GOLD ACTION A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME
Ian Fortune
Saturday’s opening round of the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Gold Cup certainly whet the appetite for the year to come with a number of fine displays, although it was clear there is so much more to come from the remaining competitors.
In terms of the clock, nothing went as fast as Stream Of Sydney as she initiated a tremendous double for Pat Buckley in the opening heat. Galloping Sydney was next fastest as he lowered the colours of the Derby champ Born Warrior, while the four remaining heat winners did so from off the pace.
POWER-PACKED SYDNEY TOO STRONG
Stream Of Sydney provided the perfect start to the early season showpiece, reeling in Another Holiday in a wonderful opening heat.
It was clear from early that only two dogs could win with Another Holiday setting a searing gallop, although his supporters would have been in fear when seeing Stream Of Sydney turn second.
In what was his first start since October Another Holiday was entitled to need the run and that was evident as Stream Of Sydney drew closer to the third turn before pouncing on the run in. Trained by Pat Buckley or Austin Whelan, Stream Of Sydney powered home to take charge in the final twenty five yards.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jet Stream Proof hit the line a length to the good in 28.33. Another Holiday ran an encouraging race in second, while third was shared by Rathdown Molly and Clona Blu a further three and a half lengths adrift in third.
FLASH BY NAME, FLASH BY NATURE
Fifteen Minutes later it was the turn of Cloneden Flash to come from off the pace, in doing so providing sponsor Paddy Kehoe and Enda Currie with a winner.
The son of Makeshift and Madabout Bella was also completing the Pat Buckley double as he reeled in Radical Prince.
The latter had to work for the early lead and could never get far enough clear. Cloneden Flash began to bridge the gap into the third turn before running on with gusto to emerge a length scorer over the staying on Ballycowen Liam in 28.75. Radical Hero was just a short head away in third.
SYDNEY BEATS SYDNEY
Heat 3 saw the shock elimination of The Other Kobe after he found traffic at the turn after a moderate start.
In contrast, Storys Law went up fast to set the pace but he was always under pressure when the hugely fast Kilgraney Sydney slipped around in second.
Predictably, Kilgraney Sydney flew into the third turn to take over for Thomas and Mary Buggy. From there, the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Bull Run Bistro eased on to score by a length in 28.69. Killahan Sydney flew home to take second with Storys Law another length adrift in third.
WILDE ON FIRE
Toolmaker Wilde has been on the crest of a wave in recent weeks and he added another impressive success to his tally in the fourth of the six heats.
Here Cheque For Sir forced his way to the front at the corner, taking over from the fast starting Flaminmoneybags.
Clona Duke also flew into the turn but took a hefty bump. This all allowed Toolmaker Wilde pick his path around the corner before entering the back straight in second. The result seemed inevitable thereafter with Toolmaker Wilde a stout stayer but Cheque For Sir certainly didn’t roll over.
Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, Cheque For Sir did all he could to contain the challenge of Toolmaker Wilde. It was futile, however. Trained by Robert Gleeson for Willie Hyslop, the son of Droopys Jet and Kilara Lizzie came through in the final yards to score by a half length from Cheque For Sir in 28.73.
Clona Duke, after finding further traffic at the third turn, ran far better than the bare form suggests a further five and a half lengths adrift in third.
TIME TO DISCO
Disco Pants has been in exceptional form of late, suffering an unlucky elimination in the Kingdom Derby at the semi-final stages only to impress on final night.
A fortnight on, a return to Shelbourne Park certainly didn’t faze the Michael Daly trained son of Kinloch Brae and Bling Bling Lola.
Prominent from the outset, he was denied the lead on the turn by Ballycrystal Ace and was again forced to check early in the back straight. Still, he wasn’t put off. He came again to the third turn only to have the door closed in his face once again.
Ballycrsytal Ace did all he could to contain Disco Pants on the home straight but it wasn’t to be. Owned by John Breen and Conor Healy, Disco Pants charged to the line to claim a well-deserved half-length victory in 28.52. Crokers Spirit was another three lengths adrift in third.
SYDNEY GALLOPS TO VICTORY OVER DERBY CHAMP
Brilliant Derby champion Born Warrior was the headline act in Heat 6 but he had to play second fiddle to the Graham Holland trained Galloping Sydney, who again displayed massive early to begin his Gold Cup challenge in style.
In truth, this was a hugely encouraging first run back for Born Warrior but on the night he met a razor-sharp rival. Both came away racing but Galloping Sydney had the inside line and a marginal advantage into the turn.
With Born Warrior steering a wide pat, Una Creed’s son of Droopys Sydney and Mags Image increased his advantage into the back straight. Even at this early stage it was clear Galloping Sydney was going to inflict defeat on Born Warrior.
Born Warrior did show plenty of dash into the third turn but again steered his traditional wide path, leaving Galloping Sydney to maintain and slightly increase his advantage. At the line Galloping Sydney has two lengths to spare over Born Warrior in 28.50. On this evidence, both greyhounds could have a big say in the outcome of the Gold Cup.
Undercard
WILLOW COMPLETES A CRONIN DOUBLE
Peter Cronin posted a superb double in the opening half of the card, highlighted by the display of Forest Willow in the A1 fourth race.
A gallant loser in her last two starts, she made no mistake on this occasion, showing fine early zip to clear Lochranza on the bend.
Once striking the front, Richard Brown’s daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Elite quickly opened a clear advantage before coasting home three and a half lengths clear of Lochranza in 28.69.
ANOTHER DOMINANT DISPLAY FROM ANGEL
After winning in 28.74 in her previous starts at Shelbourne, Angry Angel quickly followed up, leading throughout to win the A1 second race Peter Cronin, initiating a double for the handler in the process.
Liam Walsh’s daughter of Ballymac Best and Angry Lauren didn’t see another rival, flying from trap two to dominate throughout. At the line she had two lengths in hand on Craiobhin Spud in 28.88.
BOLGER A FINE WINNER OF FINALE
The final race on the card saw a tremendous run from the Michael Donnelly trained Millroad Bolger as he came from lengths back to lead Hello Mom in the final strides.
The latter is something o an expert at the boxes and she flew from trap three to build a clear advantage to halfway.
Victory seemed a certainty but Millroad Bolger had other ideas. He began to move through the gears off the second turn and rapidly closed the gap to the third turn. Now on the heels of the leader, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Goldmine Larky stayed on strongly to finally take over in the final strides for a half length victory in 28.76. It was quite the run from Millroad Bolger and he is clearly one to keep an eye on.
RAPID LEFT CLEAR
Paul Pardy’s So Its Rapid displayed fine early speed to clear his rivals into the turn in the A1 opener, which was to prove decisive as he was left a mile clear when the remainder became entangled.
Ten lengths to the good at halfway, the Vincent McKenna trained son of Rosbirr Ranger and Classy Ebony remained clear to beat Fayes The Boss by seven lengths in 29.17.