BOCKOS CRYSTAL AND SCOOBY DUCHESS SCORE IN SHELLEY FENNELLY MEMORIAL SEMI FINALS

Barry Drake

Saturday night's racing at Curraheen Park produced a number of sensational performances.

A recent second in the final of the Denis Linehan Solicitors unraced stake, Bockos Crystal (Droopys Sydney-Vigorous Hilary) went quickest in the semi-finals of the Shelley Fennelly Memorial open bitch stake.

A huge eye-catcher in defeat last week, the August puppy was sent off the 5-4 favourite. After producing a great start to lead, Ballymac Art then came alongside from a horror draw out in trap six.

It was nip and tuck down the back straight, however the winner had the advantage of the inside and the improving puppy then showed big finishing speed to pull away and land the spoils for trainer Graham Holland and owner Beverley Lochead. Ballymac Art ran a huge race in second, three lengths back with a further neck back to Ballymac Run in third place.

Second in the final of the Irish Oaks, Scooby Duchess (Droopys Sydney-Whitings Gift) took the opening heat for trainer Jennifer O'Donnell and owner Steve Noble.

The 5-4 market leader was third best early doors as Burgess Josie set a strong early pace from Ballymac Snazzy. Showing massive back straight pace, Scooby Duchess made full use of the gap along the inside as she took up the running between the final corners. Strongest late on, she pulled away to score by four and a half lengths from Burgess Josie with a length and a half back to the running on Bockos Melody in third. The time was a lively 28.34.

DRAWN FOR FINAL OF THE SHELLEY FENNELLY MEMORIAL

1 BALLYMAC RUN

2 BALLYMAC ART

3 BURGESS JOSIE

4 BOCKOS MELODY

5 BOCKOS CRYSTAL 

6 SCOOBY DUCHESS

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TREBLE FOR CHAMPION TRAINER GRAHAM HOLLAND

Champion trainer Graham Holland enjoyed a treble on the night.

A one-time favourite for the English Greyhound Derby, Part Blake beat a top-class field of runners in race three, an AA0. In the ownership of Mary O'Connor and Una Creed, the 3-1 shot flashed from traps to win the all-important early lead. From there, it was all one-way traffic as Part Blake went on to clock a magnificent 28.05. Crokers Spirit was seven lengths back in second.

Holland completed a treble after the success of the David Firmager owned Romeo Command in the closing race, an A1 550. Making the most of the drop-in class, the January puppy, a 5-4 favourite, found himself in front early and showing massive gears throughout, the exciting young talent went on to clock a really smart 29.41. Lasair Mo Chroi was six and a half lengths back in second.

GALLOPING KENNELS & CORK GOBA A2 STAKE

The Galloping Kennels & Cork GOBA A2 stake also got underway.

Broadstrand Ray laid down a serious marker in the opening heat. Trained by John Linehan for the Ryan-Drake-Donovan-Syndicate, the even-money favourite impressed with a fine 28.58 winning performance.

Ballymurphy Damo overcame a wide draw to win the second heat for Darren Murphy. Such a consistent performer around course and distance, the 7-2 shot pulled out all the stops in the closing stages to score, in 28.88.

In the third and final heat, Great Approach scored for the Feelgood Racing Syndicate. Following up on a smart Thurles victory last time out, the 2-1 winner delivered another likeable performance to win, in 29.03.

IN OTHER RACES

The €500 final of the Sean O'Leary Memorial A5 stake went the way of Granard Coco for Sophia and Nicole O'Flaherty.

Showing much improved form in recent outings, the November puppy was quickest away and the 5-4 favourite dominated from start to finish. A lovely run to beat Modern Bluffer, by two lengths, in 28.90.

One other performance of note, Drunken Dreams took a big step forward in the S4/S5 sprint, after winning his previous two races in moderate times, the August puppy went on to clock a brilliant 17.68 for trainer Jerry O'Sullivan and owners the Drunken-Dreams-Syndicate. A four and a half-length success for the improving youngster.