A WONDERFUL NIGHT AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
There was a bit of everything at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with wonderfully competitive action throughout.
Obviously, there was great interest in the semi-finals of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks and the opening round of the Shelbourne Champion 550 but the headlines go to Carrick Scholsey as he emerged a wonderful winner of the Shelbourne Summer Cup.
SCHOLSEY SHOWS HIS CLASS
Carrick Scholsey had a poor draw in the final of the Summer Cup but a fast start, allied with some nifty footwork would allow the exciting son of Droopys Scolari and Droopys Beaufort claim the €10,000 prize for his lucky owner Thomas Glynn and handler Robert Gleeson.
Breaking smartly to clear his main market rival Epic Ace in the opening strides, he seemed set to lead the field into the turn only for Surprise Reunion to shoot up the fence to hold a narrow lead on the turn. Carrick Scholsey was second and took a bump from his rival on the corner but was about to have a choice to make.
With Surprise Reunion moving off the fence between the opening bends, Carrick Scholsey had to think quick and he changed course to challenge up the inside. By the second bend he was upsides Surprise Reunion and making his move.
Gwan My Boy was just behind the pair in third but Carrick Scholsey soon moved on. Going almost a length clear by halfway, he was now in pole position to not likely to let his lead slip. Innfield Destiny had other ideas.
The latter charged up the fence to to move second at the third turn. Meanwhile, Clona Ice was starting to make up some ground on the outside of the pack, although he was held up at third turn. It was now a two-dog affair. Carrick Scholsey remained in the driving seat but Innfield Destony was now on his tail.
Despite the best efforts of his pursuer, Carrick Scholsey would emerge a comfortable two length winner over Innfield Destiny in 28.43. Clona Ice again flew home to finish the same distance away third.
Alex Grassic GRI presents the rtophy to Thomas Glynn after "Carrick Scholsey won the Shelbourne Summer Cup AO 525. Also included are Celine Glynn, trainer Robert Gleeson, handler Jennifer Traynor, Dylan Brennan Shelbourne Park Racing Manager, Lorcan O'Reilly and Lewis Byrne. Pic: Imelda Grauer
SPORTING PRESS ONLINE EDITION IRISH OAKS
ORLA POUNCES TO BOOK OAKS FINAL SPOT
Nothing was straight forward in the semi-finals of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks but ultimately, we have been left with a hugely competitive final after a two enthralling contests.
Lemon Orla was first to strike for Tom O’Neill, TJ Lyons and Noel Crowley. The big finishing bitch would manage to turn closer to the pace than in recent weeks, staying to the fence to go second at the second turn.
Innfield Riddle set a strong pace out front and increased her lead to almost five lengths by halfway but one suspected Lemon Orla was going to have a big say in the finish, even at this stage. The daughter of Jacob Tashadelek and Foyle Lucy began to bridge the gap into the third turn but was still four lengths adrift.
That cap quickly evaporated as they neared the final bend. Just two lengths separated the pair as they turned for home but Lemon Orla was in full flight and she flew past the tiring Innfield Riddle to score by an ever-increasing length and a half in 28.36. Behind the front two, Ballymac Marcia ran on well to claim third, a length further adrift.
LUCY TOO HOT TO HANDLE
There was something of a shock in the second heat as Glengar Martha failed to fire for the first time in the competition, eventually finishing fourth behind Sadies Lucy, who has really grown into the competition culminating in a deserving semi-final success in 28.44.
Glengar Martha actually held a narrow advantage into the turn over Sadies Lucky and Clonmore Alice but she attempted to cut the turn ad couldn’t get across. Sadies Lucy wasn’t giving an inch on the fence and she held her pitch to dispute the lead with the favourite.
Between the pair, Clonmore Alice was left with little room and she was forced to check her stride, allowing Carrigmore Freya to move third. It was now race on. The front two were almost level turning into the back straight but Sadies Lucy began to get on top approaching halfway.
Gerry Daly’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Nothing Gained move on by a length, although Glengar Martha attempted to close at the third turn. Sadies Lucy was in very determined humour, however. The Paul Duffy trained bitch, who has just turned three years of age kept finding out front to put the race beyond the reach of her rivals.
Glengar Martha had done all she could and began to show signs of fatigue. Carrigmore Freya, who had closed on the front two around the last two bends, moved second but she in turn had to dig deep to see off the fast-finishing Blackeyed Turbo.
