BLISTERING START TO ‘ON FAYA’ GALWAY OAKS
Peter Farrell
The opening round heats of the €10,000 to the winner ‘On Faya’ Galway Oaks got underway on Friday night and early indications are that Pat Buckley is going to take some stopping as he accounted for fifty-per-cent of the heat wins.
On the night, it was Glengar Martha that set the standard but only just, as kennel companion Unanimous Roxy was only six spots slower than her rival on the clock.
Glengar Martha may well be approaching veteran status but she still retains her brilliant ability, and this was evident as she emerged a wide-margin winner of heat one. Owned by William Wood, she was chasing an incredible twenty-fifth career victory coming into the contest and the 4/5 favourite duly obliged for connections. Drawn in five, the daughter of Droopys Sydney - Glengarbadminton came in fresh from a tilt at the Bar One Irish Sprint and this held her in good stead as she pinged the lids to lead on the run-up. Posting a superb 3.30 sectional, ‘Martha’ swept the opening bend in front and after some trouble ensued in behind, she manufactured a six length lead down the back. Drawing clear at this point while showcasing her sensational gears, Glengar Martha ran to a virtual solo as she crossed the line eight lengths clear of Voyage Eala in second. The latter ran a fine race to recover from early bumping and is one to keep an eye on going forward. The time was a rapid 28.62.
ROXY NEXT BEST
In terms of the clock, Pat Buckley held all the aces on the night as Unanimous Roxy landed a red-hot heat three in style.
Drawn to run from red, Unanimous Roxy used her rails berth perfectly with a swift exit from traps to lead early on. In doing so, Ciaran O’Sullivan’s runner opened a sizable lead down the back and she was chased by Droopys Faithful, who was luckless in the early strides but did extremely well to negotiate a horrid trap five draw to sit second. ‘Roxy’ was in a class of her own on this occasion, however. Storming clear at the three-quarter mark, the 7/2 chance capped out a fine victory as she came through five and a half lengths clear of Droopys Faithful in second. While the latter remains a huge player going forward, this contest belonged to Unanimous Roxy as she stopped the clock in a brisk 28.68.
LIZZY JUSTIFIES REPUTATION
Blundel Lizzy arrived at Galway with a big reputation and she duly made it seven wins from just nine starts for joint owners Timmy Ennis and Anthony Roylance.
Trained by Murt Leahy, Blundel Lizzy was installed as the 2/1 joint favourite alongside Badly Behaving and she built on two hugely eye-catching trials in fine style. Indeed, it wasn’t all plain sailing for ‘Lizzy’ early on as despite breaking well from four, she tracked wide in the opening exchanges, and this allowed Badly Behaving to lead comfortably in three. In doing so, the latter was to open a four-length advantage down the back straight and looked a certain winner at this point. However, not to be deterred, ‘Lizzy’ got to work between the bottom two bends and the classy brindle went into overdrive in the final fifty-yards to soar past Behaving Badly. A really likeable performance saw the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat cross with one and a half lengths in hand, in 28.77.
TASSIE CONTINUES TO IMPRESS
After three smashing victories in Clonmel, which culminated in her winning the Jim Scully Memorial 550, Tassie Ta Ra continued her brilliant form with a solid display in heat two.
Jointly owned by James and Richard Power, Tassie Ta Ra was available at generous odds of 4/1 at the off and she trapped with intent to post a rapid 3.25 early sectional. In doing so, ‘Tassie’ disputed with Short Grip, however, after the latter went wrong, this allowed Powers’ charge to gallop into a clear lead. Thereafter, the daughter of Grangeview Ten - Tassie Princess went about her business in fine style and despite coming under pressure from the fast-finishing Newport Pier, she still had one and a half lengths in hand crossing the line. The time was 29.02.
*****
WIDGET LANDS DUAL-DISTANCE DECIDER
Prior to the Oaks, the final of the Talking Dogs A4/A5 Dual-Distance went on offer and this went the way of 6/4 joint favourite, Candys Widget.
Trained by Donal Duggan for the Any-Chance-Of-A-Kuga-Syndicate, Candys Widget was a smart winner of her semi final assignment and she followed that up with a runaway win in the decider. Drawn in the stripes, the son of Skywalker Canny took an absolute flyer from his wide berth, and he rounded in front after some traffic ensued in behind. As a result, ‘Candys’ stormed into an unassailable lead, and he eventually crossed the line with a solid eight lengths in hand. The time was a fast 30.30 for the 550-yard trip.
TOP QUALITY UNRACED ACTION
The card got off to a powerful start as the ‘Crafty Kennels Unraced ON2 525’ proved a worthy curtain-raiser.
Indeed, it was the sponsors own Crafty Elegatto that got the ball rolling as the 4/5 chance flew to a convincing win on debut. A son of Ballymac Bolger and Coolavanny Bondi, the Divilly’s charge got off to the perfect start from six and just made the bend ahead of Blaze Buck in four. In doing so, the March 24’ pup drew clear of his rivals to win by an emphatic eight lengths. A bright future is undoubtedly on the horizon for this talented puppy; the time was a swift 29.10.
While the performance of Crafty Elegatto was one worthy sitting up for, it was ‘Yourself’ that set the standard as he went two spots quicker than his rival.
A 5/4 chance, Yourself is the latest recruit for the formidable Mullins-Curtin-Syndicate and this choicely bred youngster delivered in strong style. Drawn in four, the son of Grangeview Ten - Dana Point was only moderately into stride and was headed early on by both Ballycowen Alfie and Notsobadnow. However, tracking brilliantly at the opening bend, Yourself shot up the inside and he quickly advanced into a two length lead at the halfway mark. Thereafter, Yourself only got stronger and he powered to a healthy five and a half length victory in the end. The time was 29.08.
Sandwiched between the two quickest was Brickhill Lewis, who also caught the eye with a strong-runner performance for John Collins and Mark Patterson.
Installed as the 4/5 favourite, Brickhill Lewis arrived with two smart qualifying efforts, however, he looked in all sorts of trouble early on after breaking sideways from one, before meeting traffic on the run-up. Led at this point by Tooreen Rose, ‘Lewis’ got to work at the halfway mark and he duly flew up the inside of his rival at the penultimate bend to take charge. In doing so, the son of Dromana Bucko - Brickhill Sharon drew clear in the closing stages to emerge a four and a half length winner over his rivals. The time was 29.26 but one suspects that this tracker could be the one to beat going forward should he sharpen up at boxes.