FESTIVAL STARTS WITH A BANG
Ian Fortune
The Winter Racing Festival got underway at Shelbourne Park on Friday night and those that packed the stadium were treated to some exceptional racing.
From the very outset, the racing was hugely competitive and it certainly whet the appetite for the action to come on Saturday.
RYHOPE UNLEASHES ALL HIS POWER
There were so many displays to real note but the display of Ryhope Beach in the finale was certainly the cherry on top.
Not since July had the Michael O’Donovan trained powerhouse win a race but he put that right in the most emphatic fashion, charging to the front down the back straight before posting a rapid 32.24.
Lets Go Bubbles broke fast but stumbled immediately from trap three. It meant that Fashion Model was left to set the pace into the turn but her fate was sealed when Ryhope Beach powered up the outside of the track to turn a close second.
Now with room to race, the sensationally fast son of Droopy Sydney and Calzaghe Jan moved through the gears. Taking over from Fashion Model into the third turn, Alison Bandurak’s charge eased right away to emerge a facile three length winner. Fashion Model was a good second.
LYNX ON THE PROWL
Pennys Lynx was popular with punters in the penultimate race on the card, the Festival Continues Tomorrow Night Open 550, and when the opportunity arose he had both the power and pace to take full advantage.
Dromana Dano set a strong gallop from trap five but was chased by Azurite into the back straight. The latter seemed to be getting the better of the argument into the third turn but as she challenged on the middle of the track, the front pair clashed, leaving the inside of the track free for Eugene Price and Colin Rosbottom’s Pennys Lynx to pounce.
Now in full stride, the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx shot to the front and quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals. The Rosemary Price trained star went on to beat Azurite by five lengths in 29.69.
LOTTO HAS NO NEED FOR LUCK
After a thoroughly professional front running display in the semis, Lotto Other News followed up with an even better display to win the final of the RCETS Open 525.
Representing in-form handler, Shaun Conway, the son of Good News and Shes Made It was again the personification of professionalism as he shot from trap three to dictate throughout.
Uncle Tom slipped around second but he was never going to worry the leader. Instead, Coonough Mary came through for second. Lotto Other News was in a different league on this occasion, however, with the Lotto Express Syndicate owned star emerging a most impressive four and a half length scorer in a very quick 28.25.
WILLOW WOWS
Forest Willow was one of the best backed runners on the night in the final of the Retired Greyhound Trust A1 decider and Richard Brown’s daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Elite didn’t disappoint.
In truth, this was over from the opening yards. Ballybough Carol broke fastest but Forest Willow was soon upsides and she asserted at the corner before racing clear. The Peter Cronin trained star went on to eventually see off Hawkfield Abbie by six lengths in a rapid 28.29.
COCO SO IMPRESSIVE
The Talking Dogs Bitch 525 featured a number of impressive ladies but it was Boylesports Coco that emerged on top for John Boyle and Dolores Ruth.
Role Model rocketed from the outside box to lead into the turn but Boylesports Coco displayed fine early dash to slip up the fence.
Once joining Role Model, there was a certain inevitability to the result. Role Model again maintained a middle path around the last two bends and Boylesports Coco took advantage, seizing the lead before easing on to score by a length and a half in a fast 28.33.
WARRIOR GETS LOOSE
Kapuka Warrior had to win the eighth race, the Festival 525, twice.
Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for Matt Dunne, the early paced son of Good News and Cruel Intentions displayed fine early speed to get the better of the fast starting Barrington Ber into the turn.
It seemed as though Kapuka Warrior had done enough when turning in front but he had to really dig in to contain the late charge of Nomadic Nova. The latter lost his position on the corner but came from fourth spot to finish just a half-length down. However, this was Kapuka Warrior’s night and he went on to stop the clock in 28.37.
KAI GOING THE RIGHT WAY
After winning an open unraced stake at Shelbourne in early November, Ciaran O’Sullivan’s Unanimous Kai had been luckless in three subsequent starts in open company but he again highlighted his obvious potential when running out a good winner of the Volksbank 525.
