FERNANDES WITH A STUNNING STRIKE IN GOLD COLLAR

Ian Fortune

Fernandes continued his superb run of form to set the standard in the semi-finals of the €4,000 to the winner Gold Collar at Shelbourne Park on Friday night.

In doing so he justified odds-on favouritism as he was a 2-5 chance after a superb opening round effort seven days earlier.

This contest was basically over from the opening strides with the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Follys View coming away racing from four. Displaying superb acceleration, he was clear by the turn before entering the back straight with four lengths in hand.

It was all one-way traffic thereafter. Lough Sultan gave chase for much of the way but was picked up late by the staying on Blue Rumble but Fernandes was in a league of his own for Brendan Matthews and Gert Du-Plessis as he came home with seven lengths in hand in 29.74. Lough Sultan was another three lengths adrift.

CIARAN POUNCES

There was a shock in the second heat where Tommys Hewick was turned over at odds of 2-5.

The favourite flew from traps and it seemed only a matter of how far he would win but he ran a bit flat. Instead, Catunda Ciaran was to emerge on top.

The Scott Phelan trained son of Dorotas Wildcat and Mags Angel was second to the favourite for much of the way but was always breathing down his neck. Into the third turn, Michael Byrne’s charge made his move.

Joining and heading Tommys Hewick, he shot into a decisive lead and maintained it to the line to hold the fast finishing Stepitoutjulia by two lengths in 30.01. There was actually a wonderful battle for second and third. Stepitoutjulia ran on fast to grab second with Cluain Creed and Tommys Hewick just a head and a short head away in third and fourth.