TIBET SETS A STRONG STANDARD IN JUVENILE DERBY
Ian Fortune
It may have been a week later than planned but the opening round of the TIME Juvenile Derby dominated Friday’s action at Shelbourne Park. There may have been quite a few non-runners but the action was out of the top drawer.
Liam Dowling certainly had a night to remember, sending out a wonderful double, including a fastest of the round return from his recent Boylesports Champion Plate winner Ballymac Tibet. He also got proceedings off to a flying start with his rapid improver Ballymac Mint coming home clear.
ANOTHER FRESH RUN FROM MINT
Ballymac Mint continued her rise to stardom in the opening heat, showing fine early speed to assert into the bend. Avoiding opening bend traffic, Liam Dowling's hugely talented daughter of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Ariel proceeded to dominate for the remainder.
Showing no signs of mercy, Ballymac Mint would lead home Unanimous Leo by seven lengths in a rapid 28.33. Sunshine Sioux would run on strongly to take third, just a head away.
MEAUSURE MAKES ALL
After catching the eye on more than one occasion in his three previous outings in hot company, the impeccably well bred Made To Measure opened his account at the fourth time of asking in the second heat, showing a clean pair of heels to his rivals throughout.
Carrick Scholsey was favourite but he missed the kick and was never a threat. Solo And Go moved second on the turn but there was no stopping the pace-setter. Mark Lowther's son of Droopys Sydney and Derby runner-up Singalong Sally was simply too hot to handle and he would go on to win by eight lengths in 28.39. Carrick Scholsey stayed on to grab second on the line, seeing off Solo And Go by a neck.
SILENT ROARS TO WONDERFUL SUCCESS
Just minutes later, Glengar Silent followed in the footsteps of his litter brother to win Heat 3 in superb fashion for Tom Noal and Pat Buckley.
Droopys Painting was a hot favourite and set a strong gallop for much of the way but Glengar Silent really does have a big engine and he gradually ate away at the leader's advantage before striking on the run in.
Indeed, Glengar Silent didn't break too smartly but displayed fine pace and determination to force his way into second on the turn. That same determination was evident through the remainder of the contest with his purposeful stride allowing him close on the leader into the third turn.
Staying wide of Droopys Painting, Glengar Silent powered home to win by a length in 2844. Getup the Boy was five lengths further adrift in third.
MIKMAKER RAZOR SHARP
Corona Ryan and Birol Nadir were on the mark in Heat 4 with Zenith Mikmacker making the most of a flying exit to lead from pillar to post. Racing debutant Droopys Slick moved second on the turn and gave chase throughout but there was no stopping the leader.
Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, the soin of Ballymac best and Ballymac Minton would hit the line three lengths to the good in 28.37. Droopys Slick was a good second with Happy Jet running on strongly to take third, just a length further adrift.
TIBET LOOKING SHARPER
Ballymac Tibet was outstanding. Less than a fortnight after his Champion Plate success, the powerful brindle looks very well in himself as he broke fastest from trap five to overcome what looked a tricky draw. Once leading into the bend, there was nothing going to stop him.
Marlfield Eric went up in second but was clipped from behind on the turn, leaving Toolmaker King and Droopys Faithful to go second and third. Credit must go to both as they did show fine pace behind Ballymaxc Tibet but the latter is hugely strong and he kept on galloping.
The son of Ballymac best and Ballymac Minton, who is a brother to Heat 4 winner Zenith Mikmacker, would go on to stop the clock in a brilliant 28.12. Toolmaker King was three and a half lengths away in second with Droopys Faithful further enhancing her reputation in third another length and a half back.
PEST LEAVES IT LATE
Rural Pest has looked very strong in his previous outings so he was always going to take some containing when turning second in Heat 6 behind the fast-starting Slingshot Poppy.
Entering the back straight with just under four lengths to make up on the leader, Rural Pest always seemed likely to do so although it did take all his effort with the leader finding plenty.
Ultimately, Rural Pest was too close. Trained by Graham Holland for Helen and Emily O'Dwyer, the brindle son of Pestana and Rural Aloha would draw closer with each stride from the third turn to lead in the closing yards for a half length verdict in 28.36. Ballymac Lake would finish another length and a half further back in third.
THREE-DOG THRILLER GOES TO SHADOW
Just three greyhounds lined out in Heat 7 yet it turned into the closest of the eight with less than half a length separating the trio as the KSS Syndicate owned Montana Shadow (Droopys Flytline/ Droopys Meteor) somehow held off his two rivals in the most remarkable affair.
Montana Shadow was a 2-7 favourite but was third of three after a couple of strides. Lamrock Ace led up but swung wide, leaving room for Montana Shadow to slip up his inner. For the remainder of the contest, the pair were scarcely separated. Zenith Gizmo was just behind the pair in third, waiting for his chance to pounce.
As the front two bumped a number of times, including on the run in, Zenith Gizmo drew closer. The Ian Reilly trained Montana Shadow dug deep to hold on for a short head success in 28.65. Zenith Gizmo was just a neck in front of Lamrock Ace.
TIMMY REPELS RIVAL
The final heat also provided a tight finish with Patterdale Timmy eventually holding of the close attentions of Droopy Heiress. Ballymac Stud was the hot favourite from three but, for the first time in his career, failed to dictate the pace and was always struggling to get involved after bumping at the second corner.
In contrast, Sally Mounsey’s Patterdale Timmy displayed superb early speed from trap two to dictate. Droopys Heiress moved second on the second turn and set her sights on the leader. Patterdale Timmy continued to move with real purpose out front but his supporters would have been fearing the worst when Droopys Heiress drew closer.
Right on the heels of the leader at the final turn, Droopys Heiress made her move up the inside of Patterdale Timmy. The pair came very close on the run in with Droopys Heiress looking distracted and this left Patterdale Timmy to score. The son of Ballymac Cashout and Patterdale Lena would take the verdict by a head in 28.34. Magical Keith was third, a further eight and a half lengths adrift with Ballymac Stud fourth. He would progress, however, as the card of Droopys Heiress was held for one conduct trial.
Undercard
MARTY LANDS A1 DECIDER
Later on the card, the final of the Update Your RCETS App A1 525 went the way of Hazelhill Marty as he made the most of an early advantage to contain the late charge of Pennys Twinkle.
The son of Pestana and Hazelhill Mint flew to the turn to dictate with his task being made somewhat easier as his nearest challenger Max Pro lost her action down the back straight. Hazelhill Marty didn’t need a second invitation. Trained by Suzanne Collins for Ruby Collins, Hazelhill Marty would go on to score by a half length in 28.65.
BRIDGES DOMINATES
Racing ended with Black Bridges returning to winning ways for Matthew and Barry Caul.
Always in charge after a flying start, the daughter of Ballymac Best and Killeen Princess would cross the line two lengths clear of Innfield Force in 28.87.