MOLLY A CHRISTMAS CRACKER IN OAKS SEMIS

Ian Fortune

Bill Mullholland’s Rathdown Molly was at her brilliant best at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as she booked her place in the final of the Christmas Oaks with a facile success in an impressive 28.39.

Joining her in the decider is Arent We All, who displayed real balance and pace to win the other heat.

MAGIC MOLLY

Both ladies were mighty impressive but the headlines had to go to Rathdown Molly (Droopys Sydney/ Some Ginger) as she displayed awesome early speed to leave a very talented field chasing shadows in the second semi.

The Marie Gilbert trained star broke on terms but displayed real acceleration to quickly move to the front.

By the second bend the race was over as a contest. Rathdown Molly was already clear and on her way to a comfortable victory. In contrast, the race for second spot was very competitive. Lets Go Bubbles had gone up fast but found bother, while Ballymac Run also lost her prominent position.

Both Delightful Izzy and Droopys Nice One came with a powerful charge from off the pace with the latter moving second on the run for home but Rathdown Molly hit the line with four lengths to spare. Droopys Nice One had a half-length in hand on Delightful Izzy in second.

ALL IMPRESSES

Arent We All had caught the eye in defeat six days earlier so it was no surprise to see her emerge on top in the opening heat, although she did have to work hard to get the better of the hot favourite Boylesports Coco.

Arent We All disputed the lead into the turn but Boylesports Coco shot up the fence to force her way through. This caused a few in the field to lose ground, although Arent We All rode a bump to remain a close second.

Regaining her momentum quicker than Boylesports Coco, Arent We All made her move on the outside of her rival at the second turn. In a very impressive manoeuvre, Alan Devine’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jet Ski Queen took over at the head of affairs.

Boylesports Coco gave chase for the remainder of the journey but could never get close enough to worry the pace-setter. The David Murray trained Arent We All emerged a two and a half length winner in 28.71. Highview Honour flew home to take third, a further two lengths behind Boylesports Coco.

Shelbourne Christmas Oaks

Final draw

1 RATHDOWN MOLLY

2 BOYLESPORTS COCO

3 DELIGHTFUL IZZY

4 DROOPYS NICE ONE (M)

5 ARENT WE ALL (M)

6 HIGHVIEW HONOUR (M)

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HOLIDAY IN A STROLL

There were two wonderful displays in the semi-finals of the RCETS Open 525 to end the evening’s proceedings.

Jack Roche’s Another Holiday set the tone in the opening heat, following up his brilliant Winter Racing Festival success with a typically professional display from trap three.

Making a flying start, the Michael O’Donovan trained son of Dorotas Wildcat and Vigorous Lindsey was always in complete control. Dunnanelly Fred initially took up the chase but he couldn’t contain the pace of ballymun Boy into the third turn. Another Holiday was out clear, however, and he eventually coasted home

FLYING FINN

Ballymac Finn was brilliant in the finale as he again looked back to his very best, leading from start to finish to stop the clock in 28.33.

Daleroad Duke attempted to challenge Ballymac Finn into the corner but was on the wrong side of his rival and had to give way.

Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Finn quickly put the contest out of the reach of his rivals. Moving with real purpose out front, the son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Petsy was dominant, going on to see off Millroad Bolger by three lengths in 28.33.       

HUKUM TOO STRONG

Produce Stakes runner-up and proven top class stayer, Hukum appreciated a return to 575yds as he posted the fastest time in the semi finals of the Talking Dogs Open 575.

Not often allowed to dictate, the Adam Dunford trained son of Good news and Early Rise was going to be very hard to stop when shooting to the front at trap rise.

Good maestro took up the chase and did all he could to close to the third turn but he had no answer to the power of Hukum up the home straight. Owned by the Fantasy Syndicate, Hukum eased clear from the final turn to eventually hit the line two and a half lengths to the good over Good Maestro in 31.10.

JIM CONTINUES HIS RISE UP THE RANKS

Ballinabola Jim, owned by the Murphy – Ballinabola Syndicate, has been taking giant leaps forward in recent weeks and he again impressed in the second semi-final of the Talking Dogs Open 575.

Although not the fastest into stride, the massive son of Good News and Ballinabola Rum, who tips the scales at 90lbs, flew to the bend to take over the lead from Dapper Davy.

It was all one-way traffic thereafter with the Brendan murphy trained pace-setter showing no signs of taking his foot off the pedal. At the line he had three lengths to spare over the fast-finishing Prince Lucius in 31.36.

KAMARI GOING THE RIGHT WAY

The ladies came to the fore in the semis of the IRGT A0 525 with both heats going to the fairer sex. Droopys Kamari got the ball rolling in the opening heat, leading from the start for Murt Leahy, Daniel and Patrick Nagle. 

A rapidly progressive daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Hunch, she emerged a facile scorer by three lengths from Lord Messi in 28.60.

ZOE TAKES CHARGE LATE

Ollie Bray’s Sunshine Zoe won the second heat, although she had to work a little harder with Uncle Tom making virtually every yard, only to run out of steam in the closing stages.

Sunshine Zoe was always his closest rival and she took full advantage when the leader finally hit the proverbial wall.

Coming through on the run in, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Silver Penny emerged a length scorer in 28.75. 

GOOD HOPE A REAL HOPE

Good Hope impressed in the semi-finals of the Barking Buzz A1 550, showing fine early zip to take charge before the corner in the opening heat.

Owned by two men better known for their exploits in the equine world, Paul Byrne and Emmet Mullins, Good Hope galloped his rivals into the crowd once going to the front.

The Paul Hennessy trained son of Grangeview ten and Jaytee Osprey went on to contain the always second Now Were Talking by three and a half length in 30.00.

FANTASY FOR MOLL BACKERS

Fantasy Moll was just four spots faster when winning the second semi-final in similar fashion.

Making a fast start from the inside box, Leslie Coveney’s daughter of Pestana and Newinn Madam looked certain to win once turning in front.

Cornetto made things interesting, however. Despite finding early traffic, she emerged as a serious threat into the third turn before staying on strongly to fail by a narrow margin. Great Credit must go to the Adam Dunford trained Fantasy Moll as she held on by a half length in 29.96.

DUBH HOLDS HIS RIVALS

The semi-finals of the This Runs Deep A2 600 opened up proceedings and Vivara Dubh held on to set the standard in the second heat with a 33.24 return.

Ken Busteed’s son of Good News and Coolbeg Iris won the battle with Templeville Mia to turn in front and he was never headed thereafter despite the best late efforts of Labana Curious and Early News.

Both flew up the straight but Vivara Dubh had enough in hand to contain Labana Curious by three parts of a length.

ALL SUNNY FOR MIAMI

The opening heat saw Johnny Donohoe and Tom O’Donnell’s Miami Prince emerge a less than likely winner.

After stumbling at traps he was playing catch up from the start, although opening bend traffic saw him slip around second to Pharis Jerry.

The later seemed a certain scorer when five lengths clear but Miami Prince had other ideas. Closing to the final turn, the Garry Dempsey trained son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Doll continued to bridge the gap on the run in to lead late for a short head verdict in 33.61.