BUNDLE FASTEST IN OAKS AS BECKS AND DIAMOND ALSO IMPRESS
Ian Fortune
The stars were on show at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and they really delivered. The action included the quarter finals of both the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks and the Summer Cup, while 2024 Derby champion Bockos Diamond made a notable cameo on the undercard.
From start to finish the racing was of the highest quality but honour of going fastest went to Droopys Bundle as she displayed a clean pair of heels to her Oaks rivals, while her kennel companion Carrick Becks did the same as he set the standard in the Summer Cup.
Heat 1 – BUNDLE LOOKS SPECIAL
Droopys Bundle was simply brilliant in the opening heat of the Oaks, showing great speed from boxes to dominate for Robert Gleeson and Matthew Derrick. A trap four draw was a slight concern for the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Sweet but a flying exit put any concerns to rest.
In front from the opening stride, he was kept honest throughout by Ballymac Gwennie but had all the answers. Gwennie drew closer into the third turn but Droopys Bundle is very strong and she stuck to the fence around the home bend to increase her advantage.
Powering up the home straight, Droopys Bundle emerged a brilliant three length winner over Ballymac Gwennie in a fastest of the night 28.04 with The Other Eimear finishing another five lengths adrift in third.
Heat 2 – CHANTRY MAKING HER OWN HEADLINES
While her litter brothers Ballymac Duffle and Ballymac Ralf were earning their place in the final of the English Derby across the Irish Sea, Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Chantry was making her own headlines at Shelbourne Park, emerging a truly superb winner of Heat 2.
Rapido Ivy was just favourite ahead of Ballymac Chantry and led the field around the turn but supporters of the latter would have felt confident when she began to bridge the gap into the third turn.
At the same time, the stride of Rapido Ivy began to shorten. Ballymac Chantry moved ahead on the final turn and proceeded to pull right away for a facile five and a half length verdict in 28.09. Rapido Ivy was second with Kishlawn Kudos running on well for third, some four and a half lengths further back.
Heat 3 – SILENT ROARS INTO SEMI-FINALS
Silent Noelle was understandably sent off a warm favourite for Heat 3 and the daughter of Newinn Taylor and Terezas Mendoza didn’t let her supporters down. Breaking on terms, she had the early speed and the room to take control into the bend.
Clan Sapphire gave chase throughout but Silent Noelle made it look pretty routine up front. Owned by the Nolan, Mullins Ahearn Syndicate, the July ’24 puppy kept the pressure on throughout, easing away from Clan Sapphire to eventually cross the line four lengths to the good in 28.15. Lennies Ash overcame bad traffic to take third, just a length further back.
Heat 4 – KAMALA SOMEHOW FINDS A WAY
Ballymac Kamala somehow found a way to maintain her unbeaten record in the classic in the final heat, completing a double for Liam Dowling in the process. After breaking 28 seconds in each of her last three outings, the daughter of Droopys Syndey and Ballymac Pete was sent to traps an unbackable favourite at 2-7.
But nothing would come easy for the star after a poor start. Rosetta Stone went up fast from four to lead with Ballymac Allory and Highview Carol also prominent. Ballymac Kamala found herself between runners and just couldn’t find room to get up to full stride.
Rosetta Stone continued to lead but as things opened up passing halfway, the race began to really develop. Ballymac Allory arrived with a rush into the third turn but found no room on the inside and was forced to check. Ballymac Kamala was now closing in third and almost joined Rosetta Stone on the final bend.
It was on the run in that she finally got the better of Rosetta Stone but Highview Carol was now in full stride on the outside. In a desperate finish, Ballymac Kamala somehow found the strength to contain Highview Carol by a short head in 28.41. The battle for third saw Ballymac Allory recover to qualify at the expense of Rosetta Stone. She was a neck ahead of her rival and just three parts of a length behind the runner-up.
Summer Cup
BECKS STRIKES
The undoubted star in the second round of the Shelbourne Summer Cup was Thomas Glynn’s Carrick Becks as he left his rivals chasing shadows in Heat 3. The Champion Open Unraced winner at Kilkenny earlier in the year, he looked a bit lost on his Shelbourne debut a week earlier but gained plenty from that experience.
On this occasion, he was canine perfection. Breaking fast, he quickly asserted at the head of affairs and ran right away from his pursuers. The Robert Gleeson trained son of Doolin Duke and Droopys Beaufort was electric as he raced to a brilliant seven length victory over Beautiful Paul in a brilliant 28.09. Kilcolgan Eddie also progressed, two lengths further back.
SPOT MAKES ALL AS HE FINDS FORM
Early speed was also the key to success for Newinn Spot in the last of the four heats. This was something of a return to form for the son of Tommy Shelby and Newinn Mimi.
The Graham Holland trained tracker got racing straight away and quickened into the corner to turn in front.
Old Alaska slipped around in second and did all he could to close on the leader but Newinn Spot had no intention of letting his lead slip. Kenny Glen’s charge stuck on grimly to hold Old Alaska by a half length in 28.45.
JEDGAR GETS LOOSE
The opening heat was just a four-dog affair, but it scarcely mattered to Ballymac Jedgar as he broke fastest from four to make every inch despite the best efforts of those in behind.
Belfast Gerry and Exclusion Order were closest throughout, although neither could bridge the gap and Ballymac Jedgar emerged on top. Trained by Alan Byrne for the Ballycrana Syndicate, the son of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Petula emerged a length and a half in front of Belfast Gerry in 28.67 with Daring Oreo getting up later to take third, a further length and a half adrift.
A BIG BOOM FOR SHANAHEE FANS
Shanahee Boomer justified favouritism in Heat 2 but had to work hard for the early advantage from a trap five draw. Rallying Syd broke fastest from two and led in the early yards only to be challenged on his inner by Slick Sabre.
Meanwhile, Shanahee Boomer was advancing from trap five. He cut the turn quite early and took a bump in the process but emerged in front. It was a deceive move from the son of Good News and Droopys Dream and he proceeded to make all thereafter for Kieran Lynch and the bate The Ditch Syndicate.
Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, Shanahee Boomer saw off Miami Hans and Rallying Syd by three lengths and two lengths in 28.60.
Bockos Diamond Returns
DIAMOND BACK WITH A VICTORY
Bockos Diamond had his first start on Irish soil since the second round of last year’s Derby and it was wonderful to see him return to winning ways for Graham Holland and the Remember Them Syndicate.
Ultimately, this wasn’t peak Bockos Diamond but after very little racing over the last year, it was perhaps no surprise. Despite a decent start from six, he could only dispute the lead into the turn alongside Sober Barry and Drombeg King.
He took a bump at this point but displayed his class, determination and pace to head Sober Barry on the second bend. Toolmaker King Displayed fine pace to go second just after halfway and pursue the leader but Bockos Diamond was never going to be stopped.
With an incredible record of ten wins from eleven starts at Shelbourne Park prior to Saturday, he ran right to add another to his tally, seeing off Toolmaker King by two and a half lengths in 28.28. It may not have been vintage Bockos Diamond but it was still very good and would likely have blown away the cobwebs. We look forward to seeing the sensational 2024 Derby winner back in action in the near future.
BARRY COMES FROM OFF THE PACE
Racing commenced with a competitive affair going the way of Sawdust Barry. Despite finding traffic on the turn, he somehow managed to turn third to Ballintine Wild and Drombeg Banner and proceeded to outstay both.
Getting a run on the fence around the last two bends, he moved to the front as they turned for home Trained by Murt Leahy for the Chissel Syndicate, the son of Skywalker Barry and Sober Pearl emerged a two-length winner over Drombeg Banner in 28.95.