RANDOLPH EARNS HEADLINES WITH EASTER CUP ROMP
Ian Fortune
The stage is set for the most incredible finish to the 2025 Bresbet Easter Cup after two wonderful semi-finals at a busy Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
Da Bold Falcon took full advantage of the extra room afforded to him by the withdrawal of Jaytee Craze in the second heat but the headlines went to Randolph Scotts as he produced a sensational display to record a rapid 29.29 in the opening heat.
A MASSIVE RUN FROM SCOTTS
The betting market was an indication of how open it looked on paper with Hawkfield Blue and Clonbrien Treaty sent off the 3-1 joint favourites, just ahead of Randolph Scotts and Maireads Prince at 7-2.
Next in were Yorkie Ollie at 4-1 and Barefoot On Song at 6-1 and it was the latter duo that were fastest into stride.
Hawkfield Blue also came away racing before charging up the inside into the turn. Clonbrien Treaty also improved his position on the outside to challenge on the turn. Barefoot On Song had to dab on the brakes as they gap closed leaving Hawkfield Blue on the inside of Yorkie Ollie and Clonbrien Treaty.
By the turn, Randolph Scotts was on the heels of the leaders and motoring despite making a moderate start. The Peter Cronin trained son of Brett Lee and Oi Oi Upenalty was in determined humour and he threw himself into the turn to force his way though on the fence.
In a matter of strides, he went from hunting for space in fourth to hitting the front, forcing his rivals out of his way. Once going to the front, Randolph Scotts was unrelenting. Owned by the Big Bus Syndicate, the September ’22 whelp moved with real fluency and purpose to the third turn to increase his advantage over Clonbrien Treaty. It was a statement like performance.
Maintaining a powerful gallop to the line, Randolph Scotts would hit the line four and a half lengths clear in a fastest of the competition 29.29. Hawkfield Blue stayed on to take second with Barefoot On Song coming through for third. Defending champion Clonbrien Treaty would fade away to finish fourth.
FALCON FLIES ONCE AGAIN
The second heat was won in very different fashion by Da Bold Falcon, although he was no less impressive as he again displayed all his power and pace to wrestle the lead from 8-11 favourite Hopes Teddy at the third turn.
Hopes Teddy wasn’t the fastest into stride but quickly moved to the front on the inside of the track to turn in front of Tarsna Maasai and Mustang Fever. The complexion of the contest changed completely with one simple maneouvre.
Forcing his way up the inside of Cushie The Best on the turn, Da Bold Falcon found himself in a pocked of space on the inside of the track, not far behind the leader and on the inside of Tarsna Maasai and Mustang Fever.
Hopes Teddy was over two lengths to the good when they straightened up into the back straight but Da Bold Falcon was now in the clear and motoring. Closing rapidly on the pace-setter. Da Bold Falcon made his move at the third turn.
Moving with such speed, the Ginger McGee trained son of Droopys Sydney and Hail Cleopatra went past Hopes Teddy in a flash. As he did, he edged inwards forcing the early leader to check his stride slightly. This left him vulnerable to those in behind.
In contrast, Da Bold Falcon was on his way to a superb success. Pat McDonagh’s charge lived up to his name, flying up the straight to win by an ever-increasing seven and a half lengths in 29.42. It was a remarkable run by one of the country’s finest.
Meanwhile, Hopes Teddy was put under severe pressure off the final turn and looks likely to be swallowed up as Mustang Fever got up his inner. He wasn’t going to be denied, however. Digging deep, Hopes Teddy came back to grab second spot, a length to the good over Tarsna Maasai.
Bresbet Easter Cup
Final draw
1 HOPES TEDDY
2 DA BOLD FALCON
3 RANDOLPH SCOTTS
4 BAREFOOT ON SONG
5 HAWKFIELD BLUE
6 TARSNA MAASAI (W)
******
FLYER ALWAYS IN CHARGE
The final of the Upcoming Shelbourne Open 600 Dual Distance saw Eugene Price’s Air Flyer smash from traps to dominate.
