LADIES DELIGHT AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
There was a real buzz about Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as Christmas revellers were treated to a superb night of action.
The semis of the Christmas Oaks topped the bill and they certainly didn’t disappoint with Speedels About taking the opening heat in style before Ballymac Run produced a statement like performance to set the standard in the second heat.
WHAT A RUN FROM BALLYMAC
Despite having twenty seven races on her card, Ballymac Run seems to be getting better and better with each week.
She was thrown in at the deep end relatively early in her career and has been learning her trade slowly.
Of course, she won the RPGTV Puppy Oaks in some style last month but this latest display was easily the best of her career to date. The November ’20 whelp not only beat a really top class field but did so the hard way, reeling in Clogheen Lass to post a sensational 28.11.
There was much happeing in the early yards. Mariess Wedding broke smartly from trap two but immediately took a bump from Illnotbeback. This handed the impetus to Clogheen Lass on the outside of the track but also allowed Ballymac Run turn close to the pace.
Entering the back straight, last week’s pace-setter Clogheen Lass seemed a very likely winner but the chasing pair of Maries Wedding and Ballymac Run had other ideas. Maries Wedding was on the fence with Ballymac Run on her right shoulder as they entered the back straight.
Things started to develop down the back straight with Ballymac Run bettering Maries Wedding to get first crack at the leader. Clogheen Lass maintained a strong gallop but Ballymac Run was moving with such purpose and power that she managed to slip inside the pace-setter at the third turn.
This was more than just an in-race maneouvre. This was perhaps a sign of things to come from a bitch coming to the very peak of her powers. Going to the front before the final turn, the daughter of Bull Run Bolt and Jaytee Pearl strode out to the line to see off Clogheen Lass by a length with Maries Wedding the same distance away in third.
Not only did Ballymac Run stop the clock in 28.11 but she did so from off the pace. Have no doubt, the Puppy Oaks champ is now amongst the very fastest in training.
NO HANGING ABOUT FOR SPEEDEL
In comparison to the second heat, the opening heat was pretty straightforward with Speedels About putting her rivals to the sword in superb fashion after a slick exit.
Reggie Roberts’ daughter of Droopys Sydney and Urban Time was a real eye-catcher in the previous round and her followers were richly rewarded as she made all.
Despite moving to the middle of the track from an inside pitch, Speedels About cleared the corner to lead Forest Willow into the back straight. The latter attempted to close on the leader to the third turn but it was futile.
Speedels About kicked again from the third turn, flying up the home straight to increase her advantage. She hit the line five lengths to the good in 28.26. Droopys Lavish ran on strongly to finish a half length adrift in third.
Shelbourne Christmas Oaks
Final draw
1 MARIES WEDDING
2 DROOPYS LAVISH
3 SPEEDELS ABOUT
4 BALLYMAC RUN
5 FOREST WILLOW
6 CLOGHEEN LASS (W)
*************
A WONDERFUL HAT-TRICK FOR IN-FORM LANNEY
Martin Lanney has his string purring at present and he recorded a superb treble to highlight the fact with Pintsnotpilates, Roxholme Duke and Wilms Blake all running tremendously well to win their respective races.
Pintsnotpilates was first into action in the A1 second race and he never saw a rival as he shot from trap six to dominate. Owned by the Pints Not Pilates Syndicate, the son of Makeshift and Scissors repelled the late challenge of Ballymac Bar to win by two lengths in a rapid 28.39.
DUKE COMPLETES MARTINS DOUBLE
Roxholme Duke went even faster in the fourth race when winning in almost identical fashion.
The son of Pat C Sabbath and Allowdale Nokia, who is owned by the Hayley & the Glory Boys Syndicate, made every inch after a flying exit from the outside box.
The Other Kobe did challenge at the third turn but was forced to check his stride as Roxholme Duke closed the door. From there, the pace-setter eased on to win by four lengths from Storys Cashout in a very quick 28.30.
