BONNYLAD AND DOLLY STAR AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
Those that flocked through the stiles at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night were treated to some exceptional racing with two major finals up for decision.
Both the RPGTV Puppy Oaks and Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 525 provided a great finish with the honours going to two very talented trackers, Whyaye Bonnylad and Singalong Dolly.
BONNYLAD TOO SHARP
Whyaye Bonnylad certainly saved his best for the night that mattered in the Paddy Merriman Memorial, showing electric speed at traps to dictate throughout to land the €10,000 prize.
Mustang Fever bettered Point Of Rescue into the turn to move second and she set her sights on the pace-setter.
The race was now on. Whyaye Bonnylad continued to set a strong galop down the far side but he was under severe pressure to the third turn as his pursuer began to close. Arriving at the wrong time, Mustang Fever was forced to check her stride slightly, again handing the initiative to the leader.
Trained by Robert Gleeson or Martin Langley, Whyaye Bonnylad realy did have the bit between his teeth and, despite the renewed challenge of Mustang Fever off the final bend, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Drumalee Premier dug in to emerge a length scorer in a fast 28.37. Point Of Rescue raced in third throughout, eventually finishing three and a half lengths further adrift.
Dolores Merriman presents the trpogy to Martin Langley after Whyaya Bonnylad won the Paddy Merrimen Memorial A1 525 at Shelbourne Park. Also included are sponsor Gerry Merriman, trainer Robert Gleeson, Martin Broughan, Tom Troy, Mary Loughlin, Liz Hanley, Bredde Bonneli, Ian Waterworth, Owen Dooley, Stevin and Ty Caile. Pic: Imelda Grauer
DOLLY DIGS IN TO SEE OFF RUSHY
There was an even closer finish to the RPGTV Puppy Oaks with Singalong Dolly justifying plenty of market support to eventually get the better of the rank outsider Rushy Meadows.
This quickly turned into a two-dog affair with many of the others fluffing their lines.
Certainly, the favourite Scooby Countess and her main market rival Short Grip were quickly in catch-up mode. Scooby Countess missed the start on the inside of the track, while Short Grip was broadsided by Droopys Edel as she dived inwards from five. Lincoln Legacy needed to lead and she was never going to be a player when mistiming the start.
In contrast, Rushy Meadows and Gilbert Anderson’s Singalong Dolly were soon disputing the lead with the former making the most her inside line to turn in front. It was now a straight shootout between the pair.
Rushy Meadows held her rivals into the third turn and seemed to be in pole position but she made the fatal mistake of leaving a gap along the fence. In a matter of strides, Singalong Dolly was through the gap.
She entered the straight with a half length in hand but had to keep right up to her work as Rushy Meadows began to rally. In a tremendous finish, the Pat Buckley trained Singalong Dolly dup very deep to contain her rival by a neck. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Mydras Dawn stopped the clock in 28.44 to emerge a tremendous winner. Short Grip was four lengths further adrift in third.
Ian Fortune presents the trophy to Gilbert Anderson after Singalong Dolly won the RPGTV Puppy Oaks 525 Final at Shelbourne Park. Also included are Vennie Drennan, James Condon, trainer Pat Buckley, Michael Moloney, Ann Shannon GRI and Conor Matthews Racing Support Officer Shelbourne Park. Pic: Imelda Grauer
ORLANDO SIMPLY TOO GOOD
Crafty Orlando was at his very best in the final of the Sporting Press A1 525, taking the €2,000 prize by a wide margin.
Ballygur Orla flashed from traps to dictate the pace into the turn but she was always under pressure once Shane Divilly’s Crafty Orlando turned second.
Despite running a little wide on the bend, the son of Skywalker Canny and Dower Bud was simply too close at the second turn where he engaged the turbo. Showing massive back straight pace, Crafty Orlando struck the front into the third turn before cruising home five lengths clear of Leahs Turn in a fast 28.47.
