GEM SHINES BRIGHTEST IN LIMERICK OAKS SECOND ROUND

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Clonbrien Treaty Limerick Oaks featured on Saturday night at the Dock Road circuit and for the second week running, it was Rinnwood Gem that went quickest as she cemented her status as the one to beat in the €9,000 to the winner event.

Of the four second round heats on offer, there was quality in abundance with the Oaks still very much all to play for despite some phenomenal performances from Rinnwood Gem up to this point. Indeed, Des Flaherty’s star clocked a terrific 28.25 .10f in the opening round, however, she lowered that mark in her second round assignment last night as she overcame a tricky draw to win at her leisure.

As a result of her trap-to-line victory in the opener, ‘Gem’ was installed as an even money chance and she trapped well from her middle berth in four to dispute the early running with another electric starter in Summerfield Air in two. The latter held the inside line at the opener and after nudging her rival aside, she briefly took the field into the back straight. However, her lead was short-lived as the favourite once again shot to the front passing the sprint boxes and Flaherty’s charge opened a one length lead on the approach to the penultimate bend. Thereafter, the daughter of Pestana and Rinnwood Pearl got stronger as the race progressed as she drew clear of Summerfield Air to cross the line six lengths clear of the staying-on, Mustang Marydel, in second. The time was a rapid 28.22 .10f.

MYA NEXT BEST

The concluding heat of the night saw just two runners go to traps in the form of Daleroad Mya and Mohane Roxy and it was the former that blew her rival away with a trap-to-line victory. Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for Thomas O’Keeffe, ‘Mya’ landed her opening round task in 28.47 .10f and she took a flier from five to put her rival to immediately put her rival under pressure. In doing so, she quickly opened a two length lead over ‘Roxy’ and given the stamina limitations of her rival, this looked done and dusted bar the shouting. Extending her lead with every stride around the bottom two bends, Daleroad Mya (Explosive Boy - Razldazl Mya) pressed home her advantage late on as she powered up the home straight to cross the line seven and a half lengths clear, in a time of 28.39 .10f.

BACK-TO-BACK FOR WHITNEY

Kilcolgan Whitney (Droopys Sydney - Razldazl Annie) finally broke her maiden tag in the opening round last weekend and she made it a quick-fire double in heat two as Karen Geoghegan’s bitch made every inch to post a career best effort. Trained by Neilus O’Connell, ‘Whitney’ is known for her power-packed finishes so connections would have been beaming when she bolted from trap one to hold all the aces on the run-up. Tracking well to open a healthy advantage down the back, the writing was on the wall for the rivals of Kilcolgan Whitney (9/4) as she maintained a powerful gallop thereafter to emerge a comfortable winner. Star Molly did make a good fist of it in second, however, ‘Whitney’ was always holding her rival as she crossed the line with one and a half lengths to spare, in a time of 28.48 .10f.

GINGE LEAVES IT LATE

The opening heat of the night proved a thrilling affair as Castleivy Ginge showed brilliant determination to get the better of Barefoot On Song and maintain her unbeaten record in the event. The Karol Ramsbottom-trained bitch was sent to traps as the 5/4 favourite after winning comfortably on night one and she was on the ball from trap one to lead early on from ‘Barefoot’ in second. The latter went toe-to-toe with her rival down the back and swept the penultimate bend to take a narrow lead into the home straight. However, ‘Ginge’, owned by Michael and Noel Nash, showed fine courage in the closing stages of the contest to come back for more and seal a head victory over Barefoot On Song in second. The time was 28.59 .10f.

*****

SENSATIONAL FROM SHEBETHEONE

In other races, there was a blistering performance in race nine as Shebetheone doubled her career tally to clock a sensational 28.13.

This lady, owned by Leo and Kate Dunphy, was having her first start of 2025 and she looks to have a massive year ahead based on her top-class display last night. Running from three, the daughter of Ballymac Wild and Whitings Gift powered from traps and she tracked like a veteran around the opening bend to quickly assemble a three length advantage. In doing so, Shebetheone set a frantic gallop down the back before staying on stoutly to emerge a four length winner over Highview Ben in second.

SMART DEBUT PERFORMANCE FROM ADAMANTCONQUEROR

The semi finals of the Bet On The Tote ON2 525 also went down for decision on the night and this saw the Connor Rainsford-owned Adamantconqueror. This May whelp qualified in a fast 29.30 around the tough Galway circuit, so it wasn’t surprising to see him installed at slim odds of 4/6 to prevail. Trapping well from four, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Conquering Queen paced up in sizzling fashion to open a four length lead rounding the opener. As a result, the Conqueror was already in the driving seat and he was to pull clear with every stride thereafter to cross the line with nine and a half lengths to spare over Magical Alex in second. The time was a fast 28.43 .10f.