SO MANY FINE DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

It was one of the rare nights at Shelbourne Park where there was no feature racing but that certainly didn’t affect the quality on show.

With ten open races and a quality A1 contest to open proceedings, there were always going to be some fine performances.

It was also wonderful to see some variety on the card with races over all distances and many of the best displays came over different trips to the norm. Certainly, Optic Chico over 600yds and Ballinakill Alf over the sprint trip were brilliant in their respective wins, while many others also impressed.

AWESOME ALF BOOKS FESTIVAL TICKET

It is surely all systems go for a crack at the Winter Racing Festival Sprint for Ballinakill Alf (Pestana/ Newinn Madam) after he produced a stunning display over two bends in the second race.

He may have broken slowly from the inside box but he displayed awesome early dash to shoot to the front on the corner.

Road Exile got the better of Zaconey Vulcan for second but was never going to reel in the pace-setter. Trained by Graham Holland for the Pillar Syndicate, Ballinakill Alf flew up the straight to see off his rival by five lengths in a sizzling 18.52. 

ALL THE RIGHT OPTICS WITH CHICO

Optic Chico has been a touch frustrating to follow in recent times but he rewarded his loyal followers in the finale over 600yds by producing a massive run to see off the equally eye-catching Ballymac Kate.

Here Optic Chico, who was seeking his first win in eight outings and his first since July, was immediately prominent. He was challenged early by Simons Cap and Swords Fudge but had enough in hand to drive the opening turn in front.

It was all pretty straightforward thereafter for the Robert Gleeson trained son of Droopy Sydney and Zola Princess. Swords Fudge gave chase but was never going to land a glove. Instead, Ballymac Katie, a proven stayer of some standing, absolutely flew from the back of the field to grab second on the run in.

However, Richard Vereker and Paul Allen’s Optic Chico was always in command and he to stayed on well to hold Ballymac Katie by two lengths in a quick 32.33. One suspects, Optic Chico will also be targeting the Winter Racing Festival with a race over 575 or 600yds the most likely aim.     

KING RULES

Miami King (Ballymac Vic/ Newline Mo) had to work hard but he ran out a wonderful winner of the open 550 fifth race on the card.

Here Follom Fleet got off the front but Miami King was soon in chase after a moderate start. Showing fine pace and determination to move second, he quickly set his sights on the pace-setter. It was down the back straight that Miami King really starter to close. Charging into the third turn he rounded his rival to go to the front before easing on. Trained by Garry Dempsey for Dave Lawrence and Tony Howard, Miami King ran out a ready and most impressive three and a half length winner over Follom Fleet in 29.77.

ALL DOMINATES FOR WIN NUMBER FIVE

Alan Devine’s Arent We All produced yet another impressive display at Shelbourne in the seventh race, when showing her exceptional early speed to better Pintsnotpilates on the turn.

Once going to the front, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jet Ski Queen was never under any real pressure.

That was no surprise when you consider she ran right to the line to stop the clock in a rapid 28.37, seeing off  In victory, the David Murray trained starlet was claiming a fifth success in just her ninth career start. 

COCO POPS

After running third in the recent Fair Warrior at Mullingar, Boylesports Coco made a successful step back up to four bends in the ninth race on the card, showing her trademark early dash to dominate.

She seemed under pressure when Droopys Ailsa turned second but she checked at the third turn, losing her place and leaving Forest Willow to give chase. However, it was futile. Boylesports Coco wasn’t stopping out front and she ran out a comfortable three and a half length winner for John Boyle and Dolores Ruth in 28.58. Forest Willow finished second. 

ROMEO IS THE KING PIN

Romeo Kingpin hasn’t always been the smartest at traps but he put that right in the penultimate race.

Coming through the bars to dominate from the outset for the all-conquering duo of Graham Holland and David Firmager.

The winner of the Bart Leahy Memorial at Cork, Romeo Kingpin was never going to be troubled when racing clear into the turn. Jim By Two emerged as the nearest threat but Romeo Kingpin was gone. The son of Superman and Buckos Lass raced to a four length victory in 28.66. 

SAM OVERCOMES TRAFFIC

My Man Sam has been improving at a rapid rate and he pulled a victory out of the fire in the fourth race, when storming home to lead on the run.

Here Dalcash Dotcom set a strong gallop to dictate for much of the way. In contrast, My Man Sam was only third into the turn and was shuffled back to fourth on the bend.

Normally a wide runner, there was a seam up the inner and Jimmy Dolan’s son of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Megan wasn’t afraid to use it. Flying into the third turn, he moved second before setting his sights on Dalcash Dotcom. Switching wide of the final turn, he hammered home to lead late for a length verdict in 28.77, although he is certainly good for faster.

ZENYATTA GALLOPS TO SUCCESS

It was wonderful to see an Open 750 on the card and Denis McArdle’s promising stayer Grove Zenyatta (Ballymac Anton/ Groveshill View) certainly enjoyed herself.

Powering her way to the front in the second half before containing the big finish of the hot favourite Ballymac Whispa.

Velvet Jenny set a really searching gallop but ran out of steam into the fifth turn. It was at this point where the always pursuing Grove Zenyatta took charge. A winner in 41.63 in her only previous 750yd outing at Shelbourne, she seemed destined to race on to a comfortable victory.

Ballymac Whispa had other ideas and was now in full flight in behind. In a great finish, Grove Zenyatta went on to take the verdict by three parts of a length in 42.07, with Ballymac Whispa second and Peters Sydney also catching the eye another neck back in third. 

LOUGH ADDS TO IMPRESSIVE TALLY

Foxmount Lough has been a terrific money spinner for her connections, Jack Molloy, David Kent and trained Lester Power and she added €600 to her already impressive tally in the third race over 575yds.

The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Lough Saoirse contested the lead into the turn alongside Abbeyville Zara before driving to the front. Entering the back straight with three lengths in hand, she was always going to take some stopping. Credit must go to Abbeyville Zara for sticking to her task but Foxmount Lough is very strong and she went on to win by a length in 31.28.

CRAFTY IS SUPREMO

After catching the eye in defeat seven days earlier, Shane Divilly and Eimear O’Dwyer’s Crafty Supremo added to his mighty impressive tally in race eight, overpowering long-time leader Resurgen around the last two bends before containing the big finish of Deadly Jet.

In what was his seventh career start, Crafty Supremo, a son of Skywalker Canny and Paradise Summer, was to record his sixth victory. A little of the pace into the turn, he forced his way into second before stalking the leader into the third turn. Making his move on the inside, it took a moment or two for him to get through the gap but, once doing so, he was always going to score. Dealy jet came home at speed but Crafty Supremo stayed on to secure a three parts of a length success in 28.77.

A GOOD OLD TIME

Racing commenced with A Good Time living up to his name for the Working Together Syndicate and trainer Brendan Maunsell.

One of three dogs challenging for the lead on the bend, he forced his way through on the fence to lead by two lengths into the back straight. The son of Droopys Sydney and Peters Queen was pressed from the third turn by Urban View but dup in to repel that rival by a length in 28.89.