SPLASH MAKES WAVES
Highview Splash is already amongst Ireland’s fastest.
That is not in doubt but he certainly confirmed that view in the penultimate race when running away from a decent line-up to clock a fastest of the night 28.14 in the cold conditions.
Making a good start from the inside box, Dolores Merriman’s son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Abbey was prominent into the turn before forcing his way to the front. It was all one-way traffic thereafter. The Gerry Merriman trained tar eased right away to emerge a facile seven length scorer over Lotto Other News.
DUKE JUSTIFIES ODDS-ON FAVOURITISM
Another potential star won the finale with Thomas O’Keeffe’s Daleroad Duke comfortably justifying odds-on favouritism.
The Pat Guilfoyle trained son of Good News and Burgess Sarah broke smartly and in front after a matter of strides.
Seven Beach went up fast on the outside of the track to turn second and pressed the leader into the third turn, where he seemed to stumble. Daleroad Duke was now clear and he went on to secure a superb three length victory over Ballymac Finn in a rapid 28.29.
SIMON SAYS WIN
The sixth race on the card over 550yds was a hugely competitive affair with Simons Cap showing great pace, strength and determination to lead in the final stride for Des and Marie Gilbert.
Ballymac Vida seemed a likely scorer when turning in front but she could never quite shake off those in pursuit, of which Simons Cap was one.
Scooby Pacemaker attempted to get up the inside of Simons Cap to move second at the third turn but the latter wasn’t having it and that allowed him get first crack at the leader. Ballymac Vida continued to gallop on strongly but Simons Cap has impressed over 575yds in the past and may stay even further.
The son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Girl really put his head down on the run in to get to the leader on the line for a very deserving half-length success in 29.90. Clona Curly also ran on strongly to finish just a half length back in third.
KING HANDS MARIE A DOUBLE
Marie Gilbert didn’t have to wait too long to complete a fine double with Ballynew King in the eighth race.
Owned jointly by Pat Flanagan and Stuart Kenny, the son of Premier Fantasy and Oakview Brae razor sharp in the opening yards, hitting the ground racing from trap two to dictate from the outset.
Coonough Mary turned on the heels of Ballynew King but couldn’t live with him down the back straight. Ballynew King increased his advantage to the third turn to lead by over three lengths, although Coonough Mary, in her first start for some time, came again. However, Ballynew King was in no humour to surrender his lead and he dug in to score by a length in 28.60.
A LOTTO WINNER
Shaun Conway has had his string purring for some time and Lotto Six One emerged another tremendous winner for the young Kildare based handler.
The talented son of Good News and Shes Made It loves the long run to the bend over 575yds and he quickly asserted.
It was up to Glenlara Blue to give pursuit but he was never getting to the pace-setter. Lotto Six One maintained a powerful gallop to the line to emerge a two and a half length scorer in a superb 30.95.
WALT SHOWS HIS CLASS
Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Walt certainly appreciated a slight ease in grade to win the A0 second race over the standard trip.
Laurels third Role Moel went up fastest to lead into the turn but she ran wide on the bend, leaving plenty of room for Ballymac Walt to shoot through.
Showing all his class, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Diva raced right away to open up a race-winning advantage before coasting home six lengths clear of Role Moel in a rapid 28.28.
ALONG MAKES ALL
All Along, a member of the talented Droopys Sydney/ Jet Ski Lady litter, displayed a fine turn of early dash to emerge a good winner of the third race.
Trained by David Murray or Alan Devine, the December ’21 whelp shot up the fence to lead early before containing the persistent challenge of Now Were Talkin by a length in 28.60.
JACK IN RANGE
Longrange Jack took the opener over 575yds, making full use of the long run to the turn to take charge for Hugh Mallon.
The son of Laughil Blake and Longrange Dawn was always in control thereafter despite ethe best efforts of Abbeyville Zara. At the line, Longrange Jack had a length to spare in 31.31.