A WET NIGHT AT SHELBOURNE PARK
Ian Fortune
It was a wet and pretty miserable evening to start with at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night but race by race, things started to heat up with some decent displays on the eleven-race card with perhaps the most notable coming from Sogna In Grande.
Sogna In Grande made light work of his assignment in the fifth race, an open 550. The Jack Kennelly trained son of Laughil Blake and Fast Hurling resembled his sire in the early yards, showing big early speed to race clear of his rivals to the bend. It was all one-way traffic thereafter. Owned by the Swedish House Party Syndicate, Sogna In Grande raced on to a comfortable five length victory over Laughil Rocky in 29.96 (.30 slow).
TWOINAROW BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Twoinarow was amongst the favourites for Derby glory in early 2022 only to have training problems.
He returned to winning ways in the sixth race, however, leading early to see off a decent field.
Romeo Atomic broke fastest but couldn’t contain Twoinarow into the turn, which was to prove decisive. Trained by John Kiely for the El Moro Syndicate, Twoinarow kept his rivals at arm’s length throughout to eventually cross the line two lengths clear of Romeo Atomic in 30.22 (.30 slow).
ITS FIRE TIME
In terms of the actual clock in the infield, no dog went faster for the 525yds trip than Fire Time. Running in the best of the conditions, the Ian Reilly trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Kingdom Daisy shot from traps to make every inch.
Glideaway Spiral gave chase from the outset but could never get back on terms, leaving Brendan Keogh and Simon Senyk’s Fire Time to finish fast for a five length victory in 28.63.
MASTERS DOMINATES IN FINALE
There were a couple of withdrawals from the final race, leaving Callaway Masters extra room to get loose at the head of affairs.
Trained by Owen McKenna for Denis Murphy, the son of Droopys Sydney and Callaway Razl flashed from three, got to the fence and repelled the persistent challenge of Bulletfromagun to emerge a length and a half winner in 30.10 (.40 slow).
A LOTTO WINNER
Lotto Other News has been in fine form in recent weeks for his owners the Lotto Express Syndicate and he took a notable scalp in the eighth race when holding Droopys Got It throughout.
Going up strongly along the fence, Lotto Other News was always in the driving seat. Droopys Got It chased him hard down the back styraight but could never get back on terms. Instead, Docktechnik Diva flew home to grab second on the line. The Shaun Conway trained Lotto Other News went on to score by a length in 28.92 (.40 slow).
HERO HOLDS ON
There was a remarkable finish to the penultimate race over 550yds with Glenview Star throwing away a clear advantage when tying up quite badly.
That allowed Savana Hero (Droopy Sydney/ Follys View) join him into the third turn before he too had to dig deep to hold the advancing pack.
Savana Hero, owned by Brendan Matthews and Kevin Boothby, was all out to the line but he held off the fast-finishing Sunshine Dream by a half length in 30.52 (.40 slow).
UNLOCK WINS 2023 DEBUT
Brendan Matthews had earlier initiated a fine double with Press Unlock getting up the final strides to claim a third career success in 29.16 (.30 slow).
In what was her first start of 2023, the well bred daughter of Pestana and Unlock Unlock was kept wide throughout and didn’t strike the front until the final yards.
Very little separated the entire field at the line with Press Unlock coming through for a half length verdict over Tarsna Fern with Sunning Dale just a neck further back in third.
MYSTERY IMPRESSES
A.G. Harvey’s Ower Mystery (Droopys Sydney/ Nice Mystery) claimed a fifth career victory in the seventh race, outgunning Droopys Trouper to emerge a good winner.
The latter set the pace into the turn but Ower Mystery was soon in chase.
Displaying fine pace to the third turn, the Pat Buckley trained Ower Mystery took over at the head of affairs before going on to clock 28.95 (.40 slow). Newinn Port came out of the pack, catching the eye, to grab second some two and a half lengths adrift.
LOUGH MAKES ALL
Lough Mistoki got loose at the head of affairs in the fourth race, the Tommy Sneyd Memorial.
Once doing so, the son of Droopys Buick and Pipette was always going to be hard to pass. Jack Molloy’s star was pursued throughout by Goldirocks Magic but he dug in at the head of affairs to emerge a length and a half scorer in 29.11.
MILKYBAR KID SETS TONE
Milkybar Kid certainly didn’t mind the conditions in the opening race, getting to the front early to see off the always second Innfield Lucky.
Michael Wall’s Milkybar Kid galloped right to the line to post a very useful 28.65 in the conditions, seeing off his pursuer by three lengths. Incidentally, the track wasn’t rated on the slow side at this point of proceedings but Milkybar Kid does seem good for a few lengths faster.
TRACKER IN A TIGHT FINISH
The ninth race was the tightest on the card despite only four going to traps and John and Michael Byrne’s Tracker Jack finally got the better of Coonough Gregg on the run in.
Prominent throughout, the Thomas Buggy trained son of Skywalker Canny and Skywalker Rossa just saw off his rival by a short head in 29.64.