LIAM AND KAMALA UNSTOPPABLE IN OAKS
Ian Fortune
The 2026 Sporting Press Irish Oaks got underway at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and two names really came to the fore, that of Liam Dowling and Ballymac Kamala.
Dowling was in imperious form, sending out four of the nine heat winners, each carrying his famed ‘Ballymac’ prefix including Ballymac Kamala who sent out a loud and clear warning to her rivals that she will be very hard to beat in the bitch classic.
Not only did she complete the four-timer for Dowling in the final heat, but she also smashed the 28 second barrier for the second time in the row.
Heat 1 – GLORY GLORY ALLORY
Ballymac Allory was back to her very sharpest in the opening heat, showing tremendous pace to lead from start to finish for Liam Dowling.
A winner in 28.05 around Shelbourne in early April, she didn’t go quite as fast but was untouchable as she made virtually every inch in 28.36.
The Other Eimear was actually fastest into stride but Ballymac Allory soon headed her and never looked back. Rapido Ivy found traffic to lose her placfe around the second turn but recovered well to take third. At the line, Ballymac Allory had
Heat 2 – A QUICK DOWLING DOUBLE
Ballymac Gwennie completed a rapid double for Liam Dowling in the very next heat, showing her wonderful pace to lead from before the opening bend.
A real powerhouse, the daughter of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta would have been expected to draw clear but Droopys Bundle ran a huge race in second, staying on really well to finish just a length back in second. Ballymac Gwennie held on to score in 28.23. Droopys Bundle was second with a three length gap top Youandme Babe in third.
Heat 3 – NOELLE CLEAR FROM THE TURN
Silent Noelle emerged an easy winner of Heat 3 and being left clear on the turn when forcing her way through on the fence.
Classic winners Magical On Fire and Lemon Orla were in the firing line at this point with both finding bad traffic to bow out of the Oaks.
Instead, Silent Noelle was left a mile clear and she proceeded to cruise home a very easy winner for the Nolan, Mullins, Ahern Syndicate. The daughter of Newinn Taylor and Terezas Mendoza came back to her rivals in the closing yards but was still three lengths to the good when crossing the line in 28.34. Knockduff Diva ran on well to finish second with Ballymac Chantry recovering from bad traffic to take third.
Heat 4 – CROIA SHOWS HER CLASS
Droopys Croia was at her brilliant best in Heat 4 making the most of an inside draw to go around in front of Magical Mag and Ballymac Lix.
Running an exceptional corner, the daughter of Signet Ace and Droopys Alice moved into a decisive lead by the second turn.
Magical Mag ran a big race in her first outing of the year, giving chase throughout but she was never going to get to the leader. Trained by Johnny Linehan for Sean Dunphy, Droopys Croia emerged a comfortable and most impressive three length winner over Magical Mag in 28.28. Ballymac Lix was three and a half length further adrift.
Heat 5 – SIUN MAKES IT THREE FOR LIAM
Liam Dowling was again on the mark in Heat 5 as Ballymac Siun overpowered her rivals to hand her handler a hat trick of winners.
Princess Rosie and Knocknadogue Star raced clear of the field in the early stages but both were vulnerable once Ballymac Siun turned in third.
As expected, Ballymac Siun started to motor between the last two bends and shot between her rivals as they turned for home. Finishing fast, the daughter of King Elvis and Ballymac Merkle ran out a ready three length winner over Knocknadoguestar in 28.54. Coolavanny Ogie ran on to take third, just three parts of a length adrift.
Heat 6 – ASH LEAVES IT LATE
Heat 6 provided the tightest finish of the round with Lennies Ash getting up late to win for Paul Hennessy and the Cocoman, Craze, Ian Syndicate.
Amigo Star moved to the front at the turn and set a strong gallop to the third turn but Avenue Queen and Lennies Ash were always in pursuit.
This set up a wonderful finish. As Amigo Star came back to her pursuers, Avenue Queen and Lennies Ash challenged on her flanks. The trio flashed past the post locked in battle but Lennies Ash had done enough.
The daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Magical Mary got up to win by a half length in 28.58. Avenue Queen was second with Amigo Star just a short head away in third.
Heat 7 – DANIKAS A DIAMOND
Danikas Diamond may have gone to traps a 10-1 chance in Heat 7 but she was clearly feeling well in herself because she simply outran her rivals, making a flying start from three to make every inch.
Stephen Townsley’s daughter of Crossfield Dusty and Enable cut for the fence in the early yards but comfortably got across and that set on the path to success. Showing determination throughout, she repelled the challenge of Clan Sapphire before going on to beat the staying on Magical Hope by two lengths in 28.58. Clan Sapphire finished a length back in third.
Heat 8 – SUSIE OPENS ACCOUNT
Susies Shadow has big shoes to fill as a daughter of Droopy Sydney and Derby, Oaks and Easter Cup winner Susie Sapphire but she took a step in the right direction in Heat 8 making the most of an inside draw to open her account at the tenth time of asking.
Peter Comerford’s bitch had run well in defeat twenty-four hours earlier but this was even better from the Owen McKenna trained youngster. Prominent from the outset, she joined the early leader Highview Carol at halfway before edging on into the third turn.
Highview Carol came back at her on the run in but Susies Shadow was not going to be denied. Sticking her neck out, she held on to score by a short head in 28.41. There was a further three and a half lengths to Deerjet Matilda in third.
Heat 9 – THE BEST SAVED FOR LAST
Ballymac Kamala completed the Liam Dowling four-timer, again showing her incredible ability to smash the 28 second barrier.
Have no doubt, this was the display of the night from the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Pete as she left a talented field chasing shadows.
Despite a tricky draw in five, Ballymac Kamala was paw-perfect. Breaking smartly and displaying her trademark early dash, he had matters well in hand by the corner. It was all very straightforward thereafter.
Pulling right away down the back straight, posting a sizzling 15.76 to the third turn, she maintained her impressive stride to eventually cross the line five and a half lengths clear of the always second Lennies Dream in a stunning 27.89. To highlight the quality of the display, Lennies Dream was the third fastest qualifier of the entire opening round. Fleadh Rileigh progressed in third, some seven lengths further back.
Undercard
PHANTOM FLIES IN OPENER
Fahee Phantom really set the tone in the opener, an AA0 525, showing superb early speed and all-round pace to clock a rapid 28.01 for Graham Holland and Kenny Glen.
Toolmaker King was his great rival in the betting and the pair had a great buckle into the turn with Fahee Phantom making the most of his inside line. He eased on a fraction to enter the back straight with a length to spare and increased his advantage to the third turn. Gallant Captain ran on strongly to collar the fading Toolmaker King in the dying strides but Fahee Phantom was unrelenting, winning by five lengths.
ROMAN ROMPS HOME
Crossfield Roman came in as a reserve into the finale, an AA0 Maiden 550, and quickly set out his stall.
Brendan O’Shea’s talented son of Droopys Sydney and Crossfield Feena was in front from the opening stride.
Making every inch thereafter, he would eventually see off Uncle Keith by four and a half lengths in a decent 29.45.