MARTHA ONCE AGAIN THE STAR AS OAKS CONTINUES
Ian Fortune
Saturday’s action at Shelbourne Park was again right out of the top drawer with exceptional racing on offer in the opening round of the Shelbourne Summer Cup and the second round of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks.
For the second week running Glengar Martha stole the headlines in the Oaks, closing a superb 28.27 on her way to another wide-margin success while Epic Ace would impress in the Summer Cup as he dominated to post a fastest of the night 28.20.
Heat 1 – BALLYMAC SOLVES THE RIDDLE
Shane Dowling’s Ballymac Riddle continued her rise up the ranks in the opening heat when making the most of a fast start to contain the persistent challenge of Blackeyed Turbo and the fast finish of Drumshanbo Susie.
The Liam Dowling trained Ballymac Riddle was really plucky up front, making every inch to hold off Blackeyed Turbo by a length in 28.60. Just behind the pair, Drumshanbo Susie stayed on strongly to finish just a head away in third.
Heat 2 – FREYA TAKES FLIGHT
Heat 2 was particularly eventful, although the P and A Coffey Syndicate owned Carrigmore Freya did what was needed, showing fine early speed to dominate from start to finish.
The real drama occurred in behind as two of the more fancied runners for outright glory, Kournikova and the defending champion A Lucky Julie, made their exit after clashing between the last two bends.
The Graham Holland trained Carrigmore Freya flashed from trap five to dominate and she would go on to win by two and a half lengths in 28.55. Meanwhile the battle fore the qualifying places was a much tighter affair. Both Kournikova and A Lucky Julie seemed to be moving with purpose into the third turn only for Kournikova to take a hefty bump before cannoning into A Lucky Julie. The latter hit the deck but got up and galloped home. Instead Coolavanny Shone came through to take second with Omey Mist just a short head back in third.
Heat 3 – ALICE TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Clonmore Alice was too hot for her rivals to handle in Heat 3.
The massive daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Alice rocketed from trap four and was soon in total command. Sain Tango was the warm favourite but she was out of luck, finding traffic on more than one occasion.
Instead Bowadis Raven and Droopys Bundle came through to take second and third but there was no stopping the Tom O’Neill trained Clonmore Alice. Owned by Breda and Cian Moloney, the September ’21 whelp went on to win by six lengths in 28.47. Bowadis Raven was second with Droopys Bundle another length adrift in third.
Heat 4 – ELLIE MAKES A STATEMENT
Annadown Ellie has often hinted that she would be a star and her latest run in Heat 4 did little to change that view.
In fact, the Ginger McGee trained star posted a career best effort, showing great all-round speed to make virtually every inch.
Jerry Connors’ daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Headford Honey was two and a half lengths to the good into the back straight with Ballymac Mint emerging as the nearest threat but Annadown Ellie was in a league of her own.
Kicking again off the final turn, Annadown Ellie would eventually see off Ballymac Mint by six lengths in 28.36. Lemon Orla again flew home to qualify, finishing two lengths further back.
Heat 5 – MAGIC MARTHA GOES FASTEST AGAIN
Glengar Martha remains one of the fastest in training and she followed up her standard-setting opening round display with another massive run to go fastest in the second round.
Drawn in five in Heat 5, she was headed in the early stages by the fast-starting Velvet Jenny but displayed fine pace and track craft to skip around her rival on the turn.
It would prove a decisive moment in the contest. Displaying massive pace, Glengar Martha quickly raced into a six length lead and she would increase her advantage as Brockagh Justine and Velvet Jenny clashed.
It was little more than a procession for Glengar Martha. Trained by Pat Buckley for Richard Colwell, the brilliant daughter of Droopys Sydney and Glengarbadminton would race right away from her rivals to emerge the easiest of winners by ten lengths in a superb 28.27. Droopy Glamour ran on well to take second, three lengths clear of Velvet Jenny.
Heat 6 – BABE TOO STRONG
Youandme Babe was again too strong for Voyage Eala in the last of the six heats.
The latter again set a strong gallop to bely her inexperience but was always struggling to get far enough clear. Paul Hynes’ Youandme Babe was never far away and, despite taking a couple of bumps from the prominent Hawkfield Abbie, she would go second on the third turn.
Once doing so, she was always going to take some stopping. Voyage Eala continued to dictate but Youandme Babe was now starting to wind up her challenge. Charging up the straight, the Paul Hennessy trained daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Jaytee Pearl would come home two lengths clear of Voyage Eala in 28.75. Kilwest Diva was three parts of a length away in third.
ACE TOO HOT TO HANDLE IN SUMMER CUP
After catching the eye on more than one occasion in recent outings in the Islandbridge Open Sprint, it was no surprise to see John Kennedy’s Epic Ace set a really strong standard in the opening round of the valuavle Shelbourne Summer Cup.
A red-hot favourite for Heat 3, the Pat Guilfoyle trained son of Signet Ace and Free From Desire clearly read the brief, flashing from traps to dominate. Posting a superb 15.87 to the third turn, he coasted home a seven length winner over Max Pro in a rapid 28.20. Clona Ice was just a half lengths further adrift.
SCHOLSEY WITH AN IMPRESSIVE STRIKE
Carrick Scholsey gives the impression he is destined to be a star in the future and he made a winning Shelbourne debut in Heat 2, showing fine early zip to clear the opening turn.
Trained by Robert Gleeson for Thomas Glynn, the son of Droopys Scolari and Droopys Beaufort quickly opened up on the chasing pack and would eventually coast to a facile six length success in 28.44.
Innfield Destony came through for second with Sunshine Sioux actually running a big race to come through for third, a further length and a half back.
REUNION CONTINUES FINE RUN OF FORM
Surprise Reunion has really come roaring back to top form in recent weeks and he emerged a good winner of the final heat for Marie Gilbert and owners, the Three Legs of Man Syndicate.
Gallant Hunter broke fastest but Surprise Reunion bettered that rival into the turn to assert.
Once going to the front, he always seemed to have matters in hand. The son Ballymac Cashout and Das Eadaoin would go on to beat the eye-catching Priceless Romeo by a half length in 28.66. Daraghs Sydney was another six and a half lengths away in third.
GWAN, GWAN, YOU WILL, YOU WILL
The journey back to Askeaton wouldn’t have seemed that far for Pat O’Connell and owners Theresa and Caoimhe O’Connell after Gwan My Boy emerged a good winner of the opening heat.
Second into the turn behind the fast-starting Southwood Stan, the son of Explosive Boy and Hazelfield Acho charged up the fence to force his way beyond the early pace-setter.
It would prove a decisive maneouvre. Happy Jet stayed on strongly to come through for second but Gwan My Boy would emerge a deserving three length winner in 28.71. Hazelhill Marty was the third qualifier a further three lengths adrift.
PEST POUNCES IN FINALE
The final race on the card saw Rural Pest double his career tally and open his Dublin account.
One suspects that he will go faster in the future and is clearly a greyhound to follow. Skidrow Joe looked a likely winner when leading at the turn but he lost his action.
Instead, Rural Pest made his move on the outside of the track. Going to the front as they entered the back straight, he quickly moved clear to put the result beyond doubt. Trained by Graham Holland for Helen and Emily O’Dwyer, the son of Pestana and Rural Aloha would run out a ready eight length winner over Clona Comet in 28.45. There was another four length gap to De Foxy Devil in third.