WONDERFUL DUKE SETS PACE IN RCETS UNRACED

Ian Fortune

There was some exceptional racing at Shelbourne Park on Thursday evening as the RCETS Open Unraced field was cut in half, while Glory Baz continued his march through the RCETS A3 525 claiming the €4,000 to the winner decider in superb trap to line fashion.

Fastest run of the night came in the second heat of the RCETS Open Unraced, however, as Grouchos Duke, owned by the Paddy Last Syndicate, left his second round defeat a long way behind him by emerging a facile winner in a rapid 28.31. Showing tremendous early speed after a moderate start, he was clear of his rivals by the second turn and proceeded to pull right away to win by ten lengths. Mbappe stayed on well to grab second with Saleen Zac just a short head away in third.

The winner is clearly a very exciting prospect. His early speed is hugely impressive, while he certainly doesn’t ease up. The John Byrne trained son of Grangeview Ten and Mystical Luna is set for a tremendous career.

MANDOLIN AND TICO HAVE A GREAT BATTLE

Robert Gleeson had a very strong hand in the opening heat and even he would have struggled to separate his two runners ahead of the contest.

Both Droopys Mandolin and Droopys Tico have shown huge promise and the pair went toe to toe.

The layers were of the belief that Droopys Mandolin was the one to beat and she duly obliged, although this went right down to the wire with the kennelmates separated by only the tightest of margins on the line.

In fact, she got a clear run up the inside of the track to dictate from start to finish but Droopys Tico was somewhat unlucky. He came away well only to take a bump after a few strides. This cost him valuable momentum and handed Droopy Mandolin the initiative.

She needed every inch of her lead, however, as Droopys Tico flew home to challenge on the line. The judge was called into action to declare Alan and Pat Dobbs’ Droopy Mandolin a short head scorer in 28.45. Unbeatable claimed the third qualifying spot a further five lengths adrift.  

RCETS ON1 525

Final Draw

1 Grouchos Duke

2 Droopys Tico

3 Droopys Mandolin

4 Saleen Zac

5 Mbappe (m)

6 Unbeatable (w)

 

BRILLIANT BAZ TOO GOOD

Glory Baz may have gone two years of age in July but he has shown huge improvement in recent weeks, culminating in a tremendous victory in the final of the RCETS A3 525 as he maintained his unbeaten career record.

Both Glory Baz and Annadown Cutie broke fastest but the former had superior early speed to lead by two lengths on the bend. From there it was all one-way traffic. Sheila Duncan’s son of Droopys Sydney and Glory Sara Jane eased clear to emerge a mighty impressive six length scorer in 28.55. Annadown Cutie was second with Intelligent Lad another length back in third. The winner can now boast a record of six wins from six career starts and, given his wonderful early speed, he should claim a hatful more wins in the future.

ALLEGRO TOO STRONG

The final of the Sporting Press A4/A5 525 saw Comets Allegro emerge a good winner for Marie Gilbert and Aiden Comerford.

Never far off the pace behind the early leader Splash Diamond, Comets Allegro (Pestana/ Allen Comet) took control at the third turn before storming home to beat Optic Nerve by three lengths in 28.61.