MAJOR SET FOR A MAGICAL FUTURE AFTER PLATE SUCCESS
Ian Fortune
While Cheap Sandwiches was the star of proceedings, Magical Major took the headlines on the undercard at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night when capturing the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate with a swashbuckling display.
Pat Guilfoyle’s brilliantly fast son of King Sheeran and Magical Mary has yet to discover how to make life easy for himself but his brute pace again got him out of a sticky situation. Grouchos Hoffa went up fastest to take the field along around the opening two bends but there was a line of dogs in his slipstream.
Harlequin Gee Up turned second but would be joined by Sunshine Sioux and Carrick Scholsey, while there was a gap between them. This came in very handy for Magical Major, who had somehow found himself a close behind despite having to show some handy footwork amongst rivals on the opening bend.
As Magical Major made his move, he was greeted by huge roars from the crowd. Cutting through the pack, he would assert before the third turn. Sunshine Sioux took up the pursuit but it was futile. Magical Major would power home to win by two lengths from Sunshine Sioux in 29.53. Carrick Scholsey was the same distance away third.
CONSOLATION GLORY FOR CALLAWAY
One of the races of the night came in the BOYLE Sports Irish Derby Consolation final with Callaway Five, Magical Sapphire and Ballyhooly Bruno all playing a part, although the verdict would ultimately go to the first named as he held off his rivals in a driving finish.
Callaway Five was fastest into stride and led the field into the bend but he found himself under severe pressure when Magical Sapphire avoided traffic on her inner to turn a close second. Ballyhooly Bruno would also slip around in third, setting up the contest.
Magical Sapphire would press hard into the third turn, getting to within a half-length while Ballyhooly Bruno would also arrive into the third turn full of running only to run out of room. Stuck on the fence behind the pace-setter, he couldn’t find a gap.
Magical Sapphire remained a serious threat as she turned for home but Callaway Five stayed a straighter line and kicked again. In a desperate finish, Callaway Five held on for Owen McKenna and Denis Murphy to win by a neck from Magical Sapphire in 29.77.
CHEQUE CASHES IN AGAIN
After cruel luck cost him a place in the Derby semi-finals, Cheque For Cash gained some compensation in the ninth race, an Open 550 when showing all his many qualities to leave a talented field in his dust.
The professional son of Dromana Bucko and Paradise Asia shot from the inside box and was in charge from the opening stride.
Lemon Joey and De Lahdedah gave pursuit but neither could get close enough to worry the pace-setter. Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for the Cash Back Syndicate, Cheque For Cash would gallop on to eventually emerge a deserving two and a half-length winner over Lemon Joey and De Lahdedah in 29.50.
FAITHFUL FRIGHTENS 575YD CLOCK
Racing got off to the perfect start with Droopys Faithful again displaying her immense talent and potential for Daniel O’Rahilly.
The long run to the turn over the 575yd trip really played to her strengths and she quickly assumed control.
Ballymac Tibet went up second ahead of Lennies Desire in third but neither could get close enough to really threaten the leader. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Curio, who won’t turn two for a fortnight, built a three lengths advantage into the back straight and comfortably maintained it to the third turn.
It was only on the run in that she began to show some signs of fatigue but she kept going to win by a length and a half from Ballymac Tibet in a magical 30.60. Not only had she seen off a top-class field, but she also went within a single spot of the track record, further highlighting what a tremendous talent she is.
MAGIC MARTHA AT HER VERY BEST
Glengar Martha was a popular winner of the Open Bitch 525, going to traps a short-priced favourite before again displayed her abundant class.
Predictably, Brockagh Justine shot to the turn to le5ad the field but the writing was on the wall when Glengar Martha turned on her heels.
It was only a matter of time before Bill Wood’s star would assert at the head of affairs and she cruised to the front before the third turn. Driving the penultimate corner, she would increase her advantage before emerging a tremendous three length scorer in a personal best 28.01. Brockagh Justine would run the race of her career in second.
