AWESOME ALDO SENDS OUT A SPRINT CUP WARNING
Ian Fortune
The clash of Carrick Aldo and Broadstrand Syd in the quarter finals of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk on Saturday night only served to whet the appetite for a further potential clash of the two titans in the final of the sprint classic.
The honours went to Carrick Aldo on Saturday as he the defending champion returned to his brilliant best but Broadstrand Syd supporters won’t be too disheartened with their star again showing massive pace.
Carrick Aldo was fastest of the four heat winners, clocking a sizzling 20.84, but the rapidly progressive Elite Kursk also deserves much praise as he posted a superb 20.89. Romeo Taylor also broke the 21 second barrier when winning the final heat while Meenagh Monito also got in on the party, coming home in front in the opening heat of the round.
TWO STARS BUT ALDO EMERGES ON TOP
Thomas Glynn’s Carrick Aldo stole the headlines, however.
The brilliant son of Droopys Sydney and Minnies Hazel found his trapping boots to put himself in a perfect position to strike, holding a narrow lead over Pavilion Team in the early yards.
In contrast, Broadstrand Syd was moderately into stride and found himself just over a length off the pace in the opening yards but what was to follow was greatly impressive. Showing awesome early speed, Broadstrand Syd ran down the leaders to move to the front on the corner.
Moving at such speed, he struggled to take the corner smoothly. Taking a false step as he began to turn, it left the door open for the fluent Carrick Aldo. Turning for home the big two were side by side but the David Murray trained Carrick Aldo was about to show his immense quality.
Kicking off the second turn, he soon mastered Broadstrand Syd, powering up the home straight to emerge a wonderful length and a quarter winner over Broadstrand Syd in a rapid 20.84. Blacknose Clover ran well to take third, some four and a half lengths further back.
ANOTHER ELITE RUN FROM EXCITING KURSK
There was a bittersweet success for Elite Kursk in Heat 3.
In a week when he lost his father, Myles Roban sent out his star to produce the display of his career. A son of Myles’ own stud dog Elite Black and Minnies Kursk, the brilliant young tracker displayed massive early speed to get the better of the fast-starting Pavilion Fire in the early yards.
It was all very easy for Elite Kursk thereafter. Powering into a two length lead to the turn over On The Nose, it was clear to all that Elite Kursk was going to maintain his unbeaten record in the classic. Trinity Junior did fly up the home straight to grab second but Elite Kursk was in a league of his own.
Elite Kursk maintained a relentless gallop to the line to emerge a ready and most impressive four length scorer over Trinity Junior in 20.89. On The Nose was just a short head behind his kennel companion Trinity Junior in third. The display of the winner was just further evidence that he is getting better with each outing and that this stake is far from a two-dog affair.
ROMEO MAKES MOST OF FAST START
Romeo Taylor raced to a superb victory in the last of the four heats, coming away racing from trap two and finding himself with loads of racing room after the reigning Derby champion The Other Kobe walked from the inside box.
Zippy Canning offered the most resistance to Romeo Taylor in the early yards but had no answer to the Graham Holland trained son of Newinn Taylor and Fabulous Mila. Instead Road Exile emerged as the nearest rival to Romeo Taylor, moving second on the run in but Romeo Taylor was always comfortable.
David Firmager’s talented tracker motored up the straight to emerge a comfortable three length winner over Road Exile in 20.99 with Dynamic Force staying on strongly to take third another three parts of a length adrift.
MONITO LOWERS THE COLOURS OF FINN IN THRILLER
Meenagh Monito and Ballymac Finn served up a tremendous buckle in the opening heat to set the tone for the remaining action.
The pair were separated by less than a length for most of the journey but it was the determination of Meenagh Monito that saw him emerge on top for Michael Corr and Roy Ball.
Both greyhounds came away racing and they would never allow any of their rivals get involved. Meenagh Monito held a narrow advantage over Ballymac Finn into the turn, forcing the latter to check slightly. This left Meenagh Monito with a length and a quarter advantage but his lead was short-lived. Ballymac Finn quickly regained his momentum and was almost back on terms turning for home. In fact, Ballymac Finn moved into a narrow advantage on the run in only for Meenagh Monito to rally. In a desperate finish, the son of Ballymac Kingdom and Derby runner-up Meenagh Miracle got up late to beat Ballymac Finn by a head in 21.05. Laughil Bruce again finishing with a flourish to take third, some two and a half lengths adrift.
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BAR ONE RACING IRISH SPRINT CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW
The stage is set for a thrilling finish to the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup.
The semi-final draw was made soon after the last of the four quarter finals and it has thrown up two exceptional contests. Certainly, the battle for a place in the €20,000 decider will make for essential viewing.
The opening heat features Broadstrand Syd, Romeo Taylor and Elite Kursk, while Carrick Aldo faces some notable rivals in Heat 2 including Trinity Junior, Ballymac Finn, Road Exile and talented duo of Dynamic Force and Laughil Bruce.
It’s as it should be in a classic. Certainly, if the two heats are cleanly run we should be set for an incredible final. The full draw is available below:
Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup
Semi-final draw
1st Semi
1 MEENAGH MONITO
2 BROADSTRAND SYD
3 ROMEO TAYLOR
4 ON THE NOSE (M)
5 ELITE KURSK (W)
6 BLACKNOSE CLOVER (W)
2nd Semi
1 TRINITY JUNIOR
2 BALLYMAC FINN
3 ROAD EXILE (M)
4 CARRICK ALDO (M)
5 DYNAMIC FORCE (W)
6 LAUGHIL BRUCE (W)