SENSATIONAL WINNING DEBUT PERFORMANCE FROM CALLAWAY KNEGARE
Barry Drake
What a wonderful night of racing in Curraheen Park on Saturday night as the €10,000 to the winner Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced Stake got off to a flying start.
Heat four produced the race of the night with Callaway Knegare (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Sweet) pulling out all the stops in the closing stages to land the spoils. House Martin displayed stunning early speed to take them along up front. The well-backed 4-5 winning favourite, a November puppy, didn't enjoy the clearest of runs at the opening bend, however, he still turned second. Four lengths the margin at halfway, the Owen McKenna trained runner kept finding on the home straight and he got up in the final strides to beat House Martin, by half a length, in 28.17, winning for the Field Sports Syndicate. A top-class performance from both the front two.
Randolph Scotts (Brett Lee-Oi Oi Uplenalty) rates an exciting sort for trainer Peter Cronin and owners the Big Bus Syndicate. The September puppy tracked beautifully around the opening turns and the 5-4 joint favourite was chasing the front-running Poldarc going down the back straight in heat number five. In front before the final corner, the strong running youngster powered home, clocking sensational finishing sectionals, posting 28.29 and coming home with three and a half lengths to spare over Poldarc.
In the opening heat, Droopys Plunge (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Sweet) stormed to victory for trainer Johnny Linehan and owners Roy Ball and Trevor Pearson. Lindas Yes Baby took them along up front early, but the November-winning youngster always looked dangerous in second. The 4-9 favourite flew from halfway and the impressive winner pulled right away to win by seven lengths, in 28.42. The early pacesetter was best of the rest.
Westside Ranger (Dorotas Wildcat-Romeo Control), trained by Michael O'Donovan for Clonoulty-To-Golden Syndicate, delivered a fine performance to win in 28.65. Always in control, the even-money favourite displayed plenty of all-round speed as he beat Romeo Control, by four lengths, in 28.65.
Newinn Cloud (Newinn Session-Ballymac Cloud) took the fourth heat trainer Graham Holland and owners the MWD Partnership. The January puppy turned handy around the opening corners and he kept on best from halfway to land the spoils. A 28.77 winning run, two and a half lengths clear of Parkview Tan.
Bockos Diamond made a winning debut for trainer Graham Holland in the closing race, an A0. Trained by Graham Holland for the Remember Them Syndicate, the well-backed 1-2 favourite was in front at the opening corner and he pulled right away to win in style. A sensational 28.14 winning run.
Faypoint Maureen, trained by Graham Holland for Patricia Flanagan, took off in the opening semi-final of the Curraheen Park A1 Stake. The 5-2 shot beat Dellser Bells, by four lengths, in 28.37.
In the second heat, the improving Ballycowen Bell delivered another classy performance, winning easily for trainer Kieran Lynch and owners Vicent O'Keeffe and Jason O'Sullivan. A career-best performance in 28.47.
In the Open Sprint, Stonepark Hoffa made it two wins from as many starts when winning for trainer Michael O'Donovan and owner Michael Sean O'Dwyer. The 4-6 favourite ran out a brilliant winner, posting 17.54 and winning with plenty to spare.
Videos: Barry interviews winning connections