MORE SPECIALS DISPLAYS LIKELY AT NEWBRIDGE

Ian Fortune

There were plenty eagerly anticipating the start of the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Bitch Unraced at Newbridge and they certainly weren’t disappointed.

The delayed opening round took place on Monday night and a host of hugely promising youngsters strutted their stuff.

Crafty Bondi and Fairy Footsteps took the headlines but many others impressive both in victory and defeat. Just a few days on, they are back and ready to delight at Newbridge in the semi-finals of the valuable stake this evening. Obviously, most will have their eye on the aforementioned duo but nothing can be taken for granted. 

Sadly, there is one withdrawal rom tonight’s action with Sense Of Humour set to be an absentee in the second heat. That trap will remain vacant.

BRILLIANT BONDI TO FOLLOW UP

Crafty Bondi lines out in the stripes in the opening heat and will no doubt start a red-hot favourite after her stunning 28.34 success last time.

Peter Divilly’s daughter of Droopys Sydney displayed awesome pace and power from the second turn but, one suspects, she can go up faster.

If doing so, it will need something special from one of her rivals to deny her a second career success. Barefoot On Song will bid to grab the rails pitch into the turn, while Droopys Wriggle gave the impression she would improve considerably for her opening round defeat. They can emerge as the main dangers but Crafty Bondi cannot be opposed and is selected to go even faster than her sensational debut effort. Have no doubt, this could be another step to future superstardom for the August ’22 whelp.

POPPY TO SEE OFF ELLA

Heat 2 was potentially the most on of the three but the withdrawal of Sense Of Humour means that Coolavanny Poppy and Rossa Ella will have extra room to race, allowing the pair to come to the fore.

It certainly wouldn’t be a shock if Coolavanny Poppy improved on her 28.79 opening round success.

The latter is a full sister to Coolavanny Hoffa and litter sister to Juvenile Classic winner Kerogue Lady. She might trap a little faster from four and that could allow her to turn in front. Rossa Ella is a serious threat, however.

The Tommy O’Donovan trained daughter of Epic Hero displayed all sorts of pace on Monday and it would be no shock to see her open her account. Much will come down to how close Rossa Ella can turn but the vote goes to Coolavanny Poppy to make all.

FOOTSTEPS TO FLOAT HOME

Fairy Footsteps couldn’t have been any more impressive in the opening round, shooting from traps to make every inch.

Should she repeat that start in the final heat, it would need something monumental from one of her rivals to deny her a second success.

Last week’s clocks suggest that the daughter of Droopys Sydney has almost a half second in hand and that should allow her to coast home in front. Of course, a couple of her rivals will improve for their debut outings but whether the likes of Ballydoyle Baby and Ravenswood Elsie can improve enough has to be seen. Fairy Footsteps is chosen to make every inch.