ALL ABOUT BOCKOS BUDSIT IN THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS FINAL

Barry Drake

It was all about BOCKOS BUDSIT (Laughil Blake-Matts Monica) in the final of the €15,000 to the Callaway Rambler @ Stud Race Of Champions in Tralee on Friday night.

In what looked like a wide open affair on paper, the 9-2 winner turned it into a one dog event as he exploded from traps to make all the running in fantastic style. Trained by Graham Holland for owner Beverley Lochead, Buckos Budsit had caught the eye behind Explosive Boy in the opening round when only going down by a short head. 

ENOUGH EARLY PACE

Quickest into the stride, the winner just had enough early pace to lead around from trap five.

It was Skywalker Barry who turned second and in truth the favourites Explosive Boy and Susie Sapphire never looked like winning after poor starts. Buckos Budsit took off heading down the back straight and in truth, he put the final to bed in a couple of strides. Delivering a superb performance, the most impressive winner came home with four lengths to spare over his nearest rival, in a top class, 29.43. Good Cody had a horrible draw in trap six, but he ran a cracker for second place with just three quarters of a length back to Explosive Boy in third place.

SYDNEY CATCHES THE EYE

Killahan Sydney (Droopys Sydney-Pennylane Lucky) really caught the eye in an earlier race as the Pat Buckley trained runner landed the fourth of the night, an S2-S3.

The firms made a major mistake when putting this one in at 5-1, that price didn't last long and the Kenny Glen owned runner was sent off the 7-4 second favourite. Showing bundles of pace to run down Murphys Buick, the September puppy scored in 17.44, a length and a half clear of the early leader Murphys Buick.

IN OTHER FEATURE RACES

Frompostopillar was a notable non-runner in the final of the €1,150 K.G.S.S.C Unraced Stake and that opened the door for Saleen Lisa (Laughil Blake-Coolavanny Chloe). Trained by Patrick O'Connor for owner Christina O'Connor, the October puppy hit the front between the final corners and the 7-1 outsider went on to land the spoils, in 28.71. The fast finishing Ballymac Bailey just a length and a half back in second.

In race eight, the open 525, it was Misty Opinion (Droopys Sydney-Misty Survivor) who took gold for John Houlihan at odds of 5-1. It looked like a drop in class for the 5-1 shot and the strong running winner made no mistake. Strongest in the closing stages, he went on to post a very decent 28.52, a length and a half clear of Outbreak Annie.

Shancol Rose (Eden The Kid-Knocknaboul Rose) ran out a wide margin winner of the €800 Dominic Sheehy Memorial A6 Stakes. Trained by Ray Fleming for owners Charles and PJ Sugrue, the 5-4 favourite powered home to land the spoils in 29.12.