TREATY BIDDING FOR HISTORIC JUVENILE CLASSIC DOUBLE IN PRODUCE STAKES DECIDER
Peter Farrell
Attention turns to Clonmel Greyhound Stadium later tonight as the final of the 2023 Thatch Bar & Restaurant National Produce Stakes takes centre stage and it’s expected to be a thrilling decider with Clonbrien Treaty bidding for an historic Juvenile double.
Kindly sponsored for the first time by Thatch Bar & Restaurant in Lisselton, Co. Kerry, they have certainly been treated to a top-class event with no shortage of brilliance in each of the rounds to date. Clonbrien Treaty came into the event fresh off winning the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick and despite a couple of rusty appearances, Graham Holland’s star delivered an emphatic display in the semi finals to post a fastest of the Classic, 28.09 .10s. That in mind, he comes into the decider as very much the one to beat and he looks cherry-ripe for another blistering performance in his bid for an historic Juvenile Classic double.
A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS
T1 – CLONA SHADOW (Owner : Kevin O’Brien – Trainer : Graham Holland) – After coming into the event with just the two career starts under his belt, one of which being a terrific 28.54 around the Suirside circuit, this son of Malachi and Absolutely Ace endured a rough passage in round one as he claimed third behind De Gander Pen. However, in round two he stepped up emphatically as he made every inch to post 28.68 .10s and this was enough for Kevin O’Brien to step in and purchase Chasing Trooper, as he was formally known. Another polished performance last time out was enough to justify the purchase and he looks like a greyhound who can only go forward with regular exposure to the racing scene. Drawn favourably in the red jacket this evening, the early sectionals of Clona Shadow suggest who could well lead on the rail and if doing so, he has strong of making it a hat-trick of victories and landing the €20,000 feature.
T2 – HUKUM (Owner : The Fantasy-Syndicate – Trainer : Adam Dunford) – A hugely talented individual, this son of Good News and Early Rise caught the eye from the very outset with his devastating speed from the halfway mark in the Rural Kennels Unraced. A number of smart performances were to follow around the likes of Shelbourne Park but since his return to Clonmel, he has really cranked it up a notch. Only beaten two and a half lengths by Clonbrien Treaty last time out, recording a blistering 28.16 estimate in the process, he will benefit from a plumb draw in trap two in the decider and is certainly not out of the equation. Clona Shadow is likely to go up fast on his inner, however, should Hukum nestle into a good position early on, none will be finishing faster and he looks certain to make the frame as a result.
T3 – MENDELSON (Owner : Gerard Hutton – Trainer : Thomas O’Donovan) – A greyhound who has shown plenty of ability throughout the Classic, the son of Droopys Sydney and Ravenna has slipped under the radar but certainly is not here to make up the numbers. Mendelson has caught the eye in each round thus far and he was particularly impressive last time out when following Ower Mystery home to record a 28.60 estimate. Drawn a little further out tonight in trap three, the Newbridge Derby finalist will require some luck to figure but if getting the opportunity, he won’t need to be asked twice. A clear passage is essential early on, but he could be one for the trios if reproducing his semi final exploits.
T4 – OWER MYSTERY (Owner: A.G Harvey – Trainer: Pat Buckley) – Representing last year’s winning trainer is a greyhound with a little bit of everything, early pace to coincide with a will to win; all of which outline him a live player in this decider. The son of Droopys Sydney and Nice Mystery set his stall out in the opening round when he comfortably dispatched of Clonbrien Treaty and he built on that performance with a rapid 28.46 .10s semi final victory last Sunday. Drawn in four tonight, he is another likely to dispute early on and if turning in front, he will prove extremely difficult to peg back. Boasting a career best of 28.24 around Limerick, he warrants huge respect and should benefit from a clear run to the turn with several slow starters on his inside.
T5 – BURGESS SUPREME (Owner : JJ Fennelly & Sheila Spillane) – A finalist in the prestigious Future Champion & Michael Fortune Memorial Unraced at Enniscorthy, this son of Ballymac Anton and Ballymac Merkle narrowly missed out by a short-head on that occasion but has brought his Co. Wexford form down to Tipperary and has been duly rewarded with a spot in the decider. Another who has the ability to ping the lids, his trap five berth will not phase the July pup and he has no forlorn hope of making the frame. A lot will depend on traprise; however, he holds the mantle of posting the fastest sectional of the finalists (2.75) and he has also yet to finish out of the first three from eight career starts. Rule out at your peril.
T6 – CLONBRIEN TREATY (Owner : James & Muireann Murphy – Trainer : Graham Holland) – Another representative from the Graham Holland kennel and without doubt his trump card. The reigning Con & Annie Kirby Champion started this competition in workmanlike fashion, however, the same could have been said about his Kirby tilt up until the quarter final stages where he started to raise one or two eyebrows. He subsequently went on to produce some incredible displays at Limerick, culminating in capturing the €80,000 Classic in late April. His 28.09 .10s performance last Sunday was breath-taking to say the least and he looks cherry-ripe for another paw-perfect display later tonight. Well drawn as the sole wide seed in six, the son of Pestana and Clonbrien Millie is a worthy favourite and the one to beat in his search for a sensational Juvenile Classic double.
Verdict – It would appear that Graham Holland has again produced a brilliant training performance in getting Clonbrien Treaty to peak at the best possible time in this Classic. His 28.09 clock from last week is unrivaled and a level break, in my opinion, is all that’s required in his quest for back-to-back Classics. Of his main rivals, Hukum is selected to give Clonbrien Treaty most to think about. Without doubt the biggest finisher in the line-up, he only needs to turn handy to have a say, and his draw in two is another plus for this hugely fast individual. Selected to make up the podium is Clona Shadow in trap one.
SUPPORTING CARD
Elsewhere on the card, there are a number of mini-sweepstake finals up for grabs and the first is the Explosive Boy @ Stud A1/A2 525, kindly sponsored by Peter Sutcliffe.
Both Unreal Bruiser and Flashy Farloe posted identical times of 28.92 .10s in last week’s semifinals but the vote goes to the Justin & Pat Muldoon’s runner. On that occasion, the son of Droopys Sydney and Fork Lightning shipped a pretty hefty bump at the opener but recovered well to double his career tally. Drawn in three, he is on the right side of his rival and gets the nod to come out on top.
Derek Cagney sponsors the final of the Modified Ltd. A1/A2 550 and Riverside Lisa is expected to prevail for Graham Holland and the RTC-Syndicate. A winner of her semi final in off-the-pace fashion, clocking 29.88 .10s, she will no doubt improve for the run and although facing a potentially tricky draw of six railers in the stripes, she has enough in hand to land the spoils. Of her rivals, Subtle Jack is the obvious danger after he posted a smart 29.95 .10s in the other semi last Sunday.