SEVEN BEACH CLAIMS GOLD IN CUP
Ian Fortune
Seven Beach has so often been the bridesmaid, but he took his opportunity to take the headlines at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as he claimed a first big race success, coming home in front in the final of the Tote Gold Cup.
It was a slightly bittersweet success as Carrick Aldo seemed set to score only to pick up a muscle injury into the third turn. Few would begrudge Seven Beach his big race success, however. A dual Derby semi-finalist over the past two years, the brilliant son of Pestana and Whitings Gift has been amongst the best in training for some time and was in the right place at the right time when it mattered.
Seven Beach and Carrick Aldo both came away racing and had a real set-to into the bend. Less than a half length separated the pair on the corner with Carrick Aldo holding a slight advantage. It was at this point that Carrick Aldo made what seemed certain to be a decisive move.
Driving across his rival, Carrick Aldo moved into a near two length lead. Seven Beach sat second although he was briefly joined off the second turn by Kerogue Lady with Hawkfield Blue another two lengths back in fourth.
Seven Beach began to inch closer to the leader before disaster struck for favourite backers. As they hit halfway, Carrick Aldo seemed to lose the fluency in his action. Seven Beach had now mastered Kerogue Lady and shot to the front.
In a matter of strides, the race was over as a contest. Seven Beach was now on his way to victory. Kerogue Lady did run hard into the third turn but was never going to worry the Beach Boys Trio owned Seven Beach.
Instead, Hawkfield Blue finished strongly to come through for second but Seven Beach would go on to fulfil his destiny, hitting the line a length clear in 28.52. Kerogue Lady would finish a length further back in third. The victory of Seven Beach continued the wonderful start to 2025 for Jennifer O’Donnell, who only a couple of weeks earlier claimed the Rural Kennels Open Unraced at Clonmel with The Other Wild.
Amy Fitzsimons Customer Care Shelbourne Park presents the trophy to John Mitchell after Seven Beach won the 2025 Tote Gold Cup and Kelsey Sullivan presents a replica trophy to trainer Jennifer O'Donnell. Also included are Pat Flanagan Chairman GRI, Dylan Brennan Racing Manager Shelbourne Park, Tony Mitchell and Seamie Kent. Pic: Imelda Grauer
FREYA CLAIMS MORE SILVERWARE
Just weeks after capturing the Christmas Oaks, Silverhill Freya claimed more silverware in Dublin by coming home clear in the final of the Shelbourne Park Regulars Mini Open 525.
Eugene Buckley’s daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Silverhill Joyce was very close to her best.
Officially returned at 4-6, she was freely available at 5-4 and proceeded to make every inch after a slick exit from three. Boylesports Blue would turn second and attempt to close on Silverhill Freya but the Graham Holland trained bitch was never going to be threatened. Maintaining a powerful gallop throughout, she would see off Boylesports Blue by three and a half lengths in 28.27.
Dylan Brennan Shelbourne Park Racing Manager presents the trophy to Jack Buckley after Silverhill Freya won The Shelbourne Park Regulars AO 525. Also included are trainer Graham Holland, handler Rachel Holland, Eugene, Mary Kate, Grace and Ollie Buckley and Jodie Scally. Pic: Imelda Grauer
A RED-HOT FEVER
Mustang Fever took off in the penultimate race, winning in a sizzling 28.12 for Sean Bourke and Paul Horig.
A Derby quarter finalist last year, she recently posted a sizzling 18.27 in a trial at Limerick and she backed up that impressive effort to make a winning start to 2025.
Showing superb early speed, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Mustang Kay Cee flew into the turn to assume complete control and comfortably contained the always second Hawkfield Abbie by two and a half lengths.
PICKLES FLIES IN FINALE
There was also a notable run from another very fast lady in the finale as Clement Ryan’s Coosane Pickles returned from a layoff to win in some style.
