NO SHOCKS IN DUBLIN CUP

Ian Fortune

Friday’s action at Shelbourne Park was dominated by the semi-finals of the Dublin Cup and while both went the way the market was expecting, both La Barbaro and Headinthewindow did have to work hard to get to the front to justify their lofty position in the market.

It may have been much closer than many expected but the Micky Corr trained La Barbaro ran with real bravery to win claim a fifth win on the bounce in the opening semi-final. Hello Rose pushed the favourite hard throughout and was narrowly denied but La Barbaro was a deserving winner.

Stuie Griffin broke fastest to lead in the early yards but La Barbaro, owned by Roy Ball and Trevor Pearson, had the inside line in his favour and ran a tremendous bend to take control. Hello Rose soon emerged as a serious contender, however.

Moving second on the third turn, Hello Rose seemed to have the leader in her sights but it wasn’t to be. La Barbaro moved wide into the straight, forcing Hello Rose to attempt to pass on the outside. It ended up being a decisive manoeuvre for the son of Deerjet Sydney and Velvet Spring.

Hello Rose did join the leader but as she edged inwards in the closing yards, the pair bumped again and La Barbaro got his nose down at the right time to actually win by a head in 29.03.

A HALF DOZEN FOR WINDOW

The second heat was also very competitive but Headinthewindow again displayed all her many qualities to make it win number six in a row.

Trained by Murt Leahy for Michael O’Donovan, the daughter of Good Cody and Drifting Abby was headed in the early yards by the fast starting Burgess Canon but she was so fluent around the corner.

Staying close to the fence, she took over from Burgess Canon as they entered the back straight and proceeded to put the result beyond doubt. The battle for second went right down to the wire. Maori Man slipped up the inside of Burgess Canon on the final bend to go second and he in turn held the flying finish if Terrific Intent.

Headinthewindow saw off Maori Man by four and a half lengths in 28.94 with Terrific Intent just a neck away in third.

RODDICK SMASHES RIVALS

The sole final up for decision was that of the Time Greyhound 28 A6 decider and Russmur Roddick justified favouritism when showing far superior pace to his rivals despite finding early traffic.

Banter Buzz got loose early but had no answer to Russmur Roddick when he finally got loose. Trained by Stephen Dunne for Jeremiah Murphy, Russmur Roddick flew down the back straight to take control on the inside at the third turn. From there he eased on to beat Banter Buzz by four lengths in 29.72.