PLENTY OF TOP CLASS PERFORMANCES AT CURRAHEEN PARK
Barry Drake
Saturday night's racing at Curraheen Park produced plenty of top-class performances as a huge crowd came out to support Fr O'Neill's GAA Club who held a very successful fundraiser.
In the semi-finals of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Unraed Stake, it was Callaway Knegare (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Sweet) who went quickest when winning for trainer Owen McKenna and owners the Field Sports Syndicate. The November youngster, a 5-2 shot, drove a great opening corner to slip around in front and from there, it was all one-way traffic up front. A 28.25 winning run, eight lengths clear of Timmys Bucks who was back in second.
It was a great night for team Owen McKenna as Evolution (Ballymac Cashout-Ballymac Cams) left previous form well behind when winning for the Whos That Guy Syndicate. The October youngster produced a quick start and the 5-1 shot slipped around in front. A smart 28.40 winning run, two and a half lengths clear of Romeo Control.
Once again, the Graham Holland-trained Bockos Diamond (Dorotas Wildcat-Seaglass Shadow) went under the magical 28-second barrier when delivering a stunning performance in the closing race for owners the Remember-Them-Syndicate. The 4-6 favourite, a September youngster, flew into the opening corner to lead, leaving good rivals well behind going down the back, he came home alone, in a sensational, 27.97. Nine and a half lengths back to Untold Dollar in second place.
In the other semi-final, Broadstrand Syd (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Alice) put on another magical display when winning for trainer Johnny Linehan and owners the Ryan Drake Donovan Syndicate. The 1-4 favourite took a bump early as the August youngster was looking for the rails pitch. Soon in front, he shot clear in a matter of strides and the big early pacer delivered another huge run. A 28.24 winning performance, four and a half lengths clear of Blastoff Rex.
In the opening round of the Shelley Fennelly Memorial Open Bitch Stake, Clonmore Alice (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Alice) impressed with a superb 28.28 run in the opening heat. In the ownership of Cian and Breda Moloney, the 5-2 winner was always in control as she beat Footfield Violet, by five and a half lengths, in 28.28.
In the following heat, Orchid Queen (Droopys Sydney-Cicero) put on a powerful finish to land the spoils for Nathan Moloney, in 28.22. The 3-1 shot flew home to beat the early leader Abbeyside Spice, by four lengths, in 28.22.
In the third and final heat, Bredas Wood (Laughil Blake-Leamaneigh Breda) returned to top form when winning for Pat Carey. Once the 6-4 shot led early, it was game over. Strong in front, she beat Ballycowen Bell, by seven and a half lengths, in 28.28.
In the second, Shanahee Boomer took a big step forward when winning for trainer Kieran Lynch and the Bate The Ditch Syndicate. The even-money favourite, a September youngster, made it two wins from just three career starts when proving a class apart in the A2 contest, clocking 28.49.