SENSATIONAL UNDERCARD ON ST. LEGER FINAL NIGHT
Peter Farrell
Aside from the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger, there was a terrific undercard on offer at Limerick on Saturday night and this was spearheaded by a track-record breaking performance from Ower Cracker.
A recent winner of the ‘Upcoming Yvonne Barry AA0 Dual Distance’ at Shelbourne Park, the Pat Buckley-trained runner was riding the crest of a wave on his return to Limerick and he was chasing a fourth straight victory coming into the event. Jointly owned by J.E and Tony Harvey, the son of Deerjet Sydney and Nice Mystery was installed as the 10/11 favourite and he made a slick exit from four to quickly show the superior early dash to lead. Holding a healthy four length lead into the back, Ower Mystery outpaced his rivals to the halfway mark and it was clear that the clock was under threat. Extra Gain occupied second at this point and he certainly made inroads in the closing yards, however, it was too little too late as Ower Cracker did the damage early. Racing to a two length success, ‘Cracker’ stopped the clock in a phenomenal 32.04, which was a mere spot inside the previous track record held by Blackstone Lacy.
BRUNO KICK-STARTS NIGHT IN STYLE
The signs of a memorable night were positive from an early stage as the final of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A3 525 produced an outstanding winner in the form of Cloonturk Bruno.
Sent to traps as the 8/11 favourite, Cloonturk Bruno posted a fine 28.66 in the semis and the Tigue-Family-Syndicate had reason for optimism as a result. Running from six, the son of Belles Direction and Jaytee Jade made his intentions clear from the outset as he pinged the lids to record a fast 1.29 sectional. In doing so, ‘Bruno’ gave himself every chance and he quickly excelled ahead of his rivals to put himself firmly in the driving seat. Making every yard thereafter, it was all one-way traffic in the €1,000 decider as Clooturk Bruno came home three lengths clear of Pilot Scheme in second. The time was a slick 28.37.
KOBE DUNKS RIVALS
Reigning Irish Derby Champion may have found life difficult at Dundalk in recent weeks but he showed that he retains huge ability as he landed the Willwego.com AAO 525 in brilliant fashion.
Touted as a two-dog affair between The Other Kobe and the in-form Tribal Syd, this is how it unfolded as Graham Holland’s charge came out the right side of an epic battle throughout. Taking his customary ping start from three, ‘Kobe’, the 8/11 jolly, quickly darted to the rails and in doing so, was well on his way to making every post a winner. Railing tightly, The Other Kobe held a three parts of a length lead into the back from Tribal Syd and the latter challenged throughout to play his big part in a thrilling contest. Maintaining a powerful gallop, the son of Ballymac Best was always holding Tribal Syd however, and although the latter upped the ante in the closing yards, the Derby champ held firm to record a one and a half length victory. The time was a blistering time of 28.18.
RESERVE ANNIE LANDS BITCH OPEN
The Open Bitch race saw Annie On Faya come in as a reserve and Murt Leahy’s charge grabbed her chances with both paws.
Owned by Cian Mulrooney, the 10/3 chance came away racing from trap two and she disputed the early running with Drombeg Pearl, the latter of which just edging the lead on the approach to the opener. Nip and tuck down the back, Annie On Faya took over at the sprint boxes and she was aided by some trouble in behind which saw Unanimous Roxy forced to check when making rapid progress, which in turn impacted Drombeg Pearl in second. As a result, ‘Annie’ drew clear of her rivals and she comfortably crossed the line two lengths clear of Bockos Crystal, who came through for second. The time was 28.39.
WOOD TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Hot Wood arrived at Limerick fresh from landing his second big event of the year at Galway and Pat Carey’s tracker produced a polished performance to make it four wins on the spin.
Trained by Gerry Holian, Hot Wood landed a €3,500 pot last time out at Galway when dipping well under the 29-second barrier for the 550-yards, however, he produced a career best display to emphatically outclass his rivals in the AA0 550 at Limerick. A generous 9/2 chance, Hot Wood was spring-like at traps as he flew into an early lead. Holding the improving Coolavanny Percy early on, the son of Airmount Nando raced into a four length advantage at the midway point and the Produce Stakes semi finalists never relented thereafter. Staying on stoutly, Hot Wood crossed the line four and a half lengths clear of Coolavanny Percy as he stopped the clock in a very fast 29.48.
FRANKIE FASTEST IN CON MURPHY SEMIS
There will be another big pot on offer at Limerick next Saturday night as the Con Murphy Bookmakers A1 525 comes to a head and it was Starson Frankie that ensured he will go off favourite in the decider with a devastating performance in the opening semi.
Owned by Pat O’Connell, Starson Frankie was a massive price at 6/1 in the market, however, the November puppy was oblivious to those odds as he belted out from trap five to quickly secure a rails berth to the opener. Showing a sizzling turn of early speed, the son of Explosive Boy and Hazelfield Echo manufactured a five length lead into the back straight and he was setting a scorching gallop as he passed the sprint box. Picked up late on his last start, ‘Frankie’ wasn’t to suffer the same fate this time around as he romped to a five length win over Carrigmore Freya in second. The time was an exceptional 28.25. Incidentally, the second semi final was landed by Voyage Stanley (Pestana - Murlens Maura) as the Scott Phelan-trained charge, owned by Ciara Byrne, produced a strong finish to emerge a two and a half length winner. The time for the 5/1 chance was 28.69.
LILAC STAYED EVERY YARD
There was some marathon action on offer in the shape of the Talking Dogs Novice 750 and Lilac Tree made every post a winner for trainer Paul Hennessy.
Jointly owned by Patricia McGrath and Christian Hagberg, Lilac tree had a reputation for her fast-finishing exploits over the four-bend trip so when the 9/4 chance broke in front from trap six, her rivals all required something special in their efforts to reel her in. Holding a clear lead out wide, Sombre made a good fist of it around the second and third bends in her attempts to reel in the leader, however, once getting loose on the back straight, the writing was very much on the wall. Appreciating every yard of the marathon trip, the daughter of Laughil Blake and Battle Cry drew clear around the six bend and she emerged a four and a half length winner, in a rapid 41.67. One to watch over the extreme distances going forward.
TRAP TO LINE FOR KATIE
Race seven was the Limerick Sales AO 550 and this saw Airfield Katie make every yard for Fergus Walsh and Michael O’Meara.
Last seen at Limerick finishing fourth behind the incredible Unanimouspanther, this looked a more straightforward task for Airfield Katie and this so proved as she broke best of all from trap six to dictate proceedings early on. Holding a healthy advantage over Cagey Billy entering the back, the 11/4 chance was kept honest by the latter throughout and despite being pressed by ‘Billy’ in the closing yards, ‘Katie’ held enough in reserve to score. One length clear at the winning line, the time was 29.92.
TEN YEARS SIGNS OFF IN STYLE
The night concluded with a virtual solo for Tenyearsshutterin as Declan Beary and Orlaigh McCarthy’s August whelp made it four wins from just five starts.
After tasting his only defeat on his last start, Tenyearshutterin returned to the type of form that saw him impress so much at Enniscorthy in his earlier starts. An 11/4 chance, the son of Vic Vega and Ontheredcarpet made his intentions clear from the outset with a ping break from trap four to quickly storm past the early leader, Athlacca Arteta. Motoring into a five length lead down the back, Tenyearshutterin is one to keep on the right side of going forward as he romped to a five length victory thereafter. Underlining an exceptional display, the clock stopped in 28.18, which was a career best effort for this tracker.