PROFESSIONAL JUSTINE TAKES SHELBOURNE FEATURE
Ian Fortune
Saturday’s action at Shelbourne Park offered plenty of entertainment, some superb displays and a particularly professional performance from Brockagh Justine as she took the feature, the final of the Talking Dogs Open 525.
Cieran Fitzgerald’s daughter of Magical Bale and Killeen Princess was sent to traps the 6/4 favourite and it was evident from the opening stride that she meant business. The Maureen Finnegan trained daughter of Magical Bale and Killeen Princess rocketed from trap three and was dominant throughout.
Dunnanelly Fred flew into the third turn to close but Brockjagh Justine kept moving with purpose up front to eventually come home a length clear of her rival in 28.68.
TYSON WITH ANOTHER PAYDAY
Phoenix Tyson brought his career earnings to over €14,000 when coming home in front in the final of the Bet With The Tote A1 525.
The Ian Reilly trained speedster flashed from trap four and was soon in control, although his many supporters would have been concerned when Razldazl Myway emerged from the pack, showing plenty of purpose and pace.
Phoenix Tyson swung wide off the final turn, seemingly leaving the door open for his challenger, but he kicked again once straightening up. Billy Reilly’s son of Grangeview Ten and Fahy Ripley hit the line three parts of a length to the good in 28.79. Le Pepinillo was third, a further three lengths behind Razldazl Myway.
EXILE GOES FASTEST
The semi-finals of the Upcoming Gold Cup Open 525 provided the two best displays on the card with flying females Im An Exile and Drive On Beauty impressing in the respective assignments.
Im An Exile looked a little lost on her Shelbourne debut seven days earlier but produced a wonderful display of front running to set the standard with a 28.45 return in the opening heat. Andrew Lynch’s daughter of Burgess Bucks and Trusted Exile broke smartly from five to dispute the lead in the opening yards with Cheque For Sir before asserting on the turn.
It was a decisive move. The November ’22 whelp eased on before going on to cross the line three and a half lengths clear of Cheque For Sir. Droopys Bro was a half length further back in third.
DRIVE A REAL BEAUTY
Drive On Beauty won in remarkably similar fashion in the second heat.
She too came away well from a wide draw before asserting into the turn. Chris O’Donovan’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Alice was left further clear as her rivals found a small bit of traffic on the turn.
It scarcely mattered, however. Drive On Beauty was already clear and showing no signs of letting up. Drive On Beauty was relentless to the line, eventually emerging four lengths clear of Hawkfield Abbie in 28.47. Glory Lord was another length and a half further adrift.
BOOKEM SETS STANDARD IN DUAL DISTANCE
Racing concluded with the semi-finals of the Go Greyhound Racing Open Dual Distance over 575yds and Droopys Bookem justified favouritism in the second heat, setting the pace with an impressive 31.04 return.
Trained by Johnny Linehan for the All Angles Syndicate, the son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Sweet found room to race into the turn and he displayed fine early speed to get the better of the fast starting Keelans Joker.
Fleadh Rileigh also went up strongly but nothing was going to stop Droopys Bookem when he struck the front. The powerful tracker ran out a comfortable two and a half length winner over Fleadh Rileigh. Keelans Joker was another two lengths adrift.
AVAILABLE STRIKES
There was a tighter finish to the opening semi-final with Available forced to dig deep to hold the fast-finishing Esmonde Swift and Velvet Jenny.
Representing Aidan and Rosemary Price, Available came away racing and quickened into a two length lead by the second bend.
Esmonde Swift closed into the third turn and ran right to the line to close on the leader but Available kept finding and stayed wide, forcing Esmonde Swift to check slightly. It allowed the daughter of Jaytee Taylor and Me Penny to hold on by a length in 31.44. Esmonde Swift was second with Velvet Jenny just three parts of a length away in third.
AKI GIVES BARRY A DOUBLE
Michael Cully’s Coonough Aki has run into some form in recent times and he emerged a good winner to set the standard in the semi-finals of the Barking Buzz A1 525.
Although headed early, he flew up the fence to force his way to the front on the turn.
Once doing so, he quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals. Margarets Pearl did stay on well to close but Coonough Aki would emerge a length and half scorer in 28.95. In victory, he completed a double for Barry Clancy.
BRISTOW ON TARGET
Bristow earlier confirmed his standing as one of the most consistent trackers around Shelbourne Park when making every inch in the opening semi-final.
Representing Liam and Debbie O’Rourke, the son of Laughil Blake and Ales Smile would run out a two length winner over the staying on Rapido Bob in 29.00.
BUCKS BOUNCES OUT TO MAKE ALL
Racing commenced with an open 575 and Timmys Bucks made a successful return to Shelbourne Park for Tim and Olive Cliff.
A winner over six bends in the past, the strong running son of Burgess Bucks and Trusted Exile was always going to take some catching when coming away fastest to lead around the turn.
Glenlara Blue emerged as the only conceivable danger when avoiding opening bend traffic but he could never get to Timmys Bucks, who would go on to score by two lengths in 31.20.
WILLOW OPENS ACCOUNT
Innfield Willow (Ballymac Cashout/ Innfield Jasper) opened her account in the second race for Barry Clancy.
Only third in the early yards, she motored down the back straight to challenge as they began to turn. Staying wide of the early leader Highview Buddy, she struck the front between the last two bends before going on to win by three lengths from Highview Buddy in 29.20.