KING MAKES IT FIVE STRAIGHT IN CHAMPION 550

Ian Fortune

The semi finals of the Shelbourne Champion 550 were the highlight of a thoroughly entertaining card at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

Silverhill Adam and Carmac King took their respective heats to earn a place in the decider but others to take headlines on the night included handlers Owen McKenna and Peter Cronin. McKenna was on fire, sending out our tremendous winners, while Cronin recorded a hat trick.

KING GOES FASTEST AS HE LEAVES RIVALS STANDING

Silverhill Adam impressed in the opening semi final of the Shelbourne Champion 550 as he lost his tag as one of the fastest maidens in training, although Carmac King went even faster in the second heat, making it five wins on the spin.

It was no surprise to see Carmac King sent to traps a warm favourite and those taking the even money available at the off had little to be concerned about. Timmy Carmody’s professional son of Droopys Sydney and Peters Queen was imperious.

Showing superior early speed to his rivals, he was clear by the turn and continued to pile on the pressure throughout. Swords Hero slipped around in second and Syd Zafiro third but neither could make an impression. Carmac King went on to complete the Owen McKenna four-timer with a magnificent eight length victory over Swords Hero in 29.66. Syd Zafiro was third, a further length adrift.

Certainly, looking at the times in the second half of the night, there is an argument to make that the track was getting slower as the evening went on. There is an argument to be made that this could have been a 29.40 run or better on a different night.

ADAM LOSES MAIDEN TAG

Silverhill Adam had to work harder in the opening heat but effectively won in trap to line fashion for Graham Holland and Eugene Buckley. This was a succss that has been coming for some time. Normally very strong from the second turn, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Silverhill Joyce finally found himself in front after a slick exit from the inside box.

Maireads Prince moved past Prince Naseem down the back straight to give chase and looked a big threat around the last two bends but Silverhill Adam was in no mood to let his opportunity slip. Staying on stoutly, he held off his rival by a half length in 29.81. the hot favourite Carrick Keano missed the start and had little room to maneouvre in the early yards but stayed on well to take third, a further two and a half lengths adrift.

Undercard

BUBBLES INITIATES MCKENNA TREBLE

Owen McKenna was the man of the hour, however. Not only did Carmac King impress in the Champion 550, but he recorded a superb four-timer on the card, while also reaching a huge milestone as a trainer. His night began with former Puppy Oaks winner Lets Go Bubbles running out a superb winner of the A1 fifth race.

Breaking on terms from a wide draw, Peter Comerford’s star displayed superb early speed to take over from Droopys Ailsa into the turn. As she cut the corner to turn in front, it was clearly evident she was on her way to a superb victory.

The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx was merciless thereafter. Keeping up a powerful gallop to the line, she would eventually win by six lengths from Droopys Ailsa in 28.36.

ANNIKA WITH THE BIRDIE

Callaway Annika was the second winner on the card for McKenna and a very notable one at that. Denis Murphy’s bitch broke fastest from two but had to force her way to the front on the corner from the challenging Bereta Reba.

Once going back to the front, the strong running Callaway Annika always seemed to have matters in hand although Bereta Reba did push her hard. In the end, Callaway Annika struck the line two and a half lengths to the good in 28.73.

BELLA MAKES IT THREE FOR OWEN

Darren Byrnes’ Tell On Bella is certainly bred to be a star and she displayed many qualities that could see her reach the very top of her profession in the future when winning the ninth race. In doing so, she gave Owen McKenna his third winner on the card, although she did have to work hard for victory.

The famously plucky Chelsea Pat got off the front after a flying start but Tell On Bella was soon in chase. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and former Oaks champion Ballymac Beanie charged down the back straight to join and head Chelsea Pat soon after halfway. It was the decisive moment in the contest. Increasing her lead to the third turn she was in command by the time they swung for home and she went on to land the spoils by four lengths over Chelsea Pat in 28.76.

AZURITE SETS UP HAT TRICK FOR PETER

Owen McKenna didn’t take all the headlines as Peter Cronin also had a big night, sending out no fewer than three winners with Azurite kicking off proceedings in the sixth race over 575yds. The powerful daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballybrack Gem was always to the fore after a slick exit from three and she started to gain real control into the back straight.

Her task was aided when Ballymac Marcia took a tumble entering the back but Azurite was never going to be picked up. Sean Comerford’s talented bitch eased on to see off Stripe Sparky by four lengths in 31.21.

BOB TOO GOOD

Rapido Bob improved on his previous form to win the A2 third race in some style for Peter Cronin and Margaret Walsh. This was over as a contest from the opening turn with Rapido Bob taking charge along the fence.

From there the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Ballintee Annie increased his advantage with each stride eventually coming home a ready five and a half length scorer over Brayview Jet in a quick 28.58.

JUNIOR HANDS PETER A TRINITY OF WINNERS

2023 Champion Stakes winner and English Derby bound Trinity Junior completed the Cronin treble in the finale over 550yds, justifying odds-on favouritism with a typically professional effort. Tim Sevin’s hugely talented son of Laughil Blake and Oi Oi Upenalty quickly moved to the front and always had his only serious threat at arm’s length.

Annagh Bailey id all he could to bridge the gap but Trinity Junior always seems to know when he is under pressure and calls on a little more. Once again his engine responded and he stayed on to beat Annagh Bailey by a length in 29.96.

HIGHVIEW MAKES A SPLASH

Highview Splash benefited from a slight ease in grade in the fourth race, coming home clear in 28.25 as he returned to something like his very best for Gerry and Dolores Merriman. The hugely talented son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Abbey was sent off the 4-5 favourite and odds-on backers never had a moment’s concern.

Breaking well from trap three, Highview Splash got the better of Bonkersinyonkers into the turn before going on to post a stunning 15.82 to the third turn. Maintaining a strong gallop, the flying brindle emerged a four and a half length winner over the always second Bonkersinyonkers in a sizzling 28.25.

MOLLY BACK TO WINNING WAYS

After an encouraging run in defeat seven days earlier, Bill Mulholland’s Rathdown Molly (Droopys Sydney/ Some Ginger) continued her comeback with a narrow victory in the eighth race. The Marie Gilbert trained starlet was headed into the corner by Scooby The Jet but ran a remarkable opening bend to take over as they hit the back straight.

She proceeded to ease on by a few lengths but was all out in the run in. It’s clear she is still short of a run or two ahead of a crack at the Oaks but Rathdown Molly is nothing if not game and she dug into take the verdict by a half length from the rallying Scooby The Jet in 28.87.

RILEIGH ARRIVES LATE AND FAST

James Kerr’s Fleadh Rileigh took the second race, coming home with a real flourish to lead on the run in. Only fifth into the bend, the daughter of Ballymac Best and Fleadh Ramona was left third between the opening two bends and quickly set her sights on the leaders.

Closing all the way, she made her move on the wide outside on the run in to pick up long-time pace-setter Stuie Griffin for a two length victory in 28.98.

BELLE WINS AN EVENTFUL OPENER

The opener was quite a spectacle with a couple of dogs later marked ‘awkward’. There were a couple of leaders but in the end, the race fell into the lap of big finisher Kilcolgan Belle as she came through to hand Neilus O’Connell and Karen Geoghegan another winner at Shelbourne in recent times.

The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Razldazl Annie was last in the early stages but led on the run in for a length verdict over Fleadh Saorla in 29.19.