GROUCHO STARS AS PROSPECTS SHINE AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

It may be too late for this year’s Derby but there seems little doubt that many of those in action in the opening round of the RCETS Open Unraced at Shelbourne Park on Thursday night will be future classic contenders.

There were a number of superb displays but headlines went to Grouchos Duke as he backed up a stunning qualifying trial to record a brilliant 28.23 on debut, while Robert Gleeson also sent out a couple of note-worthy runners as he recorded a fine double. 

GROUCHO LOOK A STAR

The John Byrne trained Grouchos Duke was the biggest draw after a 28.25 qualifying trial and he duly lived up to the hype although he was kept honest by the eye-catching Lemon Mundy.

Grouchos Duke, owned by the Paddy Last Syndicate, shot from trap two and was in command from the outset.

Despite mistiming the start, Lemon Mudny flew into second by the turn and gave chase throughout. The pair duly pulled further and further clear of their counterparts with Grouchos Duke eventually running out a three length winner in 28.23. the pair were some nine and half lengths clear of Noelles Baboo.

The winner, a son of Grangeview Ten and Mystical Luna, won’t be two until December and is clearly one to keep an eye on going forward. The same can be said for the runner up. It was fitting for a dog named Mundy that he was to debut in July!

TICO GOES FAST TO COMPLETE GLEESON DOUBLE

Droopys Tico looked a potential star in the second heat when completing the superb double for Robert Gleeson.

Dorothys Shoes flashed from trap two to dictate the pace into the turn but Droopys Tico displayed fine pace after a moderate exit to sit on the leader’s heels at the turn.

The son of Burgess Bucks and Droopys Berry powered his way to the front into the third turn before easing on to score by two lengths in 28.36. It was a superb run from Michael Dunphy’s charge, while Dororthys Shoes also displayed real promise in second.

MANDOLIN PLAYS RIGHT TUNE

Droopys Mandolin made a wonderful start to her career in the opening heat, initiating the Robert

Gleeson double.

A daughter of Laughil Blake and the brilliant Droopys Curio, she wasn’t fastest into

stride but flew into the turn to take over from the fast starting Leeloo.

Once going to the front, the youngster was always in charge. Owned jointly by Alan and Pat Dobbs,

Droopys Mandolin came back to her rivals in the closing yards but held off the eye-catching Toast Of

Clare by three parts of a length in 28.66. Leeloo also stayed on well in third, just a length and a half

further back.

SLICK ZAC

Tom and Pat O’Connor unleashed a prospect in Heat 3 with Saleen Zac coming home in front after

taking up the running on the turn.

The son of Airmount Nando and Hunters Sophia displayed fine

early speed up the fence and, once going to the front, was always travelling like a winner. The July

’21 whelp emerged a comfortable three length winner over Droopy Kamari in 28.82. 

CALLOSA SHOWS REAL DASH

Marina McKeown’s Marinas Callosa displayed all sorts of early speed to win the fourth race, albeit he had to dig deep to hold the late charge of Miss Mini Holly.

Marinas Callosa actually missed the start but quickly moved through the gears, flying into the turn to shoot around the pack.

The son of Good News and Blueview Carrie continued to pile on the pressure to halfway, building a clear advantage. Miss Mini Holly began to close off the final turn but the Kurtis Bain trained Marinas Callosa kept digging to contain his rival by a short head in 28.87. It’s safe to suggest there is more to come from both the winner and runner-up.

MBAPPE STRIKES

There was so much to like about the manner in which Mbappe took the final heat.

The son of Droopys Sydney and Limini is bred to be fast as a half brother to 2021 Derby third Jackslittlething and h certainly displayed plenty of pace to win for Brendan Matthews and Paul Hanlon.

A close third to the turn, he was forced wide at this point and found himself with work to do off the second turn as Tonelagee set a strong pace out front. Mbappe was again carried wide early in the back straight but it didn’t faze him.

Showing fine pace into the third turn, he moved second and began to bridge the gap pretty quickly. Powering home, he got the better of his rival before the 525yds boxes and ran on strongly to win by three lengths in 28.79. Tonelagee was second with Sawdust Storm also showing plenty of pace to finish just a half length adrift in third. The winner looks destined to absolutely relish a step up to 550yds and he is certainly one to keep on side.