DUBLIN CUP DELIGHTS AGAIN
Ian Fortune
The quarter finals of the Dublin Cup provided some wonderful action at a cold Shelbourne Park on Friday night and, not or the first time, La Barbaro played a starring role, showing tremendous early speed and a wiling attitude to set the standard in the final heat.
There is so much to like about the son of Deerjet Sydney and Velvet Spring. Much like his English Derby winning sire, La Barbaro has a habit of getting on the bunny into the turn and once doing so, he does everything in his power to maintain an advantage.
ON this occasion, the Michael Corr trained tracker mistimed the start slightly but burst his way between rivals to take over as they started to turn left. Maori Man displayed fine speed down the back straight to move past Ballybough Caroll into second and he continued to push the pace-setter all the way to the line but it wasn’t to be.
Early News also flashed home along the fence but La Barbaro held on to see off Maori Man and Early News by a length and a neck in 28.88. Winning owners Roy Ball and Trevor Pearson have a gem on their hands and he will bid for a fifth win on the spin in next weekend’s semi-finals.
STUIE ALWAYS IN CHARGE
Next fastest on the clock was Stuie Griffin for Liam O’Rourke and the Stuies Masterplan Syndicate.
In a contest that seemed to lack early peed with the exception of the eventual winner, the son of Droopys Buick and Newinn Simon shot clear from his inside draw.
Almost two and a half lengths to the good on the bend, Stuie Griffin doubled his advantage before the second bend with Burgess Canon moving off the fence to hold up his rivals in behind. Laughil Ray moved second as they entered the back straight but was never going to worry the leader.
Burgess Canon came with a big run into the third turn to go second once again but there was little he could do. Stuie Griffin coasted home a comfortable two length winner over Burgess Canon in 28.98. Rathanny Mopsey, a kennel companion to the leader, was just another length adrift in third.
WINDOW MAKES IT FIVE ON THE SPIN
Heat 3 was over pretty early despite four greyhounds challenging for the early advantage into the corner.
Importantly, Headinthewindow flew from the inside box and held her pitch on the corner. This allowed the rapidly progressive daughter of Good Cody and Drifting Abby to slip around in a clear lead with Ardnasool Arc, Gallant Queen and Knockeen Dawn all finding traffic.
Turning into the back straight some five lengths in hand, the Murt Leahy trained Headinthewindow had little more than a solo trial thereafter. Michael O’Donovan’s November ’21 whelp cruised home four and a half lengths clear of the fast-finishing Terrific Intent in 29.01, in-turn completing a five-timer which began on December 21st. There was a further length and a half back to third qualifier Knockeen Dawn.
ROSE PICKS UP ROCKY
The opening heat provided the tightest finish of the four with Hello Rose collaring Edermine Rocky in the closing yards.
The latter had been left in front at the second turn with early leader Newline Fortune losing his action.
Edermine Rocky, a good second round winner, would have been expected to go on to score but Hello Rose was too close. Andy Hogan’s young daughter of Burgess Bucks and Holycross Heidi is strong and she began to bridge the gap at the third turn.
It was clear as they swung for home that Hello Rose was going to have a big say in the outcome. Staying on with real purpose, the April ’22 puppy picked up Edermine Rocky under the shadow of the post to win by a half length in 29.01. Lough Sultan was another two lengths away in third.
GINGE TOO GOOD
Elsewhere on the card, the standout performance came in the final of the This Runs Deep A3/A4 525 with the Karol Ramsbottom trained Castleivy Ginge running clear of her rivals for a brilliant six and a half length verdict in 28.67.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Pennys Bacata is clearly in tremendous form at present but this was a really impressive display on a track that certainly wasn’t running fast. Owned by Michael and Noel Nash, she dominated after a fast start and went on to see off Teena with relative ease. On current form, Castleivy Gingo shouldn’t be ignored despite a inevitable rise in grade.
PANTHER POUNCES LATE
The final of the Britvic Ireland A5 saw Ashville Panther lead in the closing yards as long-time pace-setter Gallant King appeared to cramp.
Owen Conway’s Ashville Panther (Ballymac Best/ Posh Panther) saw off Pandereto by a length in 29.47.