LOLA TOO HOT TO HANDLE IN THURLES GRI SPRING STAKES

Peter Farrell

The final of the €1,600 to the winner GRI Spring Stakes Bitch 525 was landed in tremendous fashion on Saturday night as Ballysloe Lola made it back-to-back victories.

Trained by Paraic Campion for William Lawlor, Ballysloe Lola landed her semi final assignment in narrow style, coming out the right side of a judge's call to see off Classy Diva by a head on that occasion. Fast-forward one week later and the final was to prove a case of deja vu, albeit in a more convincing fashion. Sent off as the 6/4 favourite, the daughter of Boyhero, who was a real Thurles favourite, and Road Queen, broke quite well this time around from four and was led only by Fairest Roxy who breezed up the inside to turn with one and a half lengths in hand. However, the order of running was to prove temporary as Ballyslow Lola displayed sizzling back straight gears to fly up the inside of her rival and take a comfortable lead into the penultimate turn. From here, it was to prove a straightforward night’s work for the classy brindle as she stayed on stoutly to record a fifth career victory for connections. Four lengths clear of Classy Diva, who came through for second, the time was a fast 29.04 .30s, a brilliant effort from this August puppy.

SHORT AGAIN WINS ‘TIME’ DECIDER

Also down for decision on the night was the TIME Graders A4 Derby and this was landed in comprehensive fashion by Short Again, who justified his 4/5 favouritism.

Owned by Thomas Spillane, Short Again was a fine winner of his semi final assignment and the talented blue had to pull out similar tactics as he came from off-the-pace to score. Running from trap four, Short Again sat second early on behind Kilvil Arnold but was forced to check midway down the back which looked to put an end to his prospects of landing the €1,000 decider. However, recovering well, the son of Laughil Blake and Leamaneigh Breda pulled out all the stops as he rallied up the inside around the bottom two bends. Now in full throttle, Short Again soared to the front late on to win by one and a half lengths from Kind Cian in second. The time was 29.65 .30s.