ANNIE SETS THE STANDARD IN DROOPYS CHAMPION BITCH OPENER

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Droopys Stud Champion Bitch Stake featured on Saturday night’s card at Thurles Park and it was Annie on Faya who set the standard with a blistering performance trainer Murt Leahy.

Owned by Cian Mulrooney, Annie On Faya arrived at Thurles fresh from two eye-catching displays at HQ and Leahy’s charge was on-song from the outset as she saw off Glengar Jasmine in splendid style. 3/1 at the off, ‘Annie’ broke swiftly from trap two and she was followed into the back by Corona Ryan’s Glengar Jasmine, who lurked ominously in second. Holding a narrow lead down the back, the daughter of Superior Panama and Cabra Skylar handled the bottom two turns brilliantly and she stayed on stoutly thereafter to cross the line with one length in hand over Glengar Jasmine in second. The time was 28.82 .20s, the fastest of the first round heats.

Next best in terms of the clock was Turkish Delight (3/1) in heat three as the December 21’ whelp made a winning return to racing for 2024. Owned by the Galler-Syndicate, the daughter of Grangeview Ten had posted some fine times at Limerick towards the end of 2023 and she used her berth in trap three to nip around just ahead of Mustang Fever in second. The latter took over entering the back, however, ‘Turkish’ quickly asserted as she powered back in front. Staying on strongly thereafter, Turkish Delight was one length clear of Mustang Fever crossing the line, in a time of 28.93 .20s.

The remaining heat, heat one, resulted in a shock as both Bobsleigh Dream and Undisputed were both handed defeat at the paws of Giddyup Maggie. A massive 10/1 chance at the off, Louise Whall’s runner was seeking a hat-trick of victories and she bolted from trap six to hold a healthy advantage into the opener. Opening an unassailable lead into the back, the daughter Skywalker Logan and Bogger Sunny saw her lead chopped in the closing stages as Borna Flame finished at speed, however, the damage was done early as ‘Maggie’ comfortably won by three lengths. The time was 29.04 .20s with Bobsleigh Dream managing to secure qualification in third.

SCALLY TREBLE

Elsewhere on the card, there was a treble for the kennel of Paddy Scally and this was kick-started by Cabra Zeus (4/5) in the curtain raiser. An A8 event, the May 22’ whelp used his rails berth in one to perfection as he paced up well to build a seven length lead midway down the back. Anydreamwilldo closed the gap in the closing yards, however, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Cabra Ava held on to score by one length, in 29.81 .20s.

The double was up in race three as Cabra Keiser also justified favouritism with a trap-to-line victory. Breaking well from trap four, the son of Cabra Firmino and Cabra Blitz railed like a cat throughout and despite coming under late pressure from Hows Things Now, ‘Keiser’ crossed the line two lengths in hand, in a time of 29.31 .20s.

The treble was completed in race ten as Cabra Hasty landed her second round assignment of the Dinny Mackay Memorial. Seeking a fifteenth career win, the daughter of Kinloch Brae and Cabra Ebony set her stall out early with a ping break from trap three. Making every inch of the running thereafter, ‘Hasty’ crossed the line with one length to spare over Borna Kitty in second. The time was 29.40 .20s.

PAS BAR ROUND TWO

In the second round of the Pa’s Bar Upperchurch A5 525, Carneys Goldmine set the standard with a comfortable victory for Dick Purcell and Francis Tobin.

6/4 at the off, Carneys Goldmine really stamped his authority on this contest as he took off at the midway point wearing the blue jacket, before storming up the Thurles straight to win by four lengths from Lucky Lane in second. The time was 29.18 .20s.

BUGGY QUICKEST IN DINNY MACKEY

The concluding race on the card saw Bull Run Buggy take home the mantle of fastest in the second round of the Dinny Mackey Memorial. Owned by James Quinlan, the heavyweight tracker won his opening round assignment in good style and he built on that performance with another polished display. All over within a matter of strides, the son of Magical Bale powered to a comprehensive victory, as he won by seven lengths, in 29.16 .20s.