SUPERB PUPPY OAKS AND 600 ACTION AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
After losing their Friday night meeting due to adverse weather, it was somewhat gratifying to see the elements lament on Saturday allowing Shelbourne Park put on a top-class card that include the semi-finals of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks and opening round of the Shelbourne Open 600.
Shebetheone again turned in a star turn in the Puppy Oaks, emerging a comfortable winner of the second heat in a fastest of the night 28.49 on a track rated .20 slow.
This contest went largely to script with Meenagh Minsk setting a strong gallop from the outside of the track but Shebetheone was far too strong from halfway.
Closing on the leader to the third turn, Shebetheone made her move as they turned for home. Moving on at this point, she would eventually go on to beat Meenagh Minsk by two and a half lengths. There was a further four length gap to Ballymac Ridle in third.
A HOT MINT
Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Mint doubled her career tally in the opening heat, surging into the bend to assert.
It was an impressive move from the extremely well-bred daughter of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Ariel.
She quickly moved on to halfway before increasing her advantage into the third turn. Braveheart Bambi ran on strongly to take second but her card was subsequently held. Ballymac Mint would go on to win by five lengths in 28.82 (.20 slow). Scarlet Ella was another length and a half adrift in third, while Cashout Girl progressed to the final after finishing fourth.
Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks
Final draw
1 SHEBETHEONE
2 CASHOUT GIRL
3 BALLYMAC RIDDLE
4 SCARLET ELLA
5 MEENAGH MINSK (M)
6 BALLYMAC MINT (W)
******
FLYER SETS THE 600 PACE
Air Flyer was something of a surprise standard-setter in the opening round of the Shelbourne Open 600 for Eugene and Rosemary Price.
Drawn in four in the hottest of the three heats, the son of Droopys Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy flashed from traps to dictate the pace into the turn.
Hot favourite Callaway Knegare was also prominent into the turn but failed to clear Timmys Bucks on the inside of the track. This afforded Air Flyer the option to increase his lead. Timmys Bucks came with a big run into the third turn to briefly head Air Flyer but the latter was not going to surrender without a battle.
Going back to the front at the final turn, Air Flyer kept on finding to see off Callaway Knegare by a length and a half in 32.86. Singalong Molly stayed on well to take third, just a short head away. Timmys Bucks also progressed, finishing a neck away in fourth.
JACKTAVERN GOES BOOM
Next fastest was Jacktavern Boom as he stormed home to win the final heat for David Byrne and the Pillar Syndicate.
Ballyhooly Bruno was the even money favourite from three but it was Ballinabola Jim on his comeback run that set a strong pace.
He flew up the outside of the track to take over from the fast-starting Jacktavern Boom. Showing his trademark pace, Ballinabola Jim opened up to the third turn but ran out of steam in what was his first race in some five months.
In contrast, Jacktavern Boom was only getting started. The son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer began to close on the leader at the third turn before flying up the straight. Running on powerfully in the manner of a greyhound that could be a star over six bends, Jacktavern Boom went on to win by and ever-increasing two and a half lengths in 32.92. Ballyhooly Bruno came through for second with Ballinabola Jim just a short head away in third.
RANGER A STRAIGHTFORWARD WINNER
Vincent Lynch sent out Killeshil Ranger to emerge a good winner of the opening heat.
The son of Superior Panama and Killeshil Beauty was always in front, emerging the most straightforward of the three heat winners.
Glenlara Blue made a move into the third turn to go second but Killeshil Ranger always looked comfortable. Maintaining a powerful gallop to the line, the October ’22 whelp would hit the line two lengths clear of Glenlara Blue in 33.07 with Faypoint Angey another two lengths back in third. Costly Lesson was the fourth qualifier.
CASH IS KING
Cheque For Cash was one of the best backed favourites on the card and duly obliged in the second semi-final of the RCETS App A1 525 for Karol Ramsbottom and the Cash Back Syndicate.
Coming away racing from trap four, the son of Dromana Bucko and Paradise Asia held a narrow lead into the turn where he took control.
Sadies Lucy would give chase throughout but Cheque For Cash could go on to win by two and a half lengths in 28.69.
AURORA SHINES BIGHT
Highview Aurora got back to winning ways in the opening semi-final, the first race on the card.
Trained by Gerry Merriman for Dolores Merriman, the daughter of Daves Mentor and Highview Mission tracked Rosscomroe Rusty into the turn before asserting on the bend.
From there, Hiughview Aurora was always in charge and proceeded to see off Daraghs Sydney by three lengths in 28.82.
JOE MAKES A WINNING RETURN
Skidrow Joe, owned by the De Buitlear Syndicate, had his first outing since capturing the Dublin Cup in February when coming out on top in the tenth race on the card.
The Owen McKenna trained son of Ballymac Bolger and Coolavanny Chick chased Old Chicago into the back straight before asserting into the third turn.
It would prove a decisive move. Despite tying up a little on the run in, the powerfully built Skidrow Joe would hold off Cloverfield Clan to win by a half length in 28.71 (.20 slow).
SECRET COMPLETES A SUPERB DOUBLE
Racing ended with Sober Secret completing a superb double for Karol Ramsbottom as he held off Cushie The Best.
The latter was a hot favourite but Sober Secret got first run on his rival, going up fast from four to lead into the turn.
Cushie The Best was second into the turn but was held up slightly, allowing Sober Secret to increase his lead down the back straight. Sean Malone’s massive son of Droopys Sydney and Sober Pearl continued to dictate throughout but he had to dig deep to hold the late charge of Cushie The Best by a head in 28.68 (.20 slow).
DANCER OBLIGES OVER 750YDS
Darbys Dancer made a successful return to six bends when coming home a length to the good in the third race.
Sent off the 4-5 favourite, the daughter of Malachi and Love Island worked hard to go to the front halfway down the back straight. Trained by Podge Devaney for the Devaney Family Syndicate, Darbys Dancer kept digging deep to repel the rallying Brackile Roxy in 42.28 (.40 slow).
BRO CONTINUES FINE FORM
Droopys Bro made the most of a rails pitch in the fourth race to win for Murt Leahy and the Sweeney Todd Syndicate.
The son of Malachi and Droopys Cake has been in tremendous form and when moving on at the second turn he was always in command before going on to beat Leahs Best by three lengths in 28.77.