DOLLY’S DEFENCE CONTINUES BUT CAILIN GOES FASTEST IN CESAREWITCH
Ian Fortune
The stage is set for a wonderful finish to the Time Irish Cesarewitch next Sunday with defending champion Singalong Dolly amongst the six qualifiers after yesterday’s semi-finals but honour of going fastest went to Pennys Cailin as she dipped under the 33 second barrier.
Pennys Cailin was a 7-1 chance for the second of the four semis but would emerge a wide-margin and brilliant winner for Eugene and Rosemary Price. Born To Perform stumbled from trap three as the lids opened, leaving the fast-starting Pennys Cailin to lead Glory Lord into the bend.
Superfast Gorden also mistimed the start but would come through for second spot. Glory Lord was second behind Pennys Cailin into the back straight but couldn’t maintain his position with Superfast Gorden making his move to the third turn.
Despite going second Superfast Gorden had no answer to the winner. Pennys Cailin was relentless out front. A daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy that has won over six bends at the Winter Racing Festival, she powered further and further clear to eventually win by eight lengths in a brilliant 32.98. Superfast Gorden was second with Born To Perform in third, a further length adrift.
DOLLY ALWAYS IN POLE
Singalong Dolly was always in pole position in the final heat, ensuring that she will have a chance to defend her title at the weekend.
Breaking smartly from two, she did seem to miss a stride but recovered quickly to move to the front into the turn.
Clonfert Annie attempted to join her at this point but Singalong Dolly had the inside line and quickly moved on. Entering the back straight with a couple of lengths in hand, the Pat Buckley trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Mydras Dawn was never going to be picked up.
Gilbert Anderson’s brilliant bitch kept up a strong gallop all the way to eventually get the better of Clonfert Annie by three and a half lengths in 33.59. Air Flyer was the best of the remainder in third, a further length and a half down.
SCOBY TAKES HIS CHANCE
Radical Scoby will attempt to hand Tommy O’Donovan another classic success after coming home alone in Heat 2.
Rich Pursuit won the battle into the turn, containing Faypoint Angry and Crafty Bondi. The pair clashed on the outside of the track, leaving Rich Pursuit to increase her advantage, while Radical Scoby would move second.
Crafty Bondi still looked a big player in third but she was forced to check early in the back straight, losing all hopes of qualifying. Radical Scoby was now in the perfect position to strike, just behind the pace-setter and he powered into the third turn to take control on the outside of the early pace-setter.
It was a decisive move. Ger Hutton’s son of Ballymac Bolger and Scooby Princess eased on to hit the line four lengths clear in 33.57. Crafty Bondi recovered well from her early traffic problems to take second with Breffni Paddy just a head adrift in third.
TIMMYS WINS A THRILLER
The opening heat was the tightest of the four with Phoenix Memphis racing into a commanding advantage only to be picked up in the final strides by Tim and Olive Cliffe’s Timmys Bucks with Fashion Model just behind the pair.
Phoenix Memphis looked a certain leader and that’s exactly how it transpired. Flashing from traps, Phoenix Memphis went four lengths clear into the bend. There was traffic in behind at this point, allowing Timmys Bucks (Burgess Bucks/ Trusted Exile) to move second on his own. He would enter the back straight some six lengths or more behind the early leader, although it was certain that he would close.
As Phoenix Memphis began to tire, Timmy Bucks began to close the gap. So too did Fashion Model in third, setting up a tremendous finish. Phoenix Memphis did all he could to hold on but it was futile. Timmys Bucks got up in the final stride to win by a head from the long-time leader in 33.70 with Fashion Model the same distance away in third.
Time Irish Cesarewitch
Final draw
1 TIMMYS BUCKS
2 PHOENIX MEMPHIS
3 PENNYS CAILIN
4 RADICAL SCOBY
5 SINGALONG DOLLY
6 SUPERFAST GORDEN (M)