Last seen winning her opening round assignment in the Derby Plate, she was hugely impressive as she made every inch to see off a top-class field.
Remarkably, this was the first time in her career that she would lead around the opening bend and it was soon evident she was not going to be picked up. Yorkie Ollie slipped around in second but was never going to worry the pace-setter. The Michael O’Donovan trained Coosane Pickles was relentless out front, going on to hit the line four lengths clear of Yorkie Ollie in a rapid 29.34. Boylesports Bob also flew home to finish two and a half lengths back in third.
MEG FASTEST IN TRI-DISTANCE
Templeville Meg and Swithins Jim came home in front in the semi-finals of the Barking Buzz A1/A2 Tri Distance over 575yds with the former going slightly faster in the second heat.
Trained by Ray Melia for Jonathan Dever, the daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Cayan Tower could never get loose but she challenged throughout, seemingly relishing the challenge as she dug deep to hold off the early challenge of Invergarry before containing the late charge of Curraghmore Coco.
Templeville Meg would go on to win by three parts of a length from Curraghmore Coco in 31.50. Regimental flew home to grab third in the final stride a further head back.
JIM DOMINATES
Swithins Jim justified favouritsim in the opening heat, getting loose into the turn to make every yard of the running.
High Performer would stay on to take second but there was no stopping the pace-setter. Trained by Peter Cronin for the Swithins Syndicate, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Cloncunny Peecee would run right to the line to beat High Performer and Saleen Mateo by four lengths and a length in 31.53.
TEDDY LOOKS SERIOUS
One of the performances of the night came in the sole sprint with Hopes Teddy showing electric pace and trapping ability to leave some talented rivals, including the hot favourite Second Treasure, chasing shadows.
Trained by Pat Buckley for Ciaran O’Sullivan, Hopes Teddy rocketed from trap four to quickly seize control and there was no let up from the son of Confident Rankin and Dolls Lady. Second Treasure did all he could to stay in touch in second but Hopes Teddy would emerge a most impressive four length winner in 18.52.
BRUNO LANDS A KNOCK OUT BLOW
Ballyhooly Bruno, owned by the Ashgrove Trio Syndicate, was at his very best in the eighth race, showing massive back straight pace to cut down the likes of Sogna In Grande and Dunanelly Fred.
Going second behind Sogna In Grande at the third turn, the Tom O’Neill trained son of Jacob Tashadelek and Foyle Lucy would then burst his way past the leader on the final turn. Staying on strongly, Ballyhooly Bruno would run out quite a taking winner by three lengths from Sogna In Grande in 28.44.
A SMOOTH SCOTCH IN OPENER
Da Bold Falcon may have been a red-hot favourite for the opener on the card over 600yds, but Riverside Scotch (Droopys Sydney/ Riverside Honey) got first run on the favourite and kept finding when challenged around the last two bends and home.
Trained by Graham Holland for his daughter Rachel, Riverside Scotch looks likely to stay beyond the 600yd trip, much like his dam before him, and that was evident in the closing yards as he kept finding to repel Da Bold Falcon by a half-length in 32.78.
TOMCAT RAZOR SHARP
Stefans Tomcat was razor-sharp in the second race, flashing from traps to dominate for Shea Campbell.
The son of Dorotas Wildcat and Muffin was soon in control and never really looked like being picked up despite the best efforts of Clona Comet in second. Maintaining a fine gallop to the line, Stefans Tomcat looked a bright prospect as he came home two and a half lengths clear of Clona Comet in 28.53.
SUITS YOU SIR
Dear Sir had posted a rapid 21.00 in a recent sprint trial at Dundalk and that sort of early speed was very evident in the third race on the card.
He left his rivals standing to the third turn before coasting home a facile scorer. Laurence Jones’ son of Premier Fantasy and Dear Oh Dear put real daylight between him and the chasers into the third turn before coasting home two and a half lengths clear of Neverseendalikes in 28.66.