GOT IT AND JUNIOR DELIVER IN JUVENILE

Ian Fortune

There will be an incredible line-up for next weekend’s RPGTV Juvenile Derby decider following two wonderful semi-finals at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

Droopys Got It and Trinity Junior are already established as two of Ireland’s very best but they enhanced their reputation by showing massive determination as well as exceptional pace.

GOT IT A BIT SPECIAL

Droopys Got It was first up, producing a huge run to deny his great market rival Another Holiday.

The pair were sent off the 6-4 joint favourites and it was clear from early there were going to battle it out the finish.

Another Holiday broke fastest to lead the field from trap four and most would be forgiven for thinking he was going to be near-impossible to catch but Droopys Got It had other ideas. He also broke smartly and was second before the turn.

This set up an epic clash between the pair down the back straight. With Another Holiday maintaining a true middle line, Droopys Got It was left with options off the second turn. A length and a half adrift as they entered the back, he could have stayed wide to challenge on the outside of the pace-setter but instead stepped inside to launch his challenge on the leader’s inner.

It was a decisive maneouvre. Showing huge back straight pace, the Ian Reilly trained son of Tullymurry Act and Droopys Hunch was almost on terms at halfway before edging on into the third turn. With Another Holiday maintaining a middle line, Droopys Got It increased his advantage off the final turn before staying on well to secure a truly brilliant two length success in a stunning 28.24. There was a further half length gap to the fast finishing Three Canons in third.

Given the track conditions, which seemed to be on the slower side, it was a magnificent run from the Keogh-Senyk-Reilly Syndicate owned Droopys Got It. He will now go into next weekend’s final as the likely favourite.    

JUNIOR BOTH SHOWS HIS CLASS AND METAL

Trinity Junior also had to show great determination to book his final place on the back of a success.

The even money favourite, he was soon in charge after showing fine early dash from trap three to lead Boger Hunter into the bend.

The latter found himself a length and a half adrift in second as they straightened into the back but he really put it up to the Peter Cronin trained Trinity Junior. Showing superb back straight pace, Bogger Hunter joined and briefly headed Trinity Junior between the last two bends.

Trinity Junior was in no humour to surrender his advantage, however. With the inside line in his favour, he brushed Bogger Hunter aside to regain his lead as they hit the final bend before staying on with real purpose to emerge a fully deserving winner. Tim Slevin’s son of Laughil Blake and Oi Oi Upenalty crossed the line with a length to spare over Bogger Hunter in 28.33. There was a further two length gap to Clona Duke in third, as he contained the Oaks champion Raha Mofo by a short head.   

RPGTV Juvenile Derby

Final draw

1 BOGGER HUNTER

2 DROOPYS GOT IT

3 THREE CANONS

4 CLONA DUKE

5 TRINITY JUNIOR

6 ANOTHER HOLIDAY

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KOKORO COMES OUT ON TOP

Derby third and Corn Cuchulainn champion Crafty Kokoro followed up her sensational opening round effort with another power-packed display to capture her semi-final of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600.

Peter Divilly’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Cockyorconfident was sent off a 4-7 chance and all went to plan as she turned second to Bockos Palace before powering to the front on the run in. Jacktavern Bella ran a big race in defeat in second, also finishing fast, but Crafty Kokoro was too good as she emerged a length and a half scorer in 32.42.

A DREAM RUN BY BOBSLEIGH

The second heat saw a great tussle between Bockos Crystal and Bobsleigh Dream with the latter coming through on the run in to add to her already impressive tally.

Bockos Crystal took up the running into the bend but could never get far enough clear.

Her kennel companion Gaytime Nemo challenged down the back straight but it was Bobsleigh Dream that was too strong. Despite turning fifth, Willie Joe Murphy’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Bobsleigh Jet displayed big pace to get involved by the third turn.  

Staying tight to the fence, the Pat Buckley trained star drew closer as they hit the final turn before making her move. Going to the front early in the home straight, Bobsleigh Dream went on to hold off the rallying Bockos Crystal and the fast-finishing Storys Peewee by a half length and a half length in 32.76.

Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker 600

Final draw

1 CRAFTY KOKORO

2 BOBSLEIGH DREAM

3 BOCKOS CRYSTAL

4 JACKTAVERN BELLA

5 BOCKOS PALACE

6 STORYS PEEWEE

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CORNETTO HOLDS ON IN A THRILLER

After a brilliant semi-final success, Cornetto (Laughil Blake/ Love Honey) held on to claim a tremendous success in the final of the mini-open 525.

Leahs Turn was fastest into stride but Cheryl Sutcliffe’s Cornetto was soon on her heels before moving on at halfway.

This contest was far from over, however. Both Toolmaker Wilde and Leahs Turn came home strongly to force the judge into action. In a desperate finish, the Pat Guilfoyle trained Cornetto held on by a short head and a neck to score in 28.75.

MOON DOMINATES IN FINALE

Ringthemoon has been a tremendous servant for Liam O’Rourke, Karl Cooney and Michael Dowd and he captured a seventh career success in the finale.

A powerful galloper, he was always going to take some stopping once going to the front in the early yards.

The son of Droopys Sydney and Sparta Emmy proceeded to make every yard thereafter to contain the big finish of Lujaneo by a length in 29.96.

CARRAUNTOOHIL TOO STRONG

Carrauntoohil displayed plenty of pace to emerge a good winner of the penultimate race for Gavin Johns and Karol Ramsbottom.

The son of Bull Run Bolt and Ranchers Queen was only fourth into the turn but he avoided traffic to turn a little closer to the pace.

This allowed him make the most of his huge back straight speed. Joining the pace-setting Zoom around the last two bends, Carrauntoohil moved on up the run in to score by a length from Jet Stream Wind in 28.77.

DEL GIVES RIVALS THE SLIP

An early advantage proved decisive for Laurence Bolton-Lee’s Longslip Del as he came home clear in the ninth race on the card.

The son of Droopys Sydney and Misty Survivor broke smartly and quickly shot up the fence to lead Lilywhite Queen around the bend.

Cuckoo Fund came with a big challenge into the third turn but was forced to check. Despite running on well, Cuckoo Fund could never get to Longslip Del, who went on to score by two length sin 28.92.   

BLU GETS BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Clona Blu appreciate an ease in grade to win the A1 third race over 550yds.

Only fourth into the turn for Kevin Losty and his owners the Give Him A Chance Syndicate, the pacey son of Droopys Sydney and Skywalker Pearl ran a fine bend to move second behind Ocees Bud.

Showing his trade-mark back straight pace, Clona Blu moved on to the third turn before holding the late charge of Monbeg Zinzan by a half length in 30.11.

AN OVERDUE PAYMENT

After knocking on the door in recent weeks, Payment Due return to winning ways in the second race for Ray Melia and the tearaway Syndicate.

Forcing his way to the front at the turn, he dug in to contain the late challenge of Paradise Biko by three parts of a length in 29.31.

NO NAPPING FOR POWER

Power Nap kicked off proceedings with an eighth career success for Joe Tyrell.

Never too far off the pace, the son of Laughil Bolt and Combined Effort came through in the closing stages for a three length verdict over Cali Smurph in 29.02.