MILO TAKES HEADLINES ON NIGHT OF FINE DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
There were some impressive runs at a chilly Shelbourne Park on Thursday evening with the feature contest, the final of the This Runs Deep ON2/ON3 525 going the way of Killglen Milo as he overcame his main market rival Integral in a tremendous finish.
Integral got loose early and would have been a very short price to come home in front but his stride began to shorten as they turned for home. In contrast, Killglen Milo was full of running into the home straight and he stayed on far the better to lead in the closing yards.
The well-built son of Ballymac Anton and Bessbrook Mill got up late to provide owner Ger Martin with nice fillip after the recent efforts of his beloved Manchester United. Killglen Milo hit the line a neck to the good in 28.88.
INCLUSION LOOKS A REAL PROSPECT
On a night when the track certainly wasn’t flying, there were some fine performances in the opening round of the Barking Buzz App ON2 525 including that of Merits Inclusion and Breaking Stones.
The pair both clocked 28.81 from the front but the former really caught the eye.
A well bred son of Dromana Bucko and Million Dreams (a daughter of Unlock Unlock), he displayed all sorts of promise in victory in Heat 3. Showing massive early speed, the Brendan Matthews trained youngster wobbled around the opening and third turns but still managed to leave his rivals in his dust.
The June ’22 whelp is clearly very backward but very talented and expect significant improvement from him in the coming weeks and months. He eventually came home eight and half lengths to the good over Wanofthemwans. Remember his name. He could be anything.
STONES IMPRSSES ON DEBUT
Breaking Stones also emerged a good winner for David and Jake McKenna.
He too set the pace form the early yards, showing fine dash into the bend to take charge. Once doing so, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Spread My Wings eased right away to win by seven lengths from Southwind Sky in 28.81.
QUEEN RULES
The two remaining heats went the way of Gallant Queen and Tromora Merkle.
Gallant Queen came in for support in the ring and justified odds-on favouritism for Ollie Bray when moving to the front off the second turn before going on to beat Ardnasool Raz by a length in 29.06.
MERKLE TOO SHARP
Tromora Merkle may be bred on the dam side to stay well beyond the 525yd trip but she was pretty sharp in the final heat.
Making a fast start from the outside box to make virtually every yard for David Hogan. The daughter of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Merkle went on to see off Dazl Twink Babe by a length and a half in 28.87.
SWALLOW FLIES
The fastest run of the night came from Jays Swallow as he returned from a near six-month absence to win the opening heat of the RCETS A4 525 in a fast 28.69.
Charging down the far side, James Phelan’s son of Laughil Blake and Jays Gold took control into the third turn before easing right away to bat Beechview Pippa by six and a half lengths.
LADY DRIVES THE BEND
Tony Grassick’s Cayan Lady won the second heat, showing great determination on the bend to shoot around in front.
The daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Cayan Tower was under no pressure once doing so before coming home four and a half lengths clear of Brayview Picture in 28.98.