Sadies Lucy would emerge a superb a length and a half scorer with Carrigmore Freya second and Blackeyed Turbo just a half length further back in third.
Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks
Final draw
1 LEMON ORLA
2 INNFIELD RIDDLE
3 SADIES LUCY
4 BLACKEYED TURBO (M)
5 CARRIGMORE FREYA (M)
6 BALLYMAC MARCIA (W)
Shelbourne Champion 550
CORNER BACK OUT FRONT
Left Corner back returned from a short spell on the sideline to win the opening heat of the Shelbourne Champion 550 in terrific fashion, setting the standard in the process, for Damien O’Connell and Thomas Leahy.
Razldazl Kamaria broke fastest and led to the turn but Left Corner Back displayed superb early speed and determination to force his way through on the fence. It would prove a decisive move from the son of Here Comes Syd and Westpoint Jorgi. Rural Ana came from a mile off the pace to collar Razldazl Kanmria to take second but Left Corner back was always comfortable as he won by four and a half lengths in 29.72.
PEST POUNCES
There was a brilliant finish to the second heat with Helen and Emily O’Dwyer’s Rural Pest (Pestana/ Rural Aloha) overcoming bumping on the turn to reel in Droichead Nua and recent Produce Stakes champ Lemon Joey.
Rural Pest actually held a narrow lead into the turn but couldn’t quite clear Lemon Joey and Droichead Nua.
Taking a bump, Rural Pest entered the back straight in third. Droichead Nua and Lemon Joey went toe to toe down the back straight and around the third bend but it was clear as they swung for home that the Graham Holland trained Rural Pest had comething to give.
In a tremendous finish, Rural pest came wide and fast to collar the front two for a deserving half length success in 29.81. Droichead Nua ran a big race to take second, just a head in front of Lemon Joey.
A SNAZZY DISPLAY FROM BOSS
There may have been just five runners in the final heat but there was still a bit of crowding involving the big two in the market, Ballinabola Joe and Razldazl Edward.
In contrast, Denis O’Donohoe’s Snazzy Boss was given room into the turn to reach full stride.
He would turn just in front of Untold Rufiyaa and that is how they would remain. The Graham Holland trained son of Pat C Sabbath and Hollywell Samba would maintain a comfortable lead throughout to eventually get the better of Untold Rufiyaa by two lengths in 29.90. Ballinabola Joe would overcome traffic, showing big back straight pace to emerge in third, some four lengths further back.
Undercard
RAMPANT ROSSA IMPRESSES
The finest run on the undercard came from Westway Rossa as she shot clear of her rivals in the finale over 550yds.
Trained by Damien Maginn or Henry Scimia, the daughter of Good News and Ballydoyle Rossa would produce a near carer best effort.
Showing superb early dash, she was always in complete command and would go on to see off the staying on Ballyhooly Bruno by four lengths in a rapid 29.46.
IS SHE THERE WINS BY A STREET
Just two weeks after her wonderful Newbridge Derby success, Is She There continued her superb run of form to win the penultimate race on the card for Eugene and Rosemary Price and Colin Rosbottom.
This was over from the start with the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Dairyhill Josie slipping clear of her rivals after a fast start.
She would be left a mile clear on the turn as the remainder got involved in scrimmaging. Lolos Scottie would emerge in second but Is She There would go on to record a facile eleven length victory over Lolos Scottie in 28.42.
SAPPHIRE SPARKLES IN OPENER
Magical Sapphire made the most of an early advantage in the opener over the 575yds trip, repelling the persistent challenge of Glenlara Blue to win by a length in a fast 31.11.
After a very level start, Pat Guilfoyle’s daughter of Grangeview Ten and Grangeview Mags began to assert before they reached the winning line first time up.
Glenlara Blue was always close in second but he was forced to check when challenging at the third turn allowing Magical Sapphire emerge on top.
EMMA TAKES ADVANTAGE
Ballinabola Emma made the most of a slick exit to win the second race for Mary and Brendan Murphy. The daughter of Glengar Bale and Ballinabola Evie broke fast and was prominent into the turn before being left in front at the second turn as Marlhill Donnie lost her action.
Omey Mist emerged from the pack but Ballinabola Emma ran right to the line to see off her challenger by two and a half lengths in 28.52.