A MAGICAL NIGHT AT SHELBOURNE AS FESTIVAL ENDS
Ian Fortune
Greyhound racing was again the winner at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as the best greyhounds in training provided a special night that was accompanied by a wonderfully festive atmosphere as the 2023 RCÉ Winter Racing Festival came to a conclusion.
With each passing race, those present were left reaching for superlatives to describe the quality of the action they were witnessing. Certainly those present couldn’t help leaving the famous Ringsend venue with a view to returning in the near future.
In terms of monetary value, the IGOBF National Puppy Stake was the most valuable race on the card and it provided a superb front running winner in the form of Whyaye Bonnylad but there were so many displays that could earned the main headline.
BONNYLAD THE NATIONAL PUPPY CHAMP
As so often happens in a major final, a flying start provided the perfect springboard for success with Whyaye Bonnylad catapulting from trap two to hold a clear advantage into the turn.
The two outside runners Dunnanelly Fred and Omuircheartaigh took up the pursuit but it was clear they were chasing shadows.
Whyaye Bonnylad won the Paddy Merriman Memorial only last month, picking up €10,000 in the process and he displayed similar determination on this occasion. Dunnanelly Fred attempted to get back on terms but Whyaye Bonnylad was not for catching.
Seeing out every inch of the 525yd trip, Martin Langley’s professional son of Ballymac Cashout and Drumalee Premier emerged a length and a half scorer over Dunnanelly Fred in 28.15. Omuircheartaigh finished a further length back in third.
Damien Matthews presents the trophy to Martin Langley after Whyaye Bonnylad won the 2023 I.G.O.B.F National Puppy 525 at Shelbourne Park. Also included are Tim Lucey CEO GRI, Brian MacNiece GRI, Richard O'Regan, trainer Robert Gleeson, Michael Dempsey Racing Manager, Alex Grassic GRI and winning connections. Pic: Imelda Grauer
A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY
So much attention was on the Winter Racing Festival Championship 550 with one of the great line-ups on show and in typical fashion, for a race of this nature, it was early speed that won the day as the brilliant Another Holiday flew to the corner to dominate.
Trinity Junior took up the chase as many of the remainder struggled to find the room to manoeuvre and this set up a great contest. The Michael O’Donovan trained Another Holiday was in determined mood, holding Trinity Junior down the back straight despite the latter’s best efforts. Swords Rex also attempted to get involved but he was left with too much to do.
Off the final turn, Bobsleigh Dream attempted to get involved also, coming through the middle of the pack but it wasn’t meant to be. Another Holiday was not going to be denied and Jack Roche’s brilliant son of Dorotas Wildcat and Vigorous Lindsey ran right to the line to contain Trinity Junior and Bobsleigh dream by a half-length and a neck in 29.48.
MANDOLIN PLAYS A SWEET, SWEET TUNE
With each start Droopys Mandolin seems to get better and better and she was certainly at her very best in the Winter Racing Festival Championship Bitch 525.
Just eight days after capturing the Galway Oaks, the brilliant daughter of Laughil Blake and Droopys Curio couldn’t have been any more impressive.
Rathdown Molly broke fastest to set a strong gallop while Droopys Mandolin w2as second until forced to check wide on the corner. This seemed certain to cost her any chance but what was to follow was nothing short of breath taking.
Recovering quickly to drive the second bend in second, the Robert Gleeson trained star set her sights on the leader. Rathdown Molly was over three lengths clear to halfway but Droopys Mandolin took off.
Joining and going straight past Rathdown Molly on the third turn, she went on to beat the long-time pace-setter by a length and a half in a rapid 28.15. It begs the question; what would she have done if getting loose in the early yards?
A WINNING TREND
In what was his first start since capturing the Bar One Racing Irish laurels at Curraheen Park, High Trend brought his career earnings to over €41,000 with a truly professional display in the WRF Championship 525.
The Graham Holland trained son of Droopys Sydney and Beaming Smasher is a noted fast starter and that was again the case. Owned by the RT & C Syndicate, the June ’21 whelp was electric at boxes and comfortably led his rivals into the turn.
Hawkfield Blu did remarkably well to slip around in second from a tough draw in five but he was always facing an uphill task with High Trend going fast out front. Indeed, High Trend kept his foot to the floor throughout to emerge a brilliant two and a half length winner over Hawkfield Blue in a rapid 28.16.
TEDDY GIVES THE CLOCK A FRIGHT
Derby third Bens Teddy gave the track record a real fright in the Winter Racing Festival Championship 600.
Droopys Nice One flashed from the outside box to lead into the turn but her fate was sealed when Bens Teddy held his position into the corner before running an incredible bend.
Third behind Droopys Nice One and Optic Chico into the corner, Bens Teddy stayed tight to the fence to join and head Droopys Nice One by the second bend. It was now a case of just how quick the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Beechgrove Bell would go.
Trained by Pat Buckley for Kim Prichard, Bens Teddy really put the foot down, easing on to increase his advantage throughout. Maintaining the most relentless gallop to the finish, Bens Teddy raced to a brilliant five length success in a sensational 31.92, just two spots outside the track record. Droopys Nice One ran a fine race in second with Gaytime Hugo another length adrift in third.
BLAZE ON FIRE OVER SIX BENDS
In the very nest race, Graham Holland completed a hat trick as Garfiney Blaze earned the right to get first crack at Mcneill over the 750yd trip.
A member of the sensational Ballymac Anton/ Ballymac Merkle litter, Garfiney Blaze stays every inch of the 750yd trip and he was always too close in second.