BORN REALLY PERFORMED
Born To Perform came in for strong support ahead of the tenth race over six bends and would proceed to emerge as the easiest and most straightforward winner on the card.
Representing the husband-and-wife team of John Mitchell and Jennifer O’Donnell, the high-class daughter of Malachi and Cheeky Chloe would flash from trap two and gallop her rivals into the ground.
Daleroad Poppy turned second and did all she could to stay in touch but Born To Perform was merciless. Maintaining a relentless gallop, she raced right away in the latter stages to eventually cross the line eight and a half lengths to the good in a quick 41.28. Daleroad Poppy would take second.
PICKLES BRINGS THE CURTAIN DOWN
The punters landed the final blow in their battle with the layers as the Michael O[‘Donovan trained Coosane Pickles justified favouritism to win the finale over 600yds.
Never far off the pace, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Pickles would prove too strong for her rivals including Lookandlep who ran a big race in defeat in second.
Lookandlep actually set the pace into the turn, although he was joined off the second bend by Ballinabola Jim. Importantly, however, Coosane Pickles was never far away in fourth with Blastoff Heffo also in the mix.
Coosane Pickles flew into the third turn to join Lookandlep and Ballinabola Jim and this set up a fine finish but Coosane Pickles is flying at present and she would prevail. Lookandlep rallied on the run in but Clement Ryan’s Coosane Pickles would emerge a half length in front in 32.31.
BONO ON TUNE FOR WEXFORD BOYS
De Bono Lad provided Brendan Sinnott and Anton Butler with reason to smile in the penultimate race on the card over 550yds.
In what was on paper the most competitive race on the card, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Town Penny was always perfectly positioned on the fence on the inside of Betgoodwin Ben.
The pair wrestled for the lead for much of the journey, although Mydras Opinion began to close into the third turn and continued to move with purpose as they turned for home. De Bono Lad is very strong, however, and he kicked again.
The September ’22 whelp would emerge a deserving three parts of a length winner for his Wexford connections Liam Butler and Brendan Sinnott in 29.65. Betgoodwin Ben was second with a length to Mydras Opinion in third.
BRILLIANT BROWNE DASHES TO SPRINT SUCCESS
Michael O’Dwyer’s Stonepark Browne may have suffered defeat in the semi-finals of the open sprint but punters were still happy to get stuck into the brilliant son of Malachi and Coolavanny Ella.
A proven performer over the trip, he broke much smarter than eight days earlier and was always in the driving seat.
Stefans Galaxy flew into the opening bend to briefly threaten but there was no gap for him to squeeze through and he found traffic. Meanwhile, the Michael O’Donovan trained Stonepark Browne took full advantage, skipping into a commanding lead by the second turn before cruising home six lengths clear of litter brothers Ballymac Brandan and Ballymac Art in 18.51.
SOLO IS ALL GO
The aptly named Solo And Go turned the fourth race into something of a solo when showing all his brilliant early speed and lightning trapping ability to dominate.
The hot favourite Droopys Patriot would work his way into second but could never land a glove on the leader.
Trained by Liam Dowling for the Kingdoms Palace Syndicate, the son of Ballymac best and Ballymac Minton would keep going right to the line to eventually see off the staying on Phoenix Memphis by five lengths in 28.28.
STYLISH SWORDS TOO SHARP FOR RIVALS
Swords Style returned to Shelbourne Park to remind those present of his obvious talent.
The fawn son of Grangeview Ten and Emers Sally had impressed in the opening round of the Derby when flashing from traps to make all.
Fast forward five weeks and he repeated that lightning-fast start to dominate in the third race on the card, an AA0 525. Lamrock Ace took up the chase and did all he could to stick with the leader. Unanimous Leo and Getup The Boy also ran well to close but Swords Style is as strong as he is sharp and he drove clear off the final bend. Representing the potent combination of Graham Holland and Barbara Lowndes, Swords Style raced on to win by an ever increasing three and a half lengths from Lamrock Ace in a superb 28.25.