DREAMS COMES TRUE IN BAR 1 BETTING IRISH SPRINT CUP

Ian Fortune

Dreams did indeed come true for Colm Fitzgerald and the Zero Zero Syndicate at Dundalk on Saturday night as Tiermana Dream came through to win the Bar 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup in magnificent fashion.

Already firmly established as one of the very best sprinters in training, he now has a classic victory to highlight the fact. Incredibly, in victory, the hugely talented son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Tiermana Jetty posted 20.96 for the third time in the competition.

Rather worryingly for his connections, he had missed the kick in both his quarter and semi-final assignments but it is now clear, with the benefit of hindsight, that he was saving his best for the night that mattered.

After a series of impressive runs through the classic, Montana Secret was installed a warm favourite earlier in the week by the sponsors but his backers knew their fate early with the talented blue completely missing the kick and finding himself out the back.

Instead, Rallying Billy came away fastest but he was under immediate pressure as Tiermana Dream came away racing in the stripes. Already the Treaty Cup winner at Limerick, those that have seen Tiermana Dream in the flesh will be well aware of his ability to get racing the second he hits the sand.

That immediate acceleration was again very obvious. Within strides he was on terms before quickly moving on. As early as fifty yards into the contest, it was clear he was going to come home in front.

By the time he started to turn left after a rapid 7.04 sectional, he was two lengths clear and increasing his advantage with every stride.

Rallying Billy was challenged in second by Bomber Nina and the pair bumped. This only served to further aid the pace-setter, who was on his way to a glorious wide-margin success. Rallying Billy wouldn’t give up his inside line and forced his way back into second as they turned for home but he needed binoculars to see the leader.

For young handler Colm Fitzgerald it must have seemed like a dream. Not only was he about to claim a first classic victory, but he was going to do so without a sweat. Tiermana Dream was relentless up the straight and went on to cross the line, come five and a quarter lengths clear of Rallying Billy in 20.96.

The runner-up ran a big race but also save a thought for Barefoot On Fire in third. At well over four years of age, he ran another huge race from Martin Lanney. He may be in the autumn of his career but he did his connections proud.  

But the night belonged to Tiermana Dream. This was win number sixteen of his career but clearly the most significant. Blessed with all the qualities needed to be a special sprinter, his winning days are far from over.

One suspects, he will remain a top-class sprinter for some time and it seems safe to assume he will turn up at Shelbourne Park in the near future, perhaps for the open sprint on Derby final night, but a Winter Racing Festival appearance also seems an obvious target.