BEAUTY SETS OAKS PACE AGAIN
Ian Fortune
The stage is set for a tremendous finish to the Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks after three wonderful semi-finals at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
For the second week running Drive On Beauty set the standard with a flawless display but Grangeclare Lady and Youandme Babe also impressed in their respective heats.
DRIVE IS A REAL BEAUTY
Drive On Beauty was sent to traps the even money favourite for the last of the three semis and duly obliged in wonderful fashion.
Chis O’Donovan’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Alice had to work hard for the early lead as Short Grip came away racing from five.
Drive On Beauty lived up to her name, charging into the turn on the outside of Short Grip to hold a narrow advantage. With Highview Katy on the inside of the track, Short Grip took a slight bump on the bend, allowing Drive On Beauty to take charge.
It was a decisive move. She would go onto make every inch thereafter but had to stick to her task as Short Grip pressed hard around the final turn and up the home straight. Drive On Beauty would strike the line a length and a half in front of Short Grip in 28.36, while Kilcolgan Whitney was three and a half lengths further back in third.
LADY GETS LOOSE AGAIN
Grangeclare Lady had to work hard in the opening heat but emerged a good winner at the expense of the fast-finishing Silverhill Freya.
Velvet Duchess and Silverhill Freya both broke smartly but Grangeclare Lady had their measure into the corner.
Peter Comerford’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire flew up from five to take charge before the turn. Velvet Duchess would give chase in second but Silverhill Freya emerged as the main danger at the business end.
Powering into the third turn, Silverhill Freya moved second before closing on the pace-setter. Grangeclare Lady steered a middle path off the final turn, forcing Silverhill Freya to make a decision. She chose to challenge up the inside of Grangeclare Lady and this allowed the long-time leader to hold on.
In a tremendous finish, the Owen McKenna trained Grangeclare Lady held off her rival by a head in 28.39 with Velvet Duchess just a length further back.
BABE FLIES TO LEAD LATE
In contrast to the other heat winners, Paul Hynes’ Youandme Babe didn’t hit the front until the final strides of Heat 2.
In fact, the Paul Hennessy trained daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Jaytee Pearl sat at the tail of the field for much of the way.
Lets Go Bubbles dictated the pace at the head of affairs but the whole complexion of the race changed at the third turn. Youandme Babe flew into the bend and stayed wide of those in front, quickly moving third.
By the final bend, it was clear she was travelling like a winner and she stormed home to beat Lets Go Bubbles by three lengths in 28.49. Rich Pursuit was third, a further length and a half adrift.
UNREAL LOSES MAIDEN TAG IN STYLE
The sixth race on the card was a maiden contest and Unreal Unreal took her opportunity to open her account while also posting the fastest time of the night in a 28.22 success.
Brendan Matthews’ talented daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Unlock Unlock was perfectly drawn on the fence and she held her position into the bend to turn in front.
Once going to the front, Unreal Unreal was always in control. Maintaining a relentless gallop, she would go on to see off Ballybough Nutz by three and a half lengths.
MEMPHIS ALWAYS IN CONTROL
Phoenix Memphis was an odds-on favourite in the finale over 550yds and made the most of an ideal draw on the rail to dominate.
Representing Ian Reilly and the Keogh, Cunninham, Reilly Syndicate, the son of Droopys Sydney and Swift Jezebel would go to the front in the early yards before making all to see off Now Were Talkin by five lengths in 29.94.
A SUPERB RUN
Racing got underway with Highview Superb running out a good winner for Gerry and Dolores Merriman.
Only fourth into the turn, she entered the back straight in third before making her move into the third turn. Staying tight to the fence, she slipped through the inside to take over from Velvet Jenny before going on to bat that same rival by a length in 31.28.
MEENAGH WINS
Meenagh Mcgorrey was on the mark in the second race for Michael Corr and John McGorrey. Prominent from the outset, the son of Droopys Sydney and Meenagh Midget would take a narrow lead into the back straight but she was pressed hard throughout by Bristow.
Urban Delight ran on strongly to come between the pair on the run in but Menagh Mcgorrey held off his rivals by a neck and a neck in 28.92.
JULIE IS A GEM
Julies Gem, owned by the Gem Spring Syndicate, emerged a comfortable winner of the third race, dictating from the outset to win by three lengths in 28.42.
Drawn on the fence, the Murt Leahy trained daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Meteor would come away racing to make every inch to see off Castleivy Ginge.
HIGH STANDARD
Ollie Bray and Leonard Kinsella’s Bymystandard displayed real bravery at the lead the field into the back straight in the fourth race.
Once going to the front, the son of Droopys Sydney and Silver Penny was always in charge. Droopys Bro stayed on in second but Bymystandard would score by a length in 28.98.
DASHER TOO STRONG
Barry Clancy sent out Innfield Dasher to win the fifth race.
The son of Ballymac Best and Camera Shy was third early but moved second behind Airdown Syd down the back straight. Staying on better than the pace-setter, Innfield Dasher led on the run in to contain Templeville Meg by a length in 28.66.