DEVIL DELIGHTS AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
Shelbourne Park’s Saturday action was lit up by the display of De Foxy Devil as he took one of the two finals up for decision.
By Shelbourne Park standards, this was a low-key Saturday night but De Foxy Devil gave warning that he could be a force in the coming months, racing to a facile victory in the final of the Upcoming Events A1 525.
FOXY RUNS FFREE
For owner Pat Flanagan and handler Marie Gilbert, it’s clear De Foxy Devil is a greyhound to get excited about.
The well bred son of Broadstrand Bono and Kilgowan Honey was different class to his rivals in the semi-finals, coming home a mile clear in 28.39.
Seven days on, De Foxy Devil went even faster despite the tricky conditions. Breaking on terms, it was his early speed into the corner that allowed him to assert. Over a length to the good as they struck the corner, he ran a tremendous bend to increase his advantage into the back straight.
Legit News made a move on the outside of the track to slip into second but was only chasing shadows with De Foxy Devil opening by three and a half lengths to halfway. The March ’22 whelp was relentless, piling on the pressure down the back straight. Four lengths clear by the time he hit the third bend, De Foxy Devil ran right away from his rivals to eventually see off Legit News by eight lengths in a rapid 28.37. To make the run even more impressive, the track was conservatively rated at .20 slow. Have no doubt the winner is one to keep on side. Given his age and rate of progress, he could be a star in the future.
JACK CLAIMS VALUABLE PRIZE
The other final up for decision was that of the Shelbourne A2 Dual Distance and Moneygall Jack also justified favouritism, powering his way to the front at the final bend before holding the strong challenge of Peters Sydney.
Tecatito took over from the fast-starting Abbeyville Meg between the opening two bends and continued to dictate into the third turn. Moneygall Jack was now sitting a close second after charging down the back straight.
Eddie Ryan’s son of Droopys Sydney and Bull Run Beam was moving with real menace and it was only a matter of time before he struck the front. He had to wait for his moment but it came on the final bend with Tecatito running extremely wide, leaving the inside of the track free.
Both Peter Sydney and Zaconey Lyla were closing but Moneygall Jack is very strong and he ran right to the line to hold on. Moneygall Jack went on to win by three parts of a length from Peter Sydney in 33.19. Zaconey Lyla was just a short head away in third.
EDEL MAKES USE OF DRAW
The classy Droopys Edel returned from a short layoff to set the standards in the semi-finals of the RCETS A0 525.
Representing the team of Ian Reilly and Sean Dunphy, the daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Hunch had an ideal draw on the fence and she made full us of it in the opening heat.
Point Of Rescue went up fastest after a flying start from the outside draw but Droopys Edel flew up the fence to challenge and head the early pace-setter on the corner. She quickly opened a race-winning advantage before going on to beat the staying on Ballymac Marcia by three lengths in 28.63 (.20 slow).
ZOE COMES THROUGH TO LEAD LATE
The second heat saw Ollie Bray’s Sunshine Zoe come through in the closing stages as Capitan Garfio, the long-time pace-setter, ran out of steam.
Sunshine Zoe began to close on the leader into the third turn and the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Silver Penny took charge on the run in to come home two lengths clear of Fleadh Saraide in 29.12.
ALDO JUSTIFIES CLEAR FAVOURITISM
The shortest priced winner of the night was Carrick Aldo as he took the finale at odds of 2-5.
The Irish Sprint Cup winner looked different class to his rivals and he duly obliged although it wasn’t as easy as many were expecting.
Thomas Glynn’s son of Droopys Sydney and Minnies Hazel broke on terms and displayed fine pace into the corner to take charge. Rebel Ocean flew up the fence to turn second and chased the leader hard.
Carrick Aldo ran hard down the back straight to increase his advantage but his stride shortened a little on the run in. While the David Murray trained star came back to his pursuers a little, he held on to win by two lengths in 28.79. Rebel Ocean made a very pleasing Dublin debut in second.
CHIEF BACK TO WINNING WAYS
After a couple of uncharacteristically poor displays, Kilcolgan Chief returned to his determined best to win the opening semi-final of the This Runs Deep A1 550/575.
The Neilus O’Connell trained son of Pat C Sabbath and Razldazl Valerie battled his way to the front on the turn and kept finding at the head of affairs.
Ballygur Bale ran on well to finish closest but Karen Geoghegan’s Kilcolgan Chief ran right to the line to win by a length and a half in 30.35.
FAYA ON FIRE
Annie On Faya went faster in the second semi-final, making virtually all for Murt Leahy and Cian Mulrooney.
The daughter of Superior Panama and Cabra Skylar didn’t exactly fly from traps but she did show impressive early dash to lead before the corner.
Once doing so, she never looked under threat. Faypoint Angry did close in the latter stages but was never getting to the leader who emerged a good winner by three parts of a length in 30.12.
SPECIAL IN FINE FORM
After a fine display last weekend, Jeremiah Murphy’s Russmur Special quickly followed up in the A0 sixth race, again making every inch to repel the persistent Millroad Bolger.
Those in behind were persistent in their challenge but Russmur Special kept finding.
As each of his rivals made a move, Russmur Special countered it, always keeping them at bay. Millroad Bolger emerged as the main threat into the third turn but the Stephen Dunne trained Russmur Special rallied on the run in to eventually strike the line three parts of a length to the good in 29.08.
THE EARLY ACTION
There was a tremendous finish to the A2 third race with Ballintine Cross overcoming early crowding to reel in the long-time leader Zaconey Vulcan on the line.
Ballintine Cross was a close second into the turn but was carried wide and lost further ground at the second turn. He began to motor passing halfway, however, and quickly bridged the gap on the leader to the final turn. Staying on well up the straight, the Ray Melia and Shane Cross owned son of Droopys Sydney and Homegrown Honey led on the line to see off his rival by a short head in 29.09.
Gunner Prince won the A3 opener for Rita O’Donnell. Never far behind the early leader, Jirano Supreme, the son of Pestana and Swift Vicki took over at the third turn and coasted home three lengths clear of the early leader in 29.17.
Knockmitten Bawn (Good News/ Knockmitten Mag) emerged a determined winner of the A3 second race over the 550yd trip for owner Jimmy O’Hanlon. Prominent from the outset from an ideal draw on the fence, she took over from Knockduff Soul at the third turn and stayed on gamely to win by a length from Knockduff Soul in 30.54.