BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES ON ST. LEGER UNDERCARD
Peter Farrell
While the final of the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Irish St. Leger took centre stage at Limerick on Saturday night, there were also a number of outstanding performances throughout the card.
One of the most intriguing races of the night was the curtain raiser as Toolmaker Josepe made his 750-yard debut for Robert Gleeson and William Hyslop. Sent off at slim odds of 1/2, that price looked huge come the business end of the contest as the son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Sydney won by a wide-margin. Despite walking from trap five, ‘Josepe’ picked his way through runners to loom alongside Mongys Tiger on the approach to the fifth bend. Sweeping by his rival at this point, the margin increased with every stride thereafter as Toolmaker Josepe appreciated every yard of the six-bend trip. Crossing the line nine lengths clear, the time was 42.04 with a guarantee of much more to come.
Ballymac Setanta was returning from a tilt at the Irish Sprint Cup in Dundalk and he carried that experience into the Open 350 as he won comfortably. Drawn in two, the 2/1 chance emerged from a level start to round the opener with one length in hand. Running a terrific couple of bends, the son of Ballymac Kingdom drew clear thereafter as he stormed to a five and a half length success over Cape Copper in second. The time was 18.41.
The first of two BoyleSports Irish Derby trial stakes went down for decision in race three and Fahee Phantom produced a strong display to book his ticket for Graham Holland and Kenny Glen. Sent off as the 6/4 favourite, the son of Fahee Storm broke best of all from trap three and just nipped around clear of Tiermana Hunter in second. Increasing his lead to three lengths down the back, ‘Phantom’ upped the ante off the final turn to cross the line five lengths clear of his rivals. The time for the 550-yard trip was a slick 29.65.
Race four saw the Stephen Murray-trained Highview Tom (Ballymac Cashout - Highview Secure) come from off-the-pace to claim a fourth career success. Owned by Sean Kelly, the 9/2 chance was headed for the majority by Portdrine Magic in second, however, made his move at the three-quarter mark and he finished best of all in the closing stages to win by three parts of a length. The time was 28.88.
The second of the Derby trial stakes was claimed in exceptional fashion by the consistent Newport Pier, owned by the Mullins-Curtin-Syndicate. Now well into her fourth year, the daughter of Droopys Sydney remains a force and she absolutely pinged the lids from trap two to lead. In doing so, once clear the strong-running bitch was never going to be caught and she flew to a seven length success in a blistering 29.44.
Braveheart Bambi was strongly supported throughout the day in the betting market, however, race rust played a part as she ran into trouble at several stages of the contest. In contrast, both Daleroad Poppy and Brackile Roxy (Roxholme Olaf - Banter Breeze) made this into a thrilling buckle as the latter came through in the closing stages to reel in the gallant ‘Poppy. Owned by Denis Fraher, the 7/2 chance stopped the clock in 41.81.
The final of the Limerick & Clare GOBA 525 was next on the agenda and Gulleen Ina (Droopys Sydney - Gulleen Queen) was to emerge triumphant for owner Timothy Gilbourne. A 10/3 market chance, ‘Ina’ was headed early on as both Tally Ho Rose and Rinnwood Leo exchanged the lead in the opening stages of the contest. The former looked to have the decider in the bag around the fine bend, however, Gulleen Ina slipped between runners to show the superior stamina and win by one length. The time was 28.68.
Race eight saw the return of the Kirby champ, Faypoint Ranger, and he justified his even money price tag with another win at his beloved Limerick. Drawn in one, Patricia Flanagan and Graham Holland’s ace didn’t break too fluently, however, showed brilliant early dash to lead on the rail. Thereafter, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa built a healthy lead down the back and despite running empty in the closing yards, still had three parts of a length in hand crossing the line. Headleys Trump ran a big race in second as ‘Ranger’ stopped the clock in 28.36.
In race ten, Magical Hope got Patrick Guilfoyle on the scoresheet as she made-all to win at odds of 7/4. Drawn in the stripes, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat - Magical Poppy broke nicely from her wide berth and showed splendid early dash to shoot into a five length lead down the back. Thereafter, Flyers Minnie made inroads, however, was still two and a half lengths adrift crossing the line. The time for the 550-yard trip was 29.78.
In the penultimate race, there was a runaway victory for the Gerry Holian-trained Hot Wood (Airmount Nando - Burgess Millie). Installed as the 6/4 favourite, Pat Carey’s charge made light work of this contest in the end as he emerged a nine length winner over Trionas Tribe in second. The time was 28.39.
The concluding race on the card saw Moorestown Brett and Bartlemy Mainoo share the spoils in their 575-yard contest. ‘Brett’, owned by Joseph O’Flaherty, went off as a 9/1 chance and he took charge early as he raced into a four length lead over ‘Mainoo’ in second. However, Graham Holland’s charge, owned by Liam and Sheila Mannix, ate into the lead and the duo were to cross the line in tandem. Nothing to separate the pair, the time was a fast 31.25.