FLASHY RUN FROM SAFFRON TO CLAIM APRIL UNRACED

Ian Fortune

Flashing Saffron produced a notable display at Enniscorthy on Monday night to emerge a tremendous winner of the valuable April Unraced, proving Pat Buckley with a memorable one-two. 

Flashing Saffron, a daughter of Grangeview Ten and Global Glengar, was out of luck on debut in the opening round, scraping through in fourth, but was flawless in the subsequent rounds and saved her best for last to land the €2,500 prize. 

Emma Buckley and James Corden’s bitch was sent off the 2-1 joint favourite alongside Roanna Bilbao but the latter could never land a blow after finding traffic on the turn. Instead, it was up to her kennel companion Open Debate to press Flashing Saffron throughout.

Open Debate actually broke fastest from four but Flashing Saffron was electric in the early yards, moving to the front after a matter of strides. It was no surprise to see her dictate after posting a sensationally fast 3.09 sectional. 

The pair were left clear of their rivals on the bend with Tony Tapa emerging as the nearest danger into the back straight. There was no catching the front two, however. As hard as open Debate tried, Flashing Saffron had no intention of letting her advantage slip. 

 Open Debate and Tony Tapa did close from the final turn but the leader would go on to win by a length and two and a half lengths in a fastest of the competition 28.63. It’s also worth noting she was never headed into the pick-up. Have no doubt, the winner is set for a bright future.