REX PUTS RIVALS TO SWORD IN EASTER CUP DECIDER
Ian Fortune
Swords Rex is now a dual classic winner after racing to a thoroughly professional and deserving victory in the Bresbet Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
As soon as the draw was made for the €25,000 to the winner decider, it was clear that Barbara Lowndes’ brilliant tracker was going to take some stopping.
REX A SLIGHT DRIFTER
The betting ahead of the Saturday’s final also suggested he was the one to beat, although the Graham Holland trained star was a slight drifter.
Those that remained loyal to the July ’20 whelp were richly rewarded.
The start was always going to be of huge significance and it was actually difficult to know which greyhound came away quickest.
With the exception of Toolmaker Wilde, who was tardy at traps, nothing separated the inside quintet at boxes. It was only after ten strides that the race started to develop with both Swords Rex and Galloping Sydney going up fastest.
Bockos Crystal was the first to get squeezed out, while Romeo Magico couldn’t get around the outside. But the real action was happening up front with Swords Rex holding Galloping Sydney on the turn.
TAKING CHARGE
Despite edging off slightly, Swords Rex opened up a decisive lead by the second turn.
Galloping Sydney gave chase down the back straight but it was futile. Swords Rex was never going to be stopped.
The brilliant son of Droopys Sydney and Starry Display increased his lead to two and a half lengths by halfway and continued to turn the screw into the third turn. Trinity Junior was third behind Swords Rex and Galloping Sydney to this point but Toolmaker Wilde was now starting to make up ground, passing Romeo Magico on the third turn to go fourth.
A WONDERFUL WINNER
He continued to finish fast and came through for second on the run in, but there was only ever going to be one winner.
After capturing the Kirby Memorial last year, Swords Rex raced to a second classic success. The magnificent tracker crossed the line with four lengths to spare over Toolmaker Wilde in 29.71. Trinity Junior ran a big race to finish just a half-length away in third.
Carl Perry head of trading Bresbet presents the trophy to Barbara Lowndes after Swords Rex won the final of the 2023 Bresbet Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park. Also included are Leonard Lowndes, trainer Graham Holland and Nicky Holland. Pic: Imelda Grauer
BUBBLES SETS THE PUPPY OAKS PACE
A couple of years after the sensational Susie Sapphire captured the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks, her half-sister Lets Go Bubbles set the standard in the opening round of this year’s renewal with a rapid 28.49 return in the last of the three heats.
As with Susie Sapphire, she represents Owen McKenna and Peter Comerford and she produced a foot-perfect display from a tricky draw in five. Coming away racing, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx contained her great rival in the betting Droopys De Luxe into the turn and was always in pole position thereafter.
Storys Fuse actually stayed on very well to come through for second but there was no stopping Lets Go Bubbles, who ran out a ready three lengths scorer. Droopys De Luxe was another length adrift in third spot.
EASY REALLY DOES RAZZLE
Easy Razzle kicked the Puppy Oaks off with a bang, showing superb early speed to get first run on her rivals before going on to make most of the running.
Fantasy Moll was actually fastest into stride from trap four but couldn’t contain East Razzle.
Boylesports Coco also flew into the turn from trap two but was headed around the turn by Easy Razzle. Thereafter, the latter always seemed to have the upper hand. Increasing her lead into the third turn, she powered home to win in fine style for Johnny Linehan and Barry Rocks, hitting the line six lengths to the good over Boylesports Coco in 28.53. Lima Rose was another length and a half adrift in third.
ONESTOP A POTENTIAL SUPERSTAR
Droopys Onestop had yet to win a race yet she was a hot favourite for the second heat.
Those that took the restrictive odds about the daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Droopys Dorothy could have been forgiven for feeling a little concerned after the opening exchanges as she was only fourth into the turn behind the flying starter, Burgess Orlaith.
