SYDNEY STEALS HEADLINE WITH GOLD CUP DOMINATION
Ian Fortune
The 2024 Tote Gold Cup got underway at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and those present were treated to some truly exceptional racing.
Ballymac Finn went marginally fastest, bettering Carrick Aldo by just one spot but the real headlines went to their sire, Droopys Sydney, who was responsible for each of the six heat winners.
Heat 1 – A BREEZE FOR JETSTREAM
Jetstream Breeze may have been carrying a couple of pounds overweight but he put in a fine display to reel in Tommys Hewick in the opening heat.
Representing the in-form outfit of Marie Gilbert, who had two winners on the night, the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Aayamza Breeze came away reasonably well from three and got the better of those drawn on his inner to turn second to Tommys Hewick.
This was to prove decisive. Tommys Hewick continued to set the pace but the writing was on the wall with Jetstream Breeze certain to come home well. As the leader swung off the final turn, Jetstream breeze made his move on the inner. Staying on the better, the brindle powerhouse came home a length and a half to the good over Tommys Hewick in 28.60. There was a further three parts of a length to the fast finishing Hukum in third.
Heat 2 – FLYING FINN SIMPLY TOO GOOD
Ballymac Finn was at his brilliant best in Heat 2, turning the contest into little more than a solo trial.
Liam Dowling’s 2022 Derby runner-up was razor sharp at traps and dominated from the very first stride. Lotto Other News ran a fine race to stay as close as he did in second but Ballymac Finn seemed to be enjoying himself out front and he bounded home to run out a facile scorer.
The sensational son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Petsy raced to a five length verdict over the always second Lotto Other News in a sizzling 28.17. Road Exile was the same distance away in third.
Heat 3 – A STYLISH DISPLAY FROM DEADLY
Deadly Style returned from a short layoff to put a good field to the sword in Heat 3.
This was a display of real speed and acceleration from the son of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Abba. Not the fastest into stride, Gary Hannon’s charge flew up the outside of the track to outpace his rivals into the turn.
It was a decisive manoeuvre. Droopys Edel, the warm favourite, did turn second but could never get back on terms despite closing the gap somewhat. The Michael O’Donovan trained pace-setter ran right to the line to emerge a most impressive winner by a length in 28.50. Hello Mom was best of the remainder, some five and a half lengths further adrift.
Heat 4 – CHICO QUITE THE MOVER
Optic Chico’s record over 525yds around Shelbourne Park now reads two wins from two starts after another superb display in Heat 4 where he reeled in the hot favourite Another Holiday down the back straight before racing clear to stop the clock in 28.28.
In fairness to the pace-setter, in what was his first run of the year, he seemed to need the run but there is no doubting the 2quality of the display from the eventual winner. Trained by Robert Gleeson for Richard Vereker and Paul Allen, the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Zola Princess went up strongly to dispute second with De Gander Pen but supporters of the leader would have been concerned when Optic Chico moved second on his own as they straightened up into the back straight.
Showing all his strength and pace, Optic Chico flew up to Another Holiday before taking over on the third turn. It was all very straightforward thereafter with Optic Chico pulling away to win by three and half lengths from Another Holiday in 28.28. De Gander Pen filled the frame a further two and a half lengths back.
Heat 5 – AWESOME ALDO
Carrick Aldo made it two on the bounce in Shelbourne Park when emerging a superb winner of the Heat 5 for his lucky owner Thomas Glynn and handler David Murray.
Already the Irish Sprint Cup champion, it’s clear the son of Droopys Sydney and Minnies Hazel has more big-race success in his sights.
Breaking on terms, Carrick Aldo displayed superior early speed to those around him to slip around in front of Scotty Scheffler. The latter did all he could to hang onto the coattails of the leader but Carrick Aldo eased into a near four length advantage by the time they began to turn at the penultimate bend.
Scotty Scheffler did close a little on the run in but Carrick Aldo was in no mood to let his lead slip and he stuck on well to emerge a comfortable two length winner in a rapid 28.18. Kells Dynamo was the best of the remainder in third, a further four and a half lengths adrift.
Heat 6 – MARTHA STREAKS CLEAR
Glengar Martha employed away and gone tactics to win the final heat by a country mile for Pat Buckley and William Wood.
Electric in the early yards, she was over three lengths clear by the bend and was left even further clear as slow-starting favourite, De Foxy Devil, raced up the inside of the pack to cause traffic.
Glengar Martha was a mile clear into the back straight and the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Glengarbadminton maintained a strong gallop throughout to emerge a very easy winner. She hit the line some eleven lengths clear in 28.42. De Foxy Devil lost nothing in defeat, however.
After encountering all sorts of traffic after a slow start, he actually displayed fine pace to take the runners-up spot. Goldirocks Magic was another three lengths back in third.
Undercard
SKY TAKES FLIGHT IN FINALE
The performance of the undercard came in the finale as Bill Evans’ Honey Sky left his rivals trailing in his dust.
A good winner last weekend, the son of Droopys Sydney and Traceys Pet was even better a week on.
Much sharper at boxes than in his previous outing, Honey Sky was soon at the head of affairs and he really did pile it on. Easing further and further clear, the Michael Donnelly trained star emerged a very easy eight length winner over Maximilian in a wonderful 28.35.
RAPID BY NAME, RAPID BY NATURE
Innfield Rapid certainly lived up to his name in the penultimate race on the card, showing superb speed to race clear of his rivals.
Barry Clancy’s son of Ballymac Best and Camera Shy broke smartly and was soon in complete command. Racing right away, the October ’21 whelp emerged one of the easiest winners on the card, seeing off Endova Finale by seven lengths in 28.47.
MAN ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Tracker Man displayed plenty of pace to claim a fine victory in the third race for Marie Gilbert and owners Aidan Comerford and Barry Whelan.
Prominent into the turn, he took a bump but quickly recovered to challenge and pass Ballygur Orla.
Once asserting by halfway, the son of Droopys Sydney and Palermo eased clear to run out a ready three and a half length winner over the fast finishing Highview Coral in 28.81.
SKINNY LEGS RACES CLEAR
Mr Skinny Legs provided Shaun Conway and the Howsyourhammer Syndicate a good victory in the A1 second race.
The son of Droopys Buick and Melodys Molly made most of an ideal draw on the fence to lead from the corner.
Now Were Talkin held a narrow advantage into the turn but Zaconey Vulcan carried him wide leaving Mr Skinny Legs clear. Once going to the front, Mr Skinny Legs proceeded to make every inch for a three and a half length verdict over Twofourone in 28.90.
STAR LEADS EARLY IN OPENER
Gracebridge Star took charge in the early yards of the A2 opener and never relinquished her lead thereafter.
William White’s daughter of Ballymac best and Boyneside Peggy was never in a commanding lead but she kept on finding to repel the staying on Yacht Ned by three parts of a length in 29.03.