HOLLAND SLIPS FIVE PAST RIVALS IN CHRISTMAS OAKS
Ian Fortune
It seems a few weeks in the sunshine of Australia, Dubai etc worked a treat for Graham and Nicky Holland as their Riverside Kennels outfit was firing on all cylinders at a packed Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
They are no strangers to sending out multiple winners at Shelbourne Park but to send out all five heat winners in the opening round of the Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks is truly remarkable even by their own exalted standards.
BRILLIANT TINA SETS THE STANDARD
All five impressed but none went faster than their recent Puppy Oaks champion Ballydoyle Tina, the second leg of the five-timer.
In the absence of Magical Mag, Ballydoyle Tina was a hot favourite to win Heat 2 and she made little mistake, although she did have to work her way past the fast starting Brockagh Justine down the back straight.
It was all very straightforward, however. Once turning second, Ballydoyle Tina was always going to be too hot to handle and she duly moved through the gears in the manner of a future star. Owned by Paul Ellis and Seamus Hagan, the daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballydoyle Rossa asserted into the third turn before skipping clear for a comfortable four and a half-length verdict over Brockagh Justine in 28.46. Aghadown Flight, another Holland trained runner, progressed in third, a further half-length adrift.
MEL BLOWS AWAY COBWEBS
Bushpark Mel got the ball rolling for Holland in the opening heat.
In what was her first outing since August, she blew away the cobwebs in good style. Prominent from the start, she edged her way to the front down the back straight.
Singalong Polly, who has been racing over six bends recently, looked a serious threat at the third turn and did finish fast but Bushpark Mel kept finding also. The Upstairs Club Syndicate owned daughter of Malachi and Please Blossom went on to contain Singalong Polly by a head in 28.60 (rated .20 slow). Kilcolgan Whitney was six lengths adrift.
ANA SENDS OUT A REMINDER
Rural Ana sent out a reminder of her talent in Heat 3, completing a treble for Graham Holland.
A middle draw certainly aided her chances and she was a close second into the turn behind the determined Lone Calling.
Rural Ana may have taken a bump as her rival cut across her on the corner but the daughter of Pestana and Rural Aloha remained a close second into the back straight. A Lucky Julie was also disputing second place at this point but Rural Ana would get the better of her into the third turn to have first crack at the leader.
Owned by the Scots Clan Syndicate, Rural Ana joined Lone Calling between the last two bends before moving on as they entered the home straight. The wide-running A Lucky Julie came through for second. Rural Ana was good, however. She hit the line with a length and a half in hand on her rival in 28.78 (.20 slow) with Lone Calling the same distance away in third.
UP POPPED POPSIE
Of Holland’s five winners, Riverside Popsie was the biggest price.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Roaming Shari, who Graham jointly owns with Sheena Murphy, was a 6-1 chance to win Heat 4 but was fully deserving of her success.
After a very level start, it was Popsie that displayed the best early speed to get three quarters of a length on her rivals into the bend.It would prove crucial. Driving the bend from four, she forced her way into a clear advantage as her rivals clashed in behind.
By the second turn, she was in an unassailable advantage and moving with purpose. Laurels champion Magical On Fire recovered from bad opening bend traffic to come through for second but Riverside Popsie emerged a comfortable two length winner in 28.58 (.20 slow). Droopys Bundle was four lengths further back in third.
DEFENDING CHAMP FREYA COMPLETES GRAHAM’S FIVE TIMER
Right on queue, Silverhill Freya completed the set for Graham Holland and the Riverside Kennels in the final heat, although it was hardly a surprise given the fact that the defending champion was sent to traps the 4-7 favourite.
Eugene Buckley’s daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Silverhill Joyce went up a clear second behind the fast-starting Imokilly Roxanne but jumped on her opportunity when the leader moved off the fence as they hit the back straight.
Moving almost upsides, she ensured she had the inside line when they hit the third turn. This was important as Magical Hope had also joined in the battle for the lead, meaning there were three in a line as they began to turn at the end of the back straight.
Silverhill Freya defended her inside line with real determination and moved into a narrow advantage. She would then go on to beat Magical Hope by a length in 28.64 (rated .20 slow). Imokilly Roxanne was another two lengths back.