Kilcolgan Chief kept Unanimous Kai honest in the early yards with the pair going up fast but the latter was too strong into the third turn. The Pat Buckley trained son of Droopys Sydney and Swift Magnetic charged into the third turn to take charge. Once doing so, he went on to emerge a good two length winner over Kilcolgan Chief in 28.41.
OZARK ONE FOR FAVOURITE BACKERS
There wasn’t a soul in Shelbourne Park that wasn’t expecting Jerry Connors’ Hawkfield Ozark to lead around the corner in the Champion Old Stagers 525 and his price reflected this view.
Those that took the restrictive odds about the son of Laughil Blake and Brownstown Tango would have been happy with what they saw in the early yards.
The John McGee trained 2022 Irish Sprint Cup champion flashed from traps and was never headed thereafter. Fernandes gave chase for much of the way with Churchtown Syd coming through late to grab second but neither could land a glove on Hawkfield Ozark, who emerged a three length winner in 28.55.
DELIGHTFUL SIX BEND DEBUT FOR IZZY
Delightful Izzy put a smile on the face of Reggie Roberts when emerging a tremendous winner of the Barking Buzz App Novice 750.
This was a pretty straightforward success for the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Urban Time as she flashed from trap two to make every inch.
Orchid Queen gave pursuit throughout and was never too far back but could never get close enough to actually worry the pace-setter. Delightful Izzy ran all the way to the line to emerge a comfortable four and a half length winner over Orchid Queen in 41.41.
CAPITAN HOLDS ON IN A DESPERATE FINISH
Closest finish of the night came in the This Runs Deep Open 525 as Capitan Garfio (Droopys Sydney/ Jetstream Lynx) just held the big late challenge of Ballymun Boy.
In a contest where the early advantage seemed certain to prove decisive, it was Ken Busteed’s Capitan Garfio that was sharpest in the early yards.
There was traffic amongst his pursuers, leaving Capitan Garfio even further clear into the back straight. Defeat didn’t seem an option but Ballymun Boy moved with real purpose once moving second.
Closing into the third turn, Ballymun Boy still had plenty of work to do but he continued to bridge the gap. In a desperate finish, Capitan Garfio held on by a short head in 28.79.
SCHEFFLER TOO HOT ON BACK NINE
Scotty Scheffler looked set to miss the cut in the final of the Shelbourne Regulars A2 decider only to pull it out of the fire with a fine display pace and determination from halfway.
Bayonet set a strong gallop after a fast start and seemed certain to come home in front.
Scotty Scheffler had other ideas, however. Only fifth down the back straight, he charged into the third turn to move third. He was again forced to check his stride at this point but came with a late surge up the straight to pick up the pace-setters.
Trained by Ray Melia for Gerry Hanley, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Ferryforth Belle led in the closing yards to emerge a deserving winner by a length in 28.60.
SILVER LEAVES RIVALS STRANDED
Silver Strand became the latest member of the wonderful Droopys Sydney/ Jet Ski Queen to win for David Murray and Alan Devine when coming home clear in the final of the WRF No Backgraders A3 525.
This contest was over as early as five strides in with Silver Strand showing immediate acceleration to dictate. Once striking the bend in front, the December ’21 whelp always seemed to have matters in hand. Highview Katy gave chase throughout but could never get close enough to threaten. Silver Strand eventually emerged a facile four and a half length scorer in a career best 28.55.
JUMPING JAXX KICKS OFF PROCEEDINGS
Proceedings got underway with the final of the Winter Racing Festival A4 525 and Jaxx Vivienne provided Beatrice Steiner with a fine success.
Owned by the Alpine Rose Syndicate, the daughter of Sparta Maestro and Boreen Magic was sharpest at traps and this proved the perfect springboard for success.
Holding Gunner Lad into the turn, Jaxx Vivienne continued to make every yard for a comfortable lengths and a half verdict over Gunner Lad in 28.90.