He had impressed in the semi-finals when winning well over 575yds and the extra 25yds made little difference to the Rosemary Price trained son of Droopys Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy.
Longrange Trend came into trap three as a reserve and gave chase throughout but it was futile. Air Flyer would run right to the line to emerge a facile four length winner over his rival in 32.37.
Pic right: Michael Dempsy Leinster Regional Racing Manager presents the trophy to Eugene Price after Air Flyer won Upcoming Shelbourne Open 600 Final. Pic: Imelda Grauer
RAVISHING ROXY
There was a massive run in the finale from Unanimous Roxy as she clawed back the fast-starting Meenagh Minsk to record a wonderful 28.17.
Representing the classic winning combo of Pat Buckley and Ciaran O’Sullivan, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Mystical Luna moved second as they hit the back straight before closing on the leader. Going around Meenagh Minsk, Unanimous Roxy took over as they turned for home to emerge a length on top.
DICE DASHES TO VICTORY
After a few fine runs around Galway in the Connaught Derby, Breaghmore Dice made a seamless return to Shelbourne when emerging a deserving winner of the penultimate race for MJ Corrigan.
The sharpest of the six at trap rise, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Cams would make every inch to contain the always second Phoenix Memphis by two lengths in 28.37.
ANYTHING BUT COSTLY
Those that backed Costly Lesson were in clover from the early yards of the A1 fourth race.
Barry Clancy’s massive son of Droopys Sydney and Hail Cleopatra is normally very strong from the second turn but he slipped up the inside of his rivals at the bend to go to the front. It was all plain sailing for Costly Lesson thereafter and he stayed on to stop the clock in 28.47. Riverside Popsie ran well in second to finish just a length and a half adrift.
JENNY PAW-PERFECT
Michael Corr has his team purring at present and he sent out Velvet Jenny to produce one of the performances of her career.
A versatile daughter of Droopys Sydney and Velvet Nannykate, she really was at her best as she dominated from the drop of the hat.
Ballinabola Emma displayed pace in second but Velvet Jenny would go on to hit the line two lengths clear of her rival in 28.35.
OLD TRICKS IMPRESSES
Old Tricks was up to the oldest trick in the book in the A1 second race by breaking fastest to make every inch of the running for Reggie Roberts.
The son of Droopys Sydney and Zola Princess was claiming a seventh career success as he kept the persistent Highview Tom at bay to win by a length in 28.52.
PIMPLE POPS UP LATE
One of the best finishes on the card was reserved for the A0 fifth race as Kerieght Pimple landed on the line to deny Monleek Sudan.
The latter only hit the front at the third turn but couldn’t contain the big finish of Aiden Denton’s Kereight Pimple. The son of Broadstrand Bono left it late but he got up to score by a half length in 28.83.
BUCKS GETS NIGHT OFF TO A FLIER
Timmys Bucks was a good winner of the opener, an AA0 575, for Tim and Olive Cliffe.
Singalong Dolly seemed set for victory when turning in front but the dual Cesarewitch champion was threading water down the back straight, perhaps feeling something, and was put under severe pressure from Timmys Bucks and Alva Mist.
Avas Mist hit the front into the third turn but Timmys Bucks was soon in pursuit and had too much strength for his rival. Despite being forced to check at the third turn, the son of Burgess Bucks and Trusted Exile took over on the run in to see off the fast-finishing Pennys Cailin by a length in 31.34.
HOTSHOT TAKES AIM
Lorraine Hyde Banning’s Royal Hotshot was in the perfect position to take advantage in the A1 third race, going to the front into the third turn as Vroom Vroom Mag seemed to lose her action.
Once going to the front, the Nalin Monerawela trained daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Aayamza Royale was always in command and she would go on to cross the line three and a half lengths clear of Innfield Trinity in 29.09.