BLAKE IMPRESSES TO COMPLETE MARTIN’S TREBLE
Martin Lanney’s brilliant hat trick came in the tenth race, the opening semi-final of a mini-open 525, as Wilms Blake displayed a willing attitude to reel in long-time leader Ballyard Shawny on the run in.
Tom Caughey’s Wilms Blake was never far off the pace after a good start from the inside box and when turning second he was always in a good position to strike should the leader tie up.
This was the case. As they turned for home, the leader’s stride began to shorten. In contrast, Wilms Blake was moving with real purpose. The son of Laughil Blake and Mags Chaperal came through to score by three lengths from the staying on Whyaye Man in a quick 28.40.
PRO AM BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Beaten Derby favourite Callaway Pro Am gained his first success since the Derby semi-finals when running out a tremendous winner of the finale for Owen McKenna and Denis Murphy.
With the 550yds traps out of commission, the dogs ran from the 525yd traps to the second winning line and it certainly didn’t do any harm to Callaway Pro Ams chances.
The hugely talented son of Skywalker Farloe and Bottle Of Banter flashed from two and proceeded to make all. Savana Hero and Gaytime Nemo both gave chase with the latter staying on best of all to take second but Callaway Pro Am held on for a length and a half success in a fast 29.46.
UNCLE WINS THE BATTLE
Angry Uncle and Lilywhite Queen had a great battle in the seventh race on the card with the verdict going to the former. Both were prominent from the start but the Peter Cronin trained Angry Uncle got the better of the buckle.
Lilywhite Queen got first run, leading the field into the back straight but Angry Uncle (Ballymac Best/ Angry Lauren) flew down the back straight to join her into the third turn. From that point the pair were scarcely separated by more than a half-length. Lilywhite Queen rallied in the closing stages but Liam Walsh’s Angry Uncle wasn’t to be denied and he stayed on to score by a neck in 28.31.
LOGAN GIVES RIVALS THE SLIP AGAIN
The second heat of the mini-open saw Carrigmore Logan dominate for the second week running.
The son of Laughil Blake and Star Princess posted 28.52 from the front a week earlier and he followed up in style, clocking an even faster 28.39.
This was very much a one-dog affair. Trained by Robert Gleeson for the P & A Coffet Syndicate, the September ’20 whelp was never under any pressure as he raced to a facile six length success over the running-on favourite A Lucky Gift.
MOM DIGS DEEP
An early lead made the difference for Liam O’Connor’s Hello Mom in the fifth race, the opening semi-final of the RCETS A0/A1 600.
The Ray Melia trained bitch needed her advantage as Toolmaker beach did finish with a flourish.
Hello Mom had done enough in hand, however. Staying on well, the daughter of Priceless Boris and Jaytee Charlie repelled Tookmaker Beach by a half length in 32.63.
HOODOO GETS LOOSE
The second heat saw Hoodoo Brown go marginally faster as he took control down the back straight before galloping on to a comfortable success in 32.61.
Owned jointly by Liam Dowling, who had a double on the night, and Mossie O’Donnell, Hoodoo brown stuck to the fence around the opening two bends and was in the perfect position to strike when the pace-setters, Scooby The Comet and Callaway Masters bumped.
Once going to the front, Hoodoo Brown was always going to score and the massive son of Vulturi and Amanita Chic stretched on to see off Callaway Masters by five lengths.
PETE GETS LOOSE
An issue with the boxes meant the third race over 550yds was run from the 525yds traps to the second winning line. It didn’t concern Ballymac Pete, however.
Liam Dowling’s well-bred daughter of Ballymac Cooper and Coolavanny Pet assumed control on the corner and never saw another rival before coming home three lengths clear of the staying on Kilgraney Mac in 30.02.
BONNIE SETS THE TONE
Newhall Bonnie set the tone for the night ahead when emerging a facile winner of the opener for Peter Cronin and Michael Kelly.
Only third into the turn, she drove the corner to move ahead and quickly pulled right away. By halfway, the result was beyond doubt and the daughter of Magical Bale and Patterdale Luna coasted home, nine lengths clear of Russmur Special in 28.53.