 32.30. Given the conditions, this was a sensational time. Ryhope Beach will surely be targeted as the Shelbourne Open 600 and, given his recent form, will be very hard to beat in the classic.
MARINO SIMPLY TOO GOOD
After a shock reversal a week earlier, Ballymac Marino was back to winning ways in the A0 second race, showing big pace down the back straight to gun down the early leader Droopys Kamari.
Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Marino turned a close second and was always going to be too strong for the leader.
Slipping up the inside of his rival at the third turn, the powerful son of Vulturi and Jamaica Joy stayed on strongly to emerge a comfortable four and a half length winner over Newinn Port in a rapid, fastest of the night, 28.17.
KING RULES
Carmac King is clearly amongst the most progressive young trackers in training with his easy five length success in the tenth race over 550yds clear evidence of the fact.
Trained by Owen McKenna for Timmy Carmody, the son of Droopys Sydney and Peters Queen was afforded room to race in trap five with the reserve Mikeys Millie cutting inwards from trap four.
Carmac King seized his opportunity. Showing good early dash after a moderate start, he took charge before the corner and then proceeded to ease clear. By halfway, he was in a splendid isolation and he proceeded to win by five lengths from Mikeys Millie in 29.78.
RAZZLE IS BACK IN BUSINESS
Barry Rocks’ Laurels runner-up Easy Razzle made a winning 2024 return in the eighth race, showing fine pace to join the long-time pace-setter Maries Wedding on the third turn.
Avoiding crowding at this point that affected Maries Wedding, the Johnny Linehan trained daughter of Droopy Sydney and Ragaire moved on to beat Hawkfield Abbie by a length and a half in 28.69.
A SPICEY START
Abbeyside Spice is a true pro for Murt Leahy and the Seven Aside Syndicate and she again displayed superb early speed to make every inch in the opener despite the best efforts of Bymystandard.
The pair raced clear of their rivals into the back straight and always had it between them.
Abbeyside Spice seemed to have done enough by the final turn but, as her stride began to shorten, Bymystandard began to bridge the gap. The line came in time for Abbeyside Spice, however, with the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Cunnigar Spice holding on by a neck in 28.66.