LUCK SETS THE PACE AT NEWBRIDGE

Ian Fortune

Ballyhimikinluck set the standard in the opening round of the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525 at Newbridge on Friday night, making the best of her way home in the final heat for John and Noreen Dunne.

There were many fine runs and plenty caught the eye in defeat but it was the aforementioned Ballyhimikinluck that took the headlines as she led from the drop of the hat to clock a quick 28.70.

The daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet and Slaneyside Poppy opened a near four length lead to halfway before coasting home a comfortable length and a half scorer over the fast finishing Lightfoot Dawn with Roanna Butts staying on a further three lengths adrift.

SUNSHINE LOOKS HOT

Next fastest was Sunshine Zoe in the opening heat as she overcame second bend crowding to reel in the early paced Sizzling Flame.

Ollie Bray’s Sunshine Zoe broke fastest and led early but was headed into the turn by Sizzling Flame only to be forced to check at the second turn.

The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Silver Penny quickly recovered, motoring into the third turn before switching wide to hit the front early in the home straight. Staying on with real purpose, the June ’21 whelp ran out a very promising length and a half scorer over Sizzling Flame in 28.91. Burgess Anne also stayed on well to be beaten just a short head into third.

COCO POPS OUT

Boylesports Coco (Droopys Sydney/ Barn Swallow) was sharpest in Heat 2 for Dolores Ruth and John Boyle.

Breaking fastest, she made every inch to contain the persistent challenge of Lets Go Bubbles by a length and a half in 28.95.

RACHEL GETS LOOSE

An early advantage was also enough for Ballymac Rachel to secure victory in Heat 3.

Ray Stafford’s daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Scala built a three length lead to halfway but was all out to hold the late finish of Good Lilly by a half length in 29.12. Burgess Orlaith was just a length away in third.

GOOD ECLIPSES RIVALS

John Kennedy’s Good Eclipse emerged on top in Heat 4 although there was nothing easy about her victory.

The daughter of Good News and Mysterious Lola walked from trap one and quickly moved very wide before going around the pack as they bunched up on the opening bends.

It was a tremendous and decisive maneouvre. Once going to the front early in the back straight, she stayed on to beat Dapper Dolly and Skillset by three and a half lengths and two lengths in 29.32.