EARLY SPEED THE DIFFERENCE AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

 

The semi-finals of the JAG Building Services & KGOBA A1 Derby were the feature of a wonderful night at Kilkenny on Friday night and both heats went the way of the early pace-setter with Gortkelly John and Lemon Mundy coming home in front.

Gortkelly John was a 4-1 chance in the opening heat but meant business. Andrew Murray’s son of Broadstrand Bono and Gortkelly Sorcha did everything right. After flashing from three, he quickly asserted into the turn.

The big two in the betting were Droopy Map and Kapuka Warrior would mistime the start and clash more than once around the opening two bends. That left Gortkelly John to set a strong pace to halfway. Double Drop would close the gap in the latter stages but Gortkelly John was never going to surrender his lead and he went on to win by a half-length in 28.94. Kapuka Warrior found a way to recover and take third, a half length further back.

MUNDY ON SONG

Lemon Mundy made the most of an ideal draw on the fence in the second heat to emerge on top for Tom Lennon and Michael Kennedy.

Jims Gem broke fastest to lead early from four but he began to edge inwards, causing congestion up the middle of the track. It didn’t concern Lemon Mundy, however.

The son of Ballymac Bolger and Lemon Phoebe found a bit of room along the fence and displayed fine early speed to join the leaders on the corner before turning in front.

It was a decisive maneouvre. Lemon Mundy would quickly increase his lead to halfway. The favourite Mission Control would charge into the third turn to close on Lemon Thelma in second before making his move on the run in but there was no catching Lemon Mundy. He would take the verdict by a length and a half in 29.21. Mission Control would grab second with Lemon Thelma just a head away in third. 

JAG Building Services & KGOBA A1 Derby

Final draw

1 LEMON MUNDY

2 GORTKELLY JOHN

3 DOUBLE DROP

4 KAPUKA WARRIOR

5 LEMON THELMA (M)

6 MISSION CONTROL (W)