ED WOWS A HUGE SHELBOURNE CROWD IN 600

Ian Fortune

There was a massive crowd at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, providing a superb atmosphere and those present were treated to an exceptional display from Ballinabola Ed as he again confirmed his standing as one of the very fastest in the semis of the RPGTV Open 600.

The opening heat also provided plenty of drama as Allforthebest got up late but the display of Ballinabola Ed was simply different class.

MAGICAL DISPLAY FROM ED

A 1-3 chance ahead of the off, it was immediately evident that 1-10 would have been too big. Making a fluent start from the outside box, the Pat Buckley trained star quickly shot clear. He was aided somewhat by Mcneill cutting inwards from trap five, holding up a couple of his inner, but it scarcely mattered.

Ballinabola Ed hit the corner five lengths to the good, posting a sizzling 5.85 sectional in the process. It was as close as any of his rivals would get thereafter. Powering further clear down the back straight, Brendan Murphy’s incredible son of Confident Rankin and Dolls Lady simply coasted home to eventually beat the strong running Mcneill by five lengths in a stunning 32.17. Millridge Bryce, after forcing his way into third on the bend, ran a fine race to qualify in third, a further five and a half lengths behind Mcneill. 

There have been faster times done for the trip but, on a track that wasn’t running on the fast side, it was a truly brilliant run.

BEST BETTERS DISCO IN A THRILLER

The opening heat provided the tightest finish of the night as the HDJ Syndicate owned Allforthebest somehow got up on the line to deny the gallant Disco Pants.

From the opening yards it was pretty clear this was a two-dog affair, although Storys Cashout did all he could to get involved but simply had too much to do.

Disco Pants flashed from trap five and displayed fine early speed to lead Allforthebest into the back straight. Given how strong Allforthebest is, it seemed only a matter of time before he powered his way to the front but great credit must go to Disco Pants, who actually displayed the superior back straight pace.

By the third turn, he had almost five lengths to spare. Importantly, Allforthebest just contained the advancing Storys Cashout on the third turn. This allowed the son of Vulturi and Aguasantas a clean run at the leader which was to prove decisive.

For backers of Disco Pants, the run for home must have felt like a mile, while the opposite could be said for those on the side of Allforthebest. In the end, it was just the right length to provide and incredible finish. Allforthebest powered up the outside of Disco Pants to lead on the line for a head success in 32.63. Storys Cashout chased the pair home in third, just a length further adrift.

RPGTV Open 600

Final

1 DISCO PANTS

2 STORYS CASHOUT

3 MCNEILL

4 MILLRIDGE BRYCE

5 BALLINABOLA ED (W)

6 ALLFORTHEBEST (W)

Undercard

MAESTRO TOO GOOD

Good Maestro has been highly tried in his short career to date and, after catching the eye in his latest outing at Shelbourne Park, easily justified odds-on favouritism in the opening semi-final of the Retired Greyhound Trust A1 525.

Both he and Blackstone Bobby went up fast with the latter using her inside line to turn in front but Good Maestro was simply too good for his rival. Showing impressive back straight pace, John Kennedy’s charge eased to the front before the third turn.

From there, the Pat Guilfoyle trained son of Good News and Mysterious Lola ran right away from the pursuers to eventually see off the fast finishing Kane Tashadelek by five and a half lengths in a rapid 28.28. Its clear Good Maestro has the pace and potential to develop into a serious tracker and he is worth keeping an eye on in the coming months.

ANOTHER GOOD WINNER

Good Maestro wasn’t the only ‘Good’ winner on the night. John Kennedy later completed a double with Good Zeus emerging a tremendous winner of the penultimate race over the 550yd trip.

Stefans Socks set a searching gallop, building a clear lead to halfway, but ran out of steam and Good Zeus (Good News/ Mysterious Girl) was in the perfect position to strike. 

Finishing with real gusto, the June ’21 whelp emerged a length scorer over fellow big finisher Bens Teddy in 29.99.

JET IS BACK

Racing ended with one of the stars of 2022 Mustang Jet making a winning return for Dolores Ruth, Paul Horig and Sean Bourke.

The Winter Racing Festival winner probably needed the run but he displayed plenty of determination to contain the persistent Well Met.

The latter was forced to check his stride at the third turn, allowing the fast starting Mustang Jet to lead the field into the home straight. Well Met rallied on the run in but Mustang jet wasn’t going to be denied. The son of Droopys Jet and Mustang Kay Cee held off his rival by a half length in 28.68.

MOLLY IMPRESSES

The second semi of the A1 stake saw Our Dog Molly claim a seventh career victory for Tom O’Neill and the Boys from Bally.

The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Fortune Himary went up fastest to lead into the back straight.

She may have been joined by Killinure King to halfway but was always going to be too strong for her rival. With winning form over further, it was no surprise to see Our Dog Molly moving clear around the last two bends to eventually hit the line two lengths to the good over the staying on Millridge Nadia in 28.77.   

MIGHTY MAGS FOLLOWS UP

Highview Mags produced another fine display of pace and power to follow up last weekend’s 28.52 success in the ninth race, an Open Bitch 525.

Third for much of the journey behind the fast starting Lilywhite Queen and Crafty Shivoo, the daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Jayne began to make her move at the third turn.

AS she did seven days earlier, Dolores and Gerry Merriman’s starlet flew up the home straight to lead in the closing yards for a half-length victory over the gutsy Lilywhite Queen in 28.65.

A WONDERFUL MOM

Hello Mom is doing her very best to confirm her standing as one of the most popular regulars at Shelbourne Park.

A fast starter that’s notoriously hard to pass, she added another fine success to her tally in the fifth race over the 550yd trip.

Liam O’Connor’s daughter of Priceless Boris and Jaytee Charlie, who was bred by the Divilly family, actually held off the Shane Divilly owned Crafty Orlando to lead the field into the back straight. Once doing so, she never gave her rivals a sniff.

Staying on really stoutly, the Ray Melia trained bitch raced to a thoroughly deserved length verdict over the fast finishing Kilgraney Mac in 30.10.

FUSE COMPLETES A DOUBLE FOR MURT

Murt Leahy had a fine double on the card with Storys Fuse and Droopys Service winning, albeit in very different fashion.

Storys Fuse completed the double in the sixth race, showing a clean pair of heels to the opposition in the early yards.

Owned by Gavin O’Mahoney, who also had a double, and Peter McMunn, the talented son of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Berry was always in complete command. Blue Rumble gave chase throughout but Storys Fuse ran out a ready five length scorer in 28.71.

STRONG SERVICE

The A2 fourth race saw Droopys Service initiate the double for Murt Leahy.

Corn Moon took the field along only to be headed on the third turn by Mr Big John who, in turn, was to be collared by the eventual winner.

Gavin O’Mahoney’s Droopys Service drew closer into the third turn before finishing with purpose. The daughter of Malachi and Droopys Meteor led late for a length success in 28.97.

BUZZ WINS OPENER

Racing commenced with Rivervale Buzz taking charge down the back straight to continue the fine form of the Neilus O’Connell kennel.

The son of Ballymac Bolger and Mohane Duchess turned close before moving past Beechview Pippa into the third turn. From there, the O’Donovan Brothers owned Rivervale Buzz eased on to win by three lengths from the staying on Moyola Seamrog in 29.21.