TASSIE EDGES OUT BALE IN JIM SCULLY MEMORIAL

Peter Farrell

There was €2,200 on offer to the winner of the Jim Scully Memorial 550 at Clonmel on Friday night and the decider went to scrip as Tassie Ta Ra completed a clean sweep across the competition for joint owners James and Richard Power.

Kindly sponsored by the Family and friends of Jim Scully, this competition has produced some brilliant action in recent weeks and Tassie Ta Ra, in particular, has lit up the stake with a series of sub 30-second performances. Indeed, her semi final clock of 29.68 was just one and a half lengths off the track record so it wasn’t surprising to see her installed as the 1/2 favourite to make it three wins on the spin. That said, the daughter of Grangeview Ten was forced to pull out all the stops as the judge was called into action on the night.

Drawn in four, Tassie Ta Ra came away racing from her middle berth, however, she was joined in the early exchanges by Mary O’Connor’s Minor Bale in six. The latter was on the receiving end of one of his better starts on this occasion and he would turn just a half-length shy of the jolly upon entrance to the back straight. At this point, it was very much race on as both Tassie Ta Ra and Minor Bale went toe-to-toe at the midway point and it was all to play for approaching the penultimate turn. Still neck and neck rounding the bottom two bends, Tassie Ta Ra showed terrific determination to stick tight to the rails, before finally managing to shake off her persistent challenger on the run for home. Minor Bale made one last push for glory late on, however, Powers’ charge crossed the line with a neck to spare in what was a thrilling end to a fantastic contest. The time was 30.19.