BELLE LEAVES RIVALS FEELING BLUE
Howard Wallace’s Blue Belle was 6-1 ahead of the New Barking Buzz App A0/A1 Dual Distance decider over 600yds but she clearly hadn’t read the script as she popped out and led her rivals a merry dance throughout.
Bred in the purple, the Francie Murray trained daughter of Drooptys Sydney and former Derby and Oaks champion Susie Sapphire had shown real strength in her previous outings, so her supporters never had a moment’s concern once she set the pace.
Gallant Prince turned second and did try to bridge the gap into the third turn, but it wasn’t going to be. In fact, from this point Blue Belle really did turn the screw and she stayed on strongly to see off another big finisher, Snowy April, by three lengths in a quick 32.48.
UNA WINS A DRAMATIC HEAT OF MARATHON
Both semi-finals of the Shelbourne Marathon over the 850yd trip provided great excitement.
The opening heat was a strange affair with each of the six runners looking capable of making a bold bid off the final turn.
Ultimately, Awshmar Una got the room to run when she needed it and she stormed home to lead on the run in for Ciaran O’Reilly. Tooreen Rose and Daleroad Poppy contested the lead for much of the way but as they came together around the last two bends, the pack began to close.
Killacolla Hill and Goodnite Kathleen both threatened to win but encountered traffic. Instead, Ashmar Una picked her line carefully and flew home for a length verdict over the always prominent Tooreen Rose in 49.11. The luckless Killacolla Hill secured her place in the final, just a short head away in third.
ON ICE HAS HER PRICE
The second heat went to Priceless On Ice although she really did have to dig deep to repel the persistent challenge Magical Poppet.
Oll The Doll actually dictated the pace early but couldn’t match her rivals for pace into the third turn.
Magical Poppet led the field into the back straight but Priceless On Ice was soon on terms and looked certain to drive clear. Magical Poppet had other ideas, however. The duo continued to duke it out up front but Priceless On Ice would eventually prove too strong.
Trained by Paul Hennessy for Bryan and Kathleen Murphy, the daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Jayne saw off Magical Poppet by a length in 48.33
MORE SUCCESS FOR MIAMI
Miami Hans made it three wins from his last four starts in the A0 opener.
Dangan Conor took them along after a slick exit, but he was chased into the back straight by Miami Hans. Down to the third turn it was clear that Miami Hans was going to make his move up the inside and he drove through a gap on the fence to assume control.
Town Kitten ran on well to take second, but Miami Hans would emerge a good winner for owners Noel McSweeney and Birol Nadir. The Garry Dempsey trained son of Ballymac Kingdom and Break The Best would win by a length in 28.68 (.20 slow).
KING FINDS A WAY
Willie Hyslop’s Toolmaker King (Droopys Sydney/ Droopys Curio) found a way to win the finale, an Open 525.
One of a number of dogs contesting the lead into the turn, he somehow stayed on his feet between runners, riding a couple of hefty bumps to lead into the back straight.
There was plenty of traffic around him, affecting many of his rivals with the exception of Dear Sir who turned second. The order never changed thereafter despite the best efforts of Dear Sir with the Robert Gleeson trained Toolmaker King holding on to win by a half length in 29.09 (rated .20 slow).
GEE UP SHOWS HIS CLASS
Harlequin Gee Up has really found his feet in recent weeks and he claimed a second impressive success at Shelbourne Park in as many weekends in the open 525 tenth race.
In a contest packed with early speed, the Scott Phelan trained son of King Sheeran and Swift Zap was simply too sharp for his rivals despite a moderate start.
Showing superb early dash, the Harlequin Syndicate owned tracker shot past his rivals to lead into the bend. He was never headed thereafter despite tying up on the run in. Town Lucky flew home to take second but Harlequin Gee Up held on to win by a half length in 28.86 (.20 slow).
Noel McSweeney presents the trophy to Ciara Byrne after Harlequin Gee Up won the Happy Birthday Noel McSweeney AAO 525. Also included are trainer Scott Phelan, Dean Phelan and friends of Noel McSweeney. Pic: Imelda Grauer