HAZELHILL CHICK IMPRESSES IN THE BARKING BUZZ APP AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

While it was a relatively low-key affair at Limerick on Saturday night, there were still a couple of Unraced Sweepstake deciders to keep the crowd entertained.

Of the two, the final of the Barking Buzz App ON2 525 took top billing and it was won in spectacular style by the Michael O’Connell-owned Hazelhill Chick. Second on debut, this promising youngster took a huge step forward in the €700-to-the-winner decider, producing a dominant, wide-margin victory. Clearly learning plenty from her first outing, the April ’24 daughter of Hazelhill Hazard burst from trap one and, despite drifting markedly wide on the run-up, still swept around the opening bend to lead by three lengths into the back. Ballyregan Sally gave chase, but the gap only widened as the race unfolded, and the 2/1 chance powered clear to cross the line an emphatic twelve lengths in front. The clock stopped at a brilliant 28.56 .10f.

DIAMOND DIGS DEEP

In the night’s opening final, the Talking Dogs ON3 525, Rosshill Diamond also went one better than his semi-final showing.

Jointly owned by Brendan and Joe Long, the August ’24 pup was sent off the even-money favourite to make amends, and did so in style. Breaking smartly from trap one, he hugged the rails to take an early lead, holding a slender advantage over the improving Drombeg Rose into the back straight. The runner-up pressed hard down the far side and briefly threatened at the three-quarter mark, but Rosshill Diamond wasn’t to be denied. He dug deep up the home straight to prevail by one and a half lengths in 29.12 .10f

ELSEWHERE

Aside from the sweepstake action, there were a few standout performances on the card, the first of which came from Whizzing Donald in race seven, an A1 525.

Owned by Adam Hogg, Whizzing Donald had no luck when trailing the field at Kilkenny last time out but he made amends in terrific fashion here, running virtually solo from start to finish. Drawn in three, the 5/2 chance broke sharply and left his rivals for dust on the run-up. The son of Broadstrand Bono quickly opened a two-length advantage down the back, a lead he doubled rounding the final two bends. Tally Ho Storm gave chase in second, but had no answer to Whizzing Donald’s power as he surged up the Limerick hill to score by six and a half lengths in a blistering 28.38 (.10f).

In the very next contest, an A2 550, Tubber Ace produced a career-best display for Tommy Skeffington and Tom Cardill, dipping under the 30-second barrier in style.

A well-bred daughter of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire, Tubber Ace had caught the eye when finishing second on her previous Limerick start, so it was little surprise to see her sent off the 11/10 favourite to go one better. Drawn in four, Ace broke much better this time, and that proved crucial. Enjoying clear daylight on the run-up, she quickly established a four-length lead into the back straight and maintained her relentless gallop all the way home, defeating Tyrap Phantom by five lengths in a rapid 29.89 (.10f).