SANDBAG NOT WEIGHED DOWN

Ian Fortune

Thursday’s feature at Shelbourne Park, boasting a winner’s purse of €2,250, was the final of the Talking Dogs A4 525 and Mister Sandbag emerged a good winner for Vincent McKenna and owners the Sandbaggers Syndicate.  

Monamolin Squaw set a strong pace on the outside of the track but, sadly, the hot favourite Milkybar Kid completely fluffed his lines at traps and was beaten after a stride. That was further confirmed when he found bad traffic at the second turn.

Meanwhile Monamolin Squaw led the field into the back straight with Mister Sandbag turning second despite edging inwards from trap five. It allowed the son of Skywalker Rafa and Rylane Dubh to get first crack at Monamolin Squaw as he displayed signs of fatigue around the last two bends.

Mister Sandbag jumped at his opportunity, coming through in the closing yards for a length victory over the long-time pace-setter in 28.92.