AZURITE A BRIGHT PROSPECT

Ian Fortune

Azurite justified favouritism in some style in the final of the September Open Unraced at Enniscorthy on Monday night.

This was the display of a young bitch with a bright future. Sean Comerford’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballybrack Gem, who is trained by Peter Cronin, was a tremendous winner, showing great pace and track craft.

Both Azurite and Roanna Due went up fast to dispute the early lead but the latter had the inside line in her favour took charge on the corner. Azurite was always too close, however. Showing superb pace into the back straight, the favourite soon struck the front before easing on the third turn.

It was all one-way traffic thereafter, as Azurite ran out a mighty impressive five length winner, landing the €2,000 prize, in a rapid 28.74. Roanna Due was second, while Esmonde Swift, after coming in as a reserve, flew home in third to finish just a neck further adrift. The winner is clearly going the right way, winning her three starts since finishing second on debut. at her current rate of progression, she is going to be top class in no time.