KNOCKEEN DAZZLES IN WILLWEGO.COM ST. LEGER QUARTERS

Peter Farrell

The quarter finals of the 2024 Willwego.com Irish St. Leger took centre stage at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it was Knockeen Dazzler that bounced back from defeat last time out in emphatic style to go quickest.

On the night, all four quarter finals were of the highest quality and, along with the thrills, came plenty of spills as a number of outright fancies made their untimely exits from the Classic. Indeed, Unanimouspanther, who had set the standard in both rounds thus far, was luckless in finishing fourth in heat one, while Carmac King was the other big casualty as the outright jolly trailed in last after first bend traffic.

ONE-WAY TRAFFIC FOR KNOCKEEN

Knockeen Dazzler (3/1) may have been running in the last of the quarter finals but it was certainly worth waiting for as he produced the most dominant performance of the night. The reigning Kirby champ was reeled in last time out by In Good Time, however, he wasn’t to suffer the same fate this time around as Daniel O’Rahilly’s runner blazed an almight trail from the off. Breaking on a slingshot from trap six, the son of Laughil Blake and Love Island posted a sensational 2.76 opening sectional and he already established a four length lead rounding the opening turn. At this point, ‘Dazzler’ never broke stride rounding the opening two turns and he drew clear of Coolavanny Otto down the back straight as he quickly manufactured a ten length gap over his rival. All eyes were on the clock as Knockeen Dazzler posted 17.20 to the third turn and although he tied up in the closing yards, he still crossed the line with four and a half lengths to spare. Coolavanny Otto and Jaytee Craze both ran fine races in behind, however, they were no match for the winner on the night as he stopped the clock in a brilliant 29.49.

BAREFOOT COLLARS TREATY AS PANTHER MAKES HIS EXIT

The opening heat of the night looked like a cracker on paper and it lived up to expectations as a thrilling contest ensued with Barefoot On Fire (7/2) ultimately continuing his superb run for form.

The understandable favourite coming into the contest was Unanimouspanther, who had been flawless up to this point in the Leger, however, it wasn’t to be for the Produce Stakes champ as he took a hefty bump at the opener after a moderate start from four. In contrast, it was Bockos Crystal that showed first from two with Clonbrien Treaty showcasing his customary early gear from six to comfortably sweep the opening turn in command. In behind at this point was Barefoot On Fire, who had paced up well on the rails to nudge Bockos Crystal aside and in turn this caused a domino effect that ultimately ended the chances of Unanimouspanther. Now in charge by four lengths down the back, the reigning champ was in full throttle and Graham Holland’s blue looked set to record his first victory of the renewal. However, bridging the gap all the while rounding the bottom two bends was the Paul Hennessy-trained Barefoot On Fire and he railed tightly around the final turn to wear down a tiring Clonbrien Treaty late on. A really impressive performance from the son of Grangeview Ten and Jaytee Osprey, the time for Bryan and Kathleen Murphy’s charge was 29.56. Clonbrien Treaty claimed the runner-up position for the third straight week as he finished three parts of a length adrift, while Extra Gain secured his place in the semis a further length and a half behind.

REX BOUNCES BACK

Owned by Billy and John Dunne, Ballyhimkin Rex bounced back in good style in heat two as he made every post a winner in holding off the eye-catching Miami King.

Installed as the 2/1 favourite to get back to winning ways, Ballyhimikin Rex didn’t come away too fluently from trap four but he showed a devastating turn of early speed to quickly overthrow Newport Pier, who had pinged the lids from three. In doing so, the son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Slaneyside Poppy took a two length lead into the back straight, however, he was being chased by the strong-running Miami King. The latter had shown his stamina prowess in recent weeks and patrons were to be treated to a thrilling finish as Ballyhimikin Rex showed fine determination to hold off the powerful finish of Miami King in second. Just one length separating the pair crossing the line, the third qualification spot was claimed by Ventry Faith, who was a further one and a half lengths back. The time was a smart 29.55.

BUCKO WINS FOR LUCY

Lucy Roche has been getting some spin out of Hazelhill Bucko throughout the Classic and he produced another brilliant display to see off In Good Time in heat three.

