SHEBETHEONE A PUPPY OAKS STUNNER
Ian Fortune
There was yet another exceptional card at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night featuring classic action as the Shelbourne Open 600 had the field halved for the final time but the headlines simply had to go to Shebetheone as she emerged a brilliant winner of the feature, the €10,000 Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks.
The final certainly went to script with Shebetheone justifying her position at the head of the market with another brilliant display to complete her unbeaten march through the valuable competition.
As expected, Meenagh Minsk flashed from traps to dictate from the early yards and she set a searching gallop into the back straight although her supporters probably knew their fate when Shebetheone turned a close second for Kate and Leo Dunphy.
The pair were clear of their rivals into the back straight and remained so throughout with Meenagh Minsk continuing to dictate the pace into the third turn. It weas at this point where Shebetheone was left with a choice to make.
She had to wait for a gap to emerge and decided to stick to the inside of the track. The gap finally came off the final turn as Meenagh Minsk moved off slightly, allowing Shebetheone to make a decisive move.
Staying on powerfully, Shebethone shot through the gap along the fence to assert in the final fifty yards for a brilliant victory. The daughter of Ballymac Wild and Whitings Gift would hit the line a length to the good over Meenagh Minsk in a rapid 28.21. Ballymac Mint stuck on well to take third, seven lengths further adrift.
Jennifer McCormack presents the trophy to Kate Dunphy after Shebetheone won the 2025 Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks 525. Also included are Leo Dunphy, sponsors Tony and Loraine Howard, Dylan Brennan Racing Manager, Stephen Purcill, Seamus Kent, John Mitchell and Aoibhe McCormack. Pic: Imelda Grauer
CALLWAY DRIVES CLEAR TO SET 600 STANDARD
Callaway Knegare was back to his brilliant best as he took the headlines in the semi-finals of the Shelbourne Open 600, charging to the front in the early yards to make every inch for Owen McKenna and the Field Sports Syndicate.
The Derby third was back to his best Juvenile Derby winning form as he repelled the best efforts of Timmys Bucks to turn in front. Once doing so, there was no way the brilliant son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Sweet was going to surrender his lead.
Indeed, Callaway Knegare would really turn on the power from halfway to eventually cross the line with four and as half lengths in hand on Timmys Bucks in a superb 32.10. Glenlara Blue would come through to take third, another two lengths back.
BRUNO DELIVERS A LATE KNOCK OUT
The second heat was a far less straightforward affair with Ballyhooly Bruno staying on at the closing stages to win for Tom O’Neill and the Ashgrove Trio Syndicate.
Singalonig Molly came away racing from four but Ballinabola Jim was soon propelling his huge frame to the front on the outside of the track.
He could never shake off those in pursuit, however. Singalong Molly drew closer into the third turn but so too did Ballyhooly Bruno. Waiting for his moment, Ballyhooly Bruno found the room he required as they turned for home.
Ballinabola Jim moved off enough to slightly hold up Singalong Molly, while also leaving space for Ballyhooly Bruno to take full advantage. The son of Jacob Tashadelek and Foyle Lucy was in full stride and he shot up the inside of his two rivals to go on to record a length verdict over Singalong Molly in 32.55. Ballinabola Jim was a further three parts of a length back in third.
CHEQUE CASHES IN
The feature of the undercard was the final of the RCETS App A1 and Cheque For Cash won as a 1-2 favourite should, charging clear into the turn before emerging a facile winner.
Representing the prolific Cash Back Syndicate/ Karol Ramsbottom combination, the son of Dromana Bucko and Paradise Asia was at his very best, showing great all-round speed to emerge a superb four length scorer over Highview Aurora in a magic 28.13.
CUSHIE RALLIES TO HOLD OFF MARTHA
Two of the best in training had a great battle in the sixth race with Cushie The Best (Allforthebest/ Fatboyz Storm) holding off a very determined Glengar Martha.
Cushie The Best displayed his early pace to get to the front before the turn and seemed set to emerge an easy winner only for Glengar Martha to emerge from the pack into the third turn before really putting up to the leader. In a terrific finish, John Codd and Diana Brodie’s Cushie The Best rallied to take the verdict by a length in 28.21.
ASLAN ROARS TO VICTORY
Ballymac Aslan set the standard in the semi-finals of the This Runs Deep A0 550, showing his rivals a clean pair of heels in the second heat.
Owned by David Murtagh and Robert O’Neill, the son of Ballymac Vic and Ballymac Wisdom broke fastest and quickly assumed control at the head of affairs. He would eventually see off Torpedo Turtle by two and a half lengths in 29.83.
REAL TEEM SPIRIT
Teeming Spirit made a decisive move at the third turn in the second race, the opening semi-final of the This Runs Deep A0 550.
Trained by Jack Kennelly for the Very Quiet Syndicate, the son of Ballymac Wild and Jamaica Joy was prominent into the turn behind the early paced Cheque For Sir before challenging down the back straight. Once driving to the front on the third turn, she stayed on to beat Cheque For Sir by a length in 30.06.
ROXANNE RAZOR SHARP
Imokilly Roxanne again displayed her huge early speed to dominate in the A1 fourth race on the card for Adam Dunford and owner Michael O’Driscoll.
Going clear of her rivals to halfway, she did come back to the field somewhat in the closing yards but held on to win by a length in 28.77. Badminton Shiv stayed on well to take second.
ANOTHER WIN FOR IN-FORM JOE
After scoring earlier on the card with Callaway Knegare, Owen McKenna completed a fine double in the finale as Skidrow Joe continued his winning ways.
The strapping son of Ballymac Bolger and Coolavanny Chick was sharp in the early stages, taking over at the head of affairs into the turn.
Once going to the front, there was no sign of him being picked up. The De Buitlear Syndicate owned star raced on to beat Darbys Queen by five lengths in 28.60.
DUKE BACK TO WINNING WAYS IN DUBLIN
Daleroad Duke justified favouritism to win the opener, an open 575, in fine style for Thomas O’Keeffe and Pat Guilfoyle.
Remarkably, it was his first success at Shelbourne Park since capturing the Champion Stakes last July.
In fairness, he had only one start in Dublin since that faithful night but it was still wonderful to see him back to winning ways at the scene of his greatest triumph. Prominent into the bend, he asserted on the corner before edging on by three lengths to halfway.
Maintaining a strong gallop to the finish, the son of Good News and Burgess Sarah would emerge a comfortable length and a half scorer over the persistent Clona Comet in a fast 31.05.
DONNIE LANDS LATE
Marlhill Donnie, owned by James Doyle Snr and Jnr, was the biggest priced winner on the card, coming home fast to deny long-time pace-setter Monleek Sudan in the seventh race.
The Paul Hennessy trained daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa and Glenegat Mildred was off the pace for much of the way before charging home to win by a half length in 28.91.