DANTE BACK IN BUSINESS AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

Carrigmore Dante has been something of a permanent fixture at Limerick in recent seasons and Patsy and Aoife Coffey’s charge recorded his first victory of 2026 with a polished display in the concluding race on Saturday night.

Bidding for an eighth career success, Carrigmore Dante was making his first appearance of the year and was sent off the 7/4 second favourite behind Crescent Emily (6/4). Drawn favourably in trap one, ‘Dante’ was quickly into stride from his inside berth but initially had no answer to the ferocious early pace of recent stake winner Foxwood Macgowan. The latter built a healthy advantage down the back straight but Carrigmore Dante set off in pursuit and soon breezed alongside the leader approaching the penultimate bend. Storming up the inside, the son of Droopys Sydney – Carrigmore Dizzy took full control and pulled clear thereafter to score by four lengths from Foxwood Macgowan. The time was a rapid 28.43 .10f, ensuring the Coffey-trained runner will be returning to open-class company next time out.

COLA SWEET

Blackstone Cola had endured a frustrating spell without a victory since her debut start, but she broke that sequence in emphatic fashion, running out a wide-margin winner for David Flanagan and Matthew Derrick.

A 3/1 chance at the off, Blackstone Cola broke well from trap one but was headed on the run-up by Yellow Socks in four and Ballylough Best in two. However, ‘Cola’ continued to improve along the rail and soon nudged her rivals aside to take a three-length lead into the back straight. From there, the well-bred daughter of Dromana Bucko – Blackstone Lacey powered clear, doubling her advantage rounding the bottom two bends. The gap continued to widen and she eventually crossed the line an impressive fourteen lengths clear of Workin From Home in second. The time was 28.52 .10f.

TEN UP FOR PIXIE

Breda Boyle and Patrick Sheehy were represented by Ballinabola Pixie in race seven and she brought up double figures in career victories as she emerged on the right side of a judges’ call.

A lady with some smart form to her name, particularly around Enniscorthy, Ballinabola Pixie (Confident Rankin – Dolls On Fire) was a generous 5/1 chance and, despite a slow start, she flew up the inside to take charge entering the back straight. Holding a two-length lead over the favourite Blastoff Cooper, that advantage was gradually eroded around the bottom two bends, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion. Locked together up the home straight, Ballinabola Pixie showed real determination to just get the verdict over Blastoff Cooper on the line. A fine display from this lady, the time was 28.59 .10f and she could now be on course for a tilt at the upcoming Limerick Oaks.

POWERFUL TASHA BRINGS UP HER HALF-DOZEN

The final standout performance of the night came from the Myles Cummins-owned Snuggie Tasha, who brought her career tally to six victories in race four.

Yahoo Bucks was sent off the 9/4 favourite in this A3 contest and broke with intent from trap four to lead early. However, Snuggie Tasha tracked the pace superbly, crossing from trap six to nip up the inside entering the back straight. Upping the ante at halfway, the powerful daughter of Jacob Tashadelek – Miles Girl swept past the jolly to take command before drawing clear in decisive fashion. The 7/2 chance crossed the line six lengths to the good, in a smart time of 28.67 .10f.