There was traffic on the turn between Comets Allegro and Crafty Shivoo which allowed Droopys Onestop sneak through on the fence into second spot as they hit the back straight. It was all the encouragement she needed.
Showing massive pace into the third turn, she closed right up on Burgess Orlaith before flying up a gap on the fence to take over. From there she drove right away to open her account in some style. Sean Dunphy’s potential superstar drove clear to win by seven and a half lengths from Crafty Shivoo in 28.65 with Rural Kihei another half length back in third.
GIZMO BACK TO HIS BRILLIANT BEST
350yd track record holder Gizmo Cash was a stunning winner of the sole sprint, showing his rivals a clean pair of heels after a lightning fast start.
Rocketing from trap four, Jamie McGee’s son of Droopys Jet and Down The Green never saw another rival and eventually came home with two and a half lengths to spare over Gold Cup champion Bogger Hunter in 18.54.
DE LAHDEDAH GOES FAST
De Lahdedah displayed plenty of promise in the early rounds of the Juvenile Classic but his display in the ninth race on the card really did mark him down as one of the most exciting young trackers around.
The son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo won’t be two years of age until October but he is far from backward. Showing fine early speed up the fence, he held some talented rivals to lead around the turn. Once doing so he was always travelling like a winner.
Trained by Liam Dowling for the Garsuns Syndicate, De Lahdedah raced to a brilliant five and a half length victory in a fastest of the night 28.44. Verratti chased him home in second.
CASHOUT LEAVES IT LATE
After a number of wonderful performances through the Easter Cup, it was something of a surprise that Storys Cashout (Tullymurry Act/ Droopys Hunch) went to traps as big as 5-1 in the penultimate race over the 575yd trip.
This turned out to be a tremendous contest with three greyhound flashing past the line.
Tommy Too Many, after coming in as a reserve, set the pace, followed by Hello Mom and Storys Cashout. Despite losing ground on the turn, Storys Cashout was close enough to launch his challenge in third.
Moving second on the third turn behind Tommy Too Many, Storys Cashout readied himself for a decisive move on the run in. Tommy Too Many attempted to hold his rival but Storys Cashout was too strong.
Trained by Murt Leahy for Gavin O’Mahoney, Storys Cashout led in the final yards to beat Tommy Too Many and the fast-finishing Jacktavern Bella by a half length and a neck in 31.21.
TIME TO DISCO
Disco Pants appreciated the longer run to the turn over the 600yd trip in the finale with the high-class son of Kinloch Brae and Bling Bling Lola getting loose early before going on to dominate. Swords Fudge gave chase in second but could never reel in the leader.
Trained by Michael Daly for John Breen and Conor Healy, Disco Pants ran right to the line to win by four lengths from Swords Fudge in 32.71.
UNMATCHED AN APTLY NAMED WINNER
Unmatched was a well-named winner of the third race, showing fine early speed after a fast start to make every inch for the second week running for Johnny Linehan and the Swipe Right Syndicate.
The well-bred daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Alice put the result beyond doubt to halfway before coasting home six and a half lengths to the good over Delirium Tremens in 28.45.
GIFT MAKES MOST OF EXTRA SPACE
A Lucky Gift was certainly gifted plenty of room in the early yards of the second race with Crokers Spirit diving inwards from trap four.
As you would expect, A Lucky Gift took full advantage from trap five.
Leading Sophies Amber around the turn, Jerry Melia’s son of Ballymac Eske and Julies Paradise continued to hold a near two lengths advantage to the third turn before drawing right away to win by an ever-increasing five lengths over Sophies Amber in a rapid 28.49.
RAPID BY NAME…
Burgess Rapid lived up to her name in the opener, showing all her early speed to dominate.
Owned by Sheila Spillane and JJ Fennelly, the daughter of Burgess Bucks and Burgess Helena was always holding Carrauntoohil and Toolmaker Stand before hitting the line four lengths clear in 28.81. Carrauntoohil was second.