BARRY DECIDER HEADLINES PACKED SHELBOURNE CARD
Ian Fortune
The opening round of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks and the Shelbourne Park Juvenile Cup will provide the ideal platform for some of Ireland’s best and brightest youngsters to show their class at Shelbourne Park this evening but the undoubted feature is the final of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600.
The competition has become a staple after the Derby and regularly attracts top class performers but this year’s renewal and tonight’s decider are a bit special. It is no surprise to see Waitingforastar introduced a warm favourite after a stunning trap to line semi-final success, but nothing can be taken for granted this evening.
STAR LOOKING TO SHINE AGAIN
It’s not often the powerful son of Droopy Jet gets loose into the bend but, once doing so, was always going to post a fast time.
His 31.88 return is the joint second fastest time ever recorded for the 600yd trip and were he to reproduce that sort of form, he would again come home in front.
But there’s no guarantee he will have the same sort of racing room this evening. Indeed, he is surrounded by pace. Lennies Dynamic is certain to go up fast on the outside of the track, while Highbury Days and Priceless Romeo are capable of going up well on his inner. Indeed, Waitingforastar could turn in front or closer to the rear. So much will depend on how fluent he is at boxes.
DYNAMIC TO GET LOOSE
The aforementioned Lennies Dynamic is one of two representing Paul Hennessy.
Blessed with sprinting speed into the bend, he does look a certain pace-setter but it was notable just how tired he looked in the latter stages of his semi-final defeat. If he is to come home in front, he again must dictate the pace and stay on better than last time.
RAMPANT ROMEO
His kennel companion Priceless Romeo is perhaps the greatest threat to Waitingforastar.
He picked up the pieces last week when Lennies Dynamic ran out of steam, but is also capable of going up well. Indeed, the step up to 600yds has really suited the powerful son of Priceless Jet. He starts, stays and has a more than willing attitude.
ELLO HAS HIS DRAW
Towards the inside of the track, Ello Ello has been running well enough to suggest he could make the frame if things go his way.
A versatile tracker with wins over every trip from 525yds up to 750yds, he too has fine pace from start to finish but needs to come away racing to turn close enough to the pace.
CAN DAYS DOMINATE?
Highbury Days has looked very good in recent outings.
He made all to win his opening round assignment and pushed Waitforastar for much of the way in the semis. Expect the Graham Holland trained tracker to race prominently on the inside of the track but he is another that may need to dictate to cause something of a shock.
KATHLEEN FACING A TOUGH TASK
That leaves just Goodnitekathleen.
She may be the outsider of the field but was only narrowly beaten into second by Priceless Romeo into second in the semis. Another with fine form over further than 600yds, she is certain to stay on well at the finish. She is also quite trappy but the longer run to the turn is not her friend.
NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD BUT STAR SELECTED
This is a contest that certainly revolves around Waitinforastar.
Should he repeat last week’s run, it’s his race to lose but one suspects he won’t have things that easy. With Highbury Days, Pricelss Romeo and particularly Lennies Dynamic likely to go up strongly, racing room will be at a premium in the early exchanges.
Waitinforastar remains the choice given how strong he is, although Priceless Romeo is nominated as a serious danger, while Ello Ello can pick up the pieces on the inside of the track to take third.
LOREAL TO PROVE SHES WORTH IT
The opening round of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks features a number of potential stars.
Not too many of those in the entry are proven just yet but it seems safe to assume there will be many improved performances from a talented bunch.
One that does have a bit of form at the highest level is Razldazl Loreal and she is selected to lead home her rivals in the final heat. The Dolores Ruth trained star was a finalist in the Puppy Derby and won a round of the Derby itself. Should she put her best foot forward, she can get the better of Ballymac Alexei and Ballymac Goldie.
IMRIE APPEALS
The opening heat is a fascinating contest.
Each of the six runners with the obvious exception of the unraced Nashville Sound have shown real promise in their previous outings. But Ballymac Imrie gets the nod.
Despite failing to win any of her six previous outings, she appeals on the strength of one particular run last month when flying down the back straight behind Born Sassy. If she can sharpen up at boxes, there seems no doubt she has the pace to go to the top.
Pomba Angie steps up in grade after winning the Bosco Gleeson Memorial at Newbridge last weekend. She is greatly respected, while Riverside Ariel and Malbay Freya seem likely to improve given their inexperience.
CMAX TO SHOW HER CLASS
Heat 2 is also intriguing with each of the six capable of going quick.
Ballymac Cmax was thrown in at the deep end in the early rounds of the Derby but ran well enough to suggest she is gong to be a top-class performer in the future.
If she gets first run, her rivals will quickly find themselves playing catch up. Razldazl Thelma is very strong and is sure to finish well, while the same can be said for the lightly raced Maid Of Fire. Rolo Pasha is also very useful, boasting some superb form around Dundalk with Droopys Lemonade and Ballymac Uppity completing a talented field.
JUVENILES ON SHOW IN VALUABLE A1 STAKE
There will also be plenty of interest in the opening round of the Shelbourne Park Juvenile Cup, an A1 competition for October ’24 whelps and younger.
As you would expect, many of those on show in the €5,000 to the winner competition are very inexperienced but expect a few potential stars to emerge over the course of the stake.
David Murray has a couple of very interesting competitors. Litter brothers Ball Of Cash and Cash Buyer have both shown ability in their two previous starts and are likely to show improvement. The former is the selection in Heat 2, while Cash Buyer can win Heat 3.
Highview Emily just gets the nod in the opening heat. She found traffic in each of her last two outings but displayed enough pace in defeat to suggest she will go considerably faster in the near future.
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