BOOMER SETS THE PACE IN MAIDEN DERBY
Ian Fortune
The Maiden Derby got underway at a busy Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and the four opening round heats didn’t exactly go to plan for favourite backers.
In terms of the clock, the best was left until last with Shanahee Boomer setting the standard with a 29.63 return in the final heat but there wasn’t much between each of the four winners.
BOOMER THE STANDARD SETTER
Shanahee Boomer was wearing the black jacket of four and was available at 4-1 despite a big run in his previous start at Cork. Those that followed the son of Good News and Droopys Dreamer would have been greatly encouraged by what they saw into the bend.
After a level start, he displayed fine early speed to get a full length on his nearest rival Oreo Ollie. Once going to the front it was pretty evident he was not going to be denied. Oreo Ollie gave chase throughout but could never get close enough to really threaten the pace-setter.
Trained by Kieren Lynch for the Bate The Ditch Syndicate, Shanahee Boomer claimed an eighth career success by two lengths in 29.63. Oreo Ollie was second with Lennies Dream another four lengths back in third.
ROLO MAKES HIS OWN LUCK
Heat 2 went the way of Rolo Tokyo. Trained by Damian Maginn for John Schofield, the talented son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Oi Oi Upenalty was slowly into stride but made his own luck on the turn.
Charging up the fence, he forced his way through the gap, causing many of his rivals to encounter traffic problems.
It effectively ended the hopes of the hot favourite Majical Major amongst others. It was a brave move but also a decisive one. Lennies Madge set off in chase and did close all the way to the line but Rolo Tokyo is a rapidly improving tracker with a bright future and he held on to secure a three parts of a length victory in 29.69.
KAMARIA IMPRESSES
Dolores Ruth sent out Razldazl Kamaria to emerge a wonderfully professional winner of the opening heat, showing fine trapping ability and all-round speed to make every inch.
Coloursaregreen emerged a serious threat and attempted to challenge into the third turn but Razldazl Kamaria closed the door, forcing his rivals to check his stride. From that point Razldazl Kamaria was always travelling like a winner. the talented son of Ballymac Best and Boylesportstwink would go on to strike the line three lengths clear of Coloursaregreen in 29.79.
A TASTY BRUNCH
Brunch Pal and Hackney Shorts had a good battle in Heat 3 with the former always maintaining the upper hand. the duo went up fast with Brunch Pal turning with a narrow lead.
He would increase his advantage into the third turn before staying on to secure a fine success. Trained by David Murray for Anna Murray and Michael Malone, Brunch Pal kept on rolling to the line to eventually see off his rival by two lengths in 29.84.
Shelbourne Maiden Derby
Semi-final draw
Heat 1
1 Lennies Dream
2 Shanahee Boomer
3 Canya Steve
4 Hackney Shorts
5 Oreo Ollie
6 Lennies Madge (w)
Heat 2
1 Rolo Tokyo
2 Highview Plan
3 Coloursaregreen
4 Body Mind Sprit
5 Brunch Pal
6 Razldazl Kamaria (w)
PIMPLE POPS IN DERBY TRIAL STAKE
Kereight Pimple secured his place in the Derby with a facile success in the Boylesports Derby Trial Stake.
This was over as soon as it started with the son of Broadstrand Bono and Right So Belle flashing from the outside box to dominate. With Southwood Stan edging inwards from five, causing traffic behind the pace-setter, Kereight Pimple would increase his lead to six lengths by halfway. From there Aidan Denton's talented tracker coasted home the easiest of winners, nine lengths clear of Coolavanny Ogie in 29.61.
HOFFA OVERCOMES EARLY BUMP
Grouchos Hoffa and Town Lucky came home in front in the semi-finals of the Derby Starts Soon A0 NB 550.
Grouchos Hoffa, owned by Shane and Luke O’Connell, seemed a certain pace-setter in the opening heat only to miss the start. He quickly recovered, however, showing fine speed into the bend to challenge.
Despite taking a bump, he found a way to go to the front. The Dave Bourke trained son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Senahel Trudi would proceed to make every inch thereafter to beat Annual Verse by two lengths in 30.12. Third went to Corduff Mystery, three lengths further adrift.
LUCKY TAKES HIS OPPORTUNITY
Town Lucky lived up to his name in the second heat, racing in fourth early before being left third on the turn as Harlequin Paul swung wide to hamper both Urban Flight and Magical Hope.
Harlequin Paul would turn in front but Town Lucky is very strong and was a certain scorer when left a close second.
Sean Dooley’s son of Dorotas Wildcat and Town Mouse closed into the third turn before moving through on the inside of the track. Once doing so he drove on to win by three lengths in 29.85. Urban Flight was five lengths away in third.
MASSIVE RUN FROM MEL
There was a magnificent performance from Bushpark Mel to bring the curtain down on proceedings. In what was her first start in Dublin, the daughter of Malachi and Please Blossom displayed huge ability to see off a top-class line-up.
Cheque For Cash led the field around the turn but the Graham Holland trained Bushpark Mel was to prove too hot to handle. Despite going up in fourth, she found a way. Taking a step to her right on the bend, as though she sensed Badly Behaving and Westway Rossa were about to clash, she moved second between the opening two corners.
Cheque For Cash was in front but Bushpark Mel was now on a charge. Showing superb pace to the third turn, the lightly raced bitch joined and headed Cheque For Cash into the third turn. It was a decisive move. Pulling away, Bushpark Mel would emerge a tremendous winner by three and a half lengths in 29.66. Cheque For Cash was second with Coosane Pickles running well on her comeback in third, just a half length further down.
CHICAGO SHOWS DASH
Old Chicago produced a fine run from the front to win the penultimate race on the card for Reggie Roberts.
A son of Droopys Sydney and Zola Princess, he simply outpaced his rivals into the bend to dominate in a three lengths success over the dead-heating pair of Radical Harry and Droichead Nua in 28.72.
MIROCHIP BOOSTS PERFORMANCE
Mary Clarke's Microchip produced a career best display to set the standard in the semi-finals of the Boylesports Back Again A2 525.
Showing fine early zip, the son of Droopys Sydney and Clona Skye quickly went to the front and dominated throughout to comfortably see off Innfield Willow by two and a half lengths in a quick 28.67.
TURTLE TOPEDOS HOME
A return to Shelbourne saw a return to winning ways for the Big Boohaw Syndicate owned Torpedo Turtle in the opener.
The Jack Kennelly trained son of Ballymac Vic and Ballymac Minton was off the pace for much of the way but ran on well to chin the long-time pace-setter Tommys Buck in the final strides. the pair were separated by a head in 28.92.