BEACH SIZZLES AS FESTIVAL DELIGHTS AT KILKENNY
Ian Fortune
There was a big crowd at Kilkenny on Sunday night as the second annual John Mitchell Bookmaker & KGOBA Festival took place.
Many were expecting the Derby champion Born Warrior to be the star turn but sadly things didn’t go right for the brilliant tracker. Instead, the headlines went to his younger kennel companion Seven Beach as he produced a spectacular run to win the final John Mitchell Bookmaker & KGOBA A2 525.
The son of Pestana had shown plenty of promise in the early rounds of the Champion Unraced but this was a career best effort as he posted the third fastest time ever record for the standard trip at Kilkenny.
Going up with real urgency, he posted a 4.14 sectional on his way to a trap to line success. The Jennifer O’Donnell trained star emerged a three-length winner over De Black Swallow in a stunning 28.51. At his current rate of progression, he could develop into a real star for his owners, the Beach Boys Syndicate, and is one to keep onside.
BONKERS AND EDDIE GIVE MURT A DOUBLE
As stated, Born Warrior failed to justify odds-on favouritism in the Open 525, badly missing the start and finding traffic.
Instead, the Murt Leahy trained Bonkersinyonkers got loose to emerge an impressive four and a half length winner over Burgess Bolger in 28.66.
Droopys Eddie earlier initiated a double for Murt Leahy, coming home clear in the final of the John Mitchell Bookmaker & KGOBA ON2 525. Never far off the pace, the promising son of King Sheeran came through to beat Glory Bound by a length in 28.82.
A DOUBLE FOR KAROL
Karol Ramsbottom also recorded a double, winning with Doggie Brasco and Kapuka Warrior.
The former took the A4 final, staying on best of all after a slow start to beat Knocknadoguebale by three lengths in 28.94.
Kapuka Warrior followed up his superb semi-final success in the final of the A1 525 to lead home his kennel companion Deadly Crusader. Taking up the running at the second turn, the son of Good News emerged a length and a half winner in 28.71.
MILO DIGS DEEP
The most valuable final up for decision was that of the John Mitchell Bookmaker & KGOBA A3 525 and Lemon Milo dug deep to contain Seek The Kingdom for a neck verdict in 28.86.
Lemon Milo missed the start but displayed fine pace and track craft to improve his position before taking over on the second turn. Seek The Kingdom came at him but he held on to stop the clock in 28.86.
RISE RUNS OUT A READY WINNER
The last of the finals went the way of Arrigle Rise as he came home in front for James Frisby and |Ger Kirwan.
A member of the talented Good News/ Early Rise litter, he was a close fourth into the back straight before taking up the running on the third turn. From there he raced right away to end the night in style, seeing off Graigues Bubbly by six and a half lengths in 28.83.
BELLA FASTEST OF THE STAYERS
The three remaining races on the card were all over the 725yd trip.
The promising Razldazl Amaze took the opener for Dolores Ruth, seeing of Carrigeen Wren by a length and a half in 40.83. Rathcool Len was a comfortable winner of the Novice 725, emerging a six length winner in 41.05, while it was no surprise that Jacktavern Bella went faster when coming home clear in the Open 725. She led early and went on to a comfortable five and a half length victory over McNeill in 40.77.