A wide-open heat, Hazelhill Bucko went to boxes as a 6/1 chance in the betting market, however, he was clueless to this price as he stepped out lively from the stripes to comfortably lead his rivals on the run-up. Showing explosive early speed, the son of Dromana Bucko and Flat White, owned by Michael O’Connell, was in command, however, he now had In Good Time setting off in chase in behind and the even money favourite was closing the gap around the bottom two bends. After reeling in Knockeen Dazzler last time out, In Good Time looked the most likely winner with fifty yards remaining, however, Hazelhill Bucko pulled out all the stops to deny his rival and win by a neck. Kilcolgan Whitney, who was 20/1 at the off, claimed the final qualification spot as she stayed on stoutly to secure third. The time was 29.65.

The draw for the semi finals of the 2024 Willwego.com Irish St. Leger was made shortly after and is as follows :

T1 - JAYTEE CRAZE

T2 - BAREFOOT ON FIRE

T3 - KILCOLGAN WHITNEY

T4 - EXTRA GAIN

T5 - CLONBRIEN TREATY (w)

T6 - KNOCKEEN DAZZLER (w)

T1 - COOLAVANNY OTTO

T2 - VENTRY FAITH

T3 - BALLYHIMIKIN REX

T4 - MIAMI KING

T5 - IN GOOD TIME (m)

T6 - HAZELHILL BUCKO (w)

*****

ALI PADDY QUICKEST IN CON MURPHY OPENER

Aside from the Leger action, there were seven opening round heats of the Con Murphy Bookmakers A1 525 on offer and they produced some sensational performances, none more so than Jebel Ali Paddy in the concluding heat.

Trained again by Lucy Roche, who produced a memorable double on the night, Jebel Ali Paddy was the 6/4 favourite in heat seven and the son of Magical Bale and Jumeirah Charm made light work of his rivals. Owned by the Hi-From-Dubai-Synd, ‘Paddy’ took a flier from four to post a 1.24 sectional and in doing so, quickly asserted. Drawing clear down the back, the powerful black emerged seven lengths too strong for Cloonturk Honey, in a slick time of 28.42.

HEAT WATCH

The opening heat saw the stake get off to a flying start as Mrbluewood dismantled his rivals in terrific style. Trained by Gerry Holian for Pat Carey, the 5/4 favourite made his intentions clear from the outset with a slick exit from four. Soon asserting, the son of Airmount Nando set a blistering gallop down the back before pressing home his advantage late on. Three lengths clear at the line, the time was a rapid 28.45.

In heat two, Pat and Aoife Coffey’s kennel continued their purple patch as Carrigmore Freya ran to a virtual solo. A 9/4 market chance, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Carrigmore Dizzy took charge on the run-up from trap one and thereafter she proceeded to draw clear of her rivals and win by an extending thirteen lengths. The time was a brilliant 28.50.

David Carroll got in on the act in heat three as Tyrap Magic recovered in expert style to score for the sixth time in his career. 5/2 at the off, the son of Broadstrand Bono was out with the washing entering the back straight, however, he bridged a six length gap around the bottom two bends to soar home and win by three parts of a length. The time was 28.69.

Hand Shake (Droopys Sydney - Sweet Shalimar) got back to winning ways in heat four as Mary Clarke’s runner made every post a winner. Disputing early with Bambis Lady, the inside line proved crucial for Hand Shake as he railed tightly in blue before opening a two length lead down the back. The 2/1 chance stayed on stoutly thereafter as he crossed the line three lengths clear of Bambis Lady in second. The time was 28.63.

Trained by Jack Kennelly for the Dream-To-Share-Synd, Ballymac Murty (Ballymac Cashout - Murleys Ellie) landed heat five as he showed all of his battling qualities. Running from trap four, the 6/4 favourite was away like a rocket but was outpaced early doors by both Grouchos Finn and Brickhill Fayla. However, showing fine speed down the back, ‘Murty’ got back on terms and upped the ante in the closing yards to emerge a two length winner over Grouchos Finn in second. The time was 28.59.

Heat six saw Bryan and Kathleen Murphy seal a fine double on the night as Barefoot Awesome (Good Cody - Drifting Abby) came out the right side of a judge’s call. Also trained by Paul Hennessy, the even money favourite was led early on by Cherrygrove Four, however, stepped up his game from the midway point before flying up the inside to score by a neck from the equally fast-finishing Cooneen Mazl in second. The time was 28.75.