MAX FASTEST IN WHEATLEY MEMORIAL

Ian Fortune

Max Pay may have been a 5-1 chance in the opening semi-final of the Eamon Wheatley Memorial at Newbridge on Friday but she belied his price, leading late to score by the minimum margin in a standard setting 29.46.

Beaming Outlaw set a strong gallop and led for much of the way from an inside draw but Max Pay displayed fine determination to turn second. She seemed destined for a miner role but the daughter of Lenson Rocky and Moynevilla Lady had other ideas. Staying on with real purpose, Eric Thorpe’s August ’20 whelp joined Beaming Outlaw in the final yards to win by a short head.

AIRAZOR CUTS THROUGH THE PACK

Airazor posted a rapid 28.91 in the previous round and was installed a 1-2 favourite to land the second semi.

Those that took the odds about the Paul Cronin trained daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Correctandwrong were left to sweat as she missed the start before entering the back straight in fifth.

Owned by Rebecca Cronin and Katie Hackett, Airazor began to move through the gears and closed rapidly into the third turn. Moving third at this point, she continued to close. Switching wide, she came around the outside of early pace-setters Saoirses Sydney and Clonfert Kate to lad on the run in for a two length verdict over Clonfert Kate in 29.53.