SUMMER SHINES AGAIN AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

Black Summer made it three wins from three, once again setting the standard, in the Boylesports A3 Bitch 525 at Kilkenny on Friday despite having to work a little harder for the early lead in the opening semi-final.

Owned by Sean Leahy and Thomas Norton, the daughter of Laughil Bolt and An Cailin Alainn broke on terms to dispute the lad in the opening yards but Avongate Coco shot up on the outside to take up the running into the bend.

Her lead was short-lived, however. Black Summer had the inside line in her favour and she edged her way back to the front at the second turn. It was a decisive move and she eased on to lead by two lengths at halfway.

Beautysquickstep displayed plenty of pace and power from halfway to close the gap on the new leader but Black Summer dug in to hold on by a half length in 29.00. There was a two length gap to Avongate Coco in third.

LORRAINE TOO STRONG

The second semi final saw Glory Lorraine stay on strongly to come from fourth spot to lead of the final turn.

Sunshine Jewel and Liberty Miss battled it out for the lead down the back straight but the pair came together between the last two bends.

Liberty Miss came out worst of the bump, clipping the heels of Sunshine Jewel before fading out of contention. This left the door open or the advancing Glory Lorraine. Sunshine Jewel moved to the middle of the track as she swung off the final turn leaving room for Glory Lorraine to slip through on the fence.

It was all Glory Loraine needed. Staying on well, Sheila Duncan’s daughter of Definate Opinion and Glory Kitty emerged a length and a half scorer in 29.38. Sunshine Jewel was second with Kilgraney Cookie staying on for third, a further length adrift.

HAMMOND WINS DERBY TRIAL STAKE

After racing in an English Derby decider under a month and a half ago, Hello Hammond is back on the Derby trail after winning the trial stake on the undercard.

Coming in as a reserve for his kennel companion Hello Tommy, the powerful galloper predictably sat of the pace in the early stages and never really looked like landing the spoils.

In fact, after finding traffic as they entered the back straight, he was upwards of eight lengths off the pace passing halfway. Incredibly, the son of Jaytee Jet and Jaytee Pearl wasn’t done with yet. Improving his position at the third turn, he was still six lengths back but was now closing fast.

Storming up the home straight on the outside, Hello Hammond got up in the closing yards. The long-time leader Karlow Mac faded on the run in to finish out of the frame. Instead, Delirium Tremens came through for second but Hello Hammond remarkably won with a little in hand, crossing the line a length to the good in 29.18.