Barry Drake
IMOKILLY ROXANNE (Coolavanny Hoffa-Cunnigar Spice), trained by Adam Dunford for Michael O'Driscoll, delivered a career-best performance when going quickest on the clock in the semi-finals of the €5,000 to the winner Shelley Fennelly Memorial Open Bitch Stake at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
A stunning 28.23 winning effort from the 6-4 shot. It was a performance of the very highest order as the impressive winner clocked a top-class 3.20 sectional to lead. Hackney Tango turned second and she was chasing hard down the back straight, but the winner was displaying awesome speed up front. The margin was reduced late on, but Imokilly Roxanne kept on well to land the spoils, a length clear of Hackney Tango, with six lengths back to Valleys Angel in third place.
COMFORTABLE WINNER
In the opening semi-final, Westway Rossa (Good News-Ballydoyle Rossa) ran out a comfortable winner for trainer Damian Maginn and owner Henry Scimia.
The 2-5 favourite wasn't the quickest into stride, however, she took advantage of the rails pitch to slip around in front. Quickening clear on the back straight, it was soon all one-way traffic up front. A 28.43 winning run and five and a half lengths clear of Rural Ana. Five lengths back to Innfield Riddle in third.
DRAW FOR THE FINAL OF THE SHELLEY FENNELLY MEMORIAL OPEN BITCH STAKE
1 VALLEYS ANGEL
2 WESTWAY ROSSA
3 HACKNEY TANGO
4 IMOKILLY ROXANNE
5 RURAL ANA
6 INFIELD RIDDLE