LASKARINA WINS A BOYLESPORTS THRILLER

Ian Fortune

The final of the €4,000 Boylesports A3 Bitch 525 went right down to the wire at Kilkenny on Friday night with Laskarina timing her challenge to perfection to get the better of Long Claudia and hot favourite Ballybough Olwyn by a narrowest of margins.

Long Claudia put the pace to the race, going up fast from two to lead before the turn. Ballycairn Tess turned closest but it was soon evident that Ballybough Olwyn was the one to beat when slipping around in third.

Behind the front three, Laskarina avoided opening bend traffic to turn fourth. Little did we know it at this stage but this was to allow the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Cunnigar Spice to make a decisive move in the closing yards.

Long Claudia was still in front to the third turn but Ballybough Olwyn was now motoring and looked a certain scorer. She ran out of real estate, however, and was forced to check her stride before again finding no room to race between the last two bends.

Laskarina was now closing on the outside of the track. She was third but soon moved around Ballybough Olwyn to get her crack at the pace-setter. In a tremendous finish, Long Claudia did all she could to hold on but Laskarina was now in full stride and closing fast. Ballybough Olwyn was also finishing fast but she lost her chance.

Edward Walsh’s Laskarina got up under the shadow of the post to score by a neck from Long Claudia in 29.28. Ballybough Olwyn was just a short head away in third.