Mcneill had taken a flier from trap three to set a searching gallop but Garfiney Blaze avoided the traffic that ended the hopes of Droopys Clue and Kinturk Road. It meant Michael Lynch’s charge was in the perfect position to strike and that’s exactly what he did into the fifth bend.
Slipping through on the fence, Garfiney Blaze cruised home three lengths clear of the game Mcneill in a slick 41.23.
MUZZY CAUSES A HUGE SHOCK
The undoubted shock of the night came in the Retired Greyhound Trust Stayers 850 with Highjay Muzzy landing the prize at a whopping 40-1.
This was a betting market dominated by Ballymac Kate and all seemed to be going to plan when she raced in second to the opening turn behind the fast-starting Hukum.
It was on the corner that the complexion of the race completely changed. Ballymac Kate was shuffled backwards as she failed to clear Highjay Muzzy. Moments later she was clipped from behind, losing all momentum and falling back to fifth.
Meanwhile Hukum shot into a commanding lead. Upwards of ten lengths clear into the back straight, Hukum seemed certain to coast home a comfortable scorer but, as so often happens, the wheels came off out front in the 850y contest.
The leader’s stride began to shorten into the fifth bend and Highjay Muzzy, who had turned second, began to bridge the gap. With the leader failing to get home, Highjay Muzzy quickly closed the gap on the run in to strike the front. Peters Sydney, Chestnut King and Ballymac Katie ran on at the finish but Highjay Muzzy galloped with real freedom up the home straight to emerge a deserving winner.
Owned jointly by Stehen Maher and Jason Meredith, the daughter of Good News and Knockmitten Mag ran out a superb two length scorer over Peters Sydney in 47.63.
MUSIC GLIDES AWAY TO WIN IN STYLE
Derby finalist Music Glideaway put a punctuation mark to the end the card with a massive run in the finale, the Winter Racing Festival Championship 575. Scarcely has a race been over as early.
Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for the Pension Plan Syndicate, the hugely talented son of Newinn Taylor and Glideaway Magic shot from trap five and displayed massive early speed to assert into the corner. At no point thereafter did Music Glideaway look under threat. Ballymac Marino did show fine speed to move past Beepers Lariat for second down the far side but the pace-setter was gone. Showing no signs of fatigue, Music Glideaway raced on to bring the curtain down with a wonderful five length victory over Ballymac Marino in a stunning 30.69.
WALT BACK TO HIS BEST
Ballymac Walt was popular in the ring ahead of the RCETS 550 and those that took the short odds about Liam Dowling’s star were always in clover.
The talented son of Ballymac cashout and Ballymac Diva hit the ground running from trap five and quickly accelerated into a clear lead.
Miami King turned second and briefly threatened off the second bend but Ballymac Walt really motored down the back straight to increase his advantage. In reality, this was little more than a procession for the June ’21 whelp as he came home clear. Clonrooske Sydney ran on strongly to grab second on the line but Ballymac Walt was in a league of his own as he hit the line four lengths to the good in 29.29.
AWESOME ALF SPRINTS TO GLORY
Ballinakill Alf has in a very short spell established himself as one of the very best sprinters in the land and this was very evident in the this Runs Deep Festival 350 as he ran a magnificent corner to charge to the front before emerging a tremendous winner.
The Graham Holland trained star actually broke pretty well by his standards but was still only fourth in the opening yards behind the fast starting Cree Jo Jo. The latter continued to lead into the bend but he was under severe pressure from Carrick Aldo, Pavilion Fire and the advancing Ballinakill Alf, who had the inside to himself after Road Exile missed the start.
With plenty of room to race, Ballinakill Alf charged to the front as Cree Jo Jo steered a middle path. In a matter of strides, the Pillar Sydnciate owned son of Pestana and Newinn madam put the result beyond doubt. Carrick Aldo took up the chase but there was no catching Ballinakill Alf. Racing with ruthless efficiency, Ballinakill Alf powered to the line to score by a length from Carrick Aldo in 18.49.
UNA ALL POWER
Ballinabola Una produced a truly power-packed display to win the Greyhound Racing Ireland Champion Bitch 550.
For much of the way it seemed Ballymac Vida was going to land the spoils as she opened a clear advantage into the back straight but Undisputed and Ballinabola Una weren’t going to make life easy.
Undisputed did all she could to close the gap on the leader into the third turn but it was ultimately, Ballinabola Una who was too close in third. The challenge of Undisputed began to peter out as they straightened for home. The front two were both showing signs of fatigue as they drifted off the final turn. This left room up the inside for the advancing Ballinabola Una and she seized her opportunity with all four paws. Trained by Pat Buckley for Grainne Murphy and Aoibheann O’Leary, the daughter of Burgess Bucks and Dolls Lady emulated her half-brother Ballinabola Ed by winning at the festival, striking the line a half length to the good over Ballymac Vida in 29.66.
LIFES A BEACH FOR SEVEN
Jennifer O’Donnell has been on the crest of a wave for some time and so it was no surprise to see her winning the opener with Seven Beach.
The promising son of Pestana and Whitings Gift had yet to win a race at Shelbourne Park but he put that right in the valuable Welcome To Shelbourne Juvenile 525.
The market suggested the winner would come from the inside of the track but the big two, Daleroad Duke and Jacktavern Bolt, missed the start and were to play no part. In contrast, Unmatched, Seven Beach and Jetara broke smartly from traps four, five and six.
More importantly, Seven Beach held a narrow advantage into the turn over Jetara and, while both took a hefty bump, they remained in the first two positions. Seven Beach was always going to be difficult to reel in and he duly stayed on well to claim a fourth career success for the Beach Boys Trio Syndicate. Despite the cool conditions, Seven Beach saw off Unmatched by four and a half lengths in a rapid 28.13.