NO LUCK FOR IRISH DUO BEHIND RAMPANT SYD IN ECLIPSE

Ian Fortune

It just wasn’t meant to be for Bockos Crystal and Clona Duke at Nottingham on Monday evening with the Graham Holland duo finishing third and fourth behind the impressive winner Newinn Syd in the PGR Eclipse Stakes.

Their chance was effectively gone at trap rise with Newinn Syd flashing from trap two to dictate from the opening stride. Owned by the MWD Partnership, the son of Droopys Sydney and Newinn Mimi was always in complete control as he came home four lengths clear in 29.51.

Of course, it’s another big race winner for his breeders, the O’Donnell family from New Inn but also a tremendous victory for his handler Mark Wallis.

Burj Khalifa, formerly trained by Brendan Matthews in Ireland, was a good second, while Bockos Crystal after crowding at the opening turn was third, some two and a quarter lengths further adrift. Clona Duke also found traffic in the early stages and at the turn before finishing another three lengths back in fourth. The Graham Holland duo should have a chance to atone for their defeat with both entered for the Winter Racing Festival.