SHOCKS APLENTY IN KIRBY SECOND ROUND AS CHICK SETS THE STANDARD
Peter Farrell
The second round heats of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial took centre stage at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it proved a night of shocks as numerous big-hitters went crashing out of the Classic.
Ballymac Danica set the standard with an exceptional track-record breaking display in the opening round, however, she went crashing out after some unfortunate traffic problems at the opening couple of turns. Add to that the elimination of Rushy Meadows, Carrick Keano, Hanover Sky, Fashion Model, Ballymac Senan and Coolavanny Otto, and the 2024 renewal of the richest Juvenile Classic has been blown wide-open as we head into the quarter-finals stages next weekend.
EPIC FROM CHICK
Despite many of the market front-runners making an earlier than anticipated exit from the Kirby, this didn’t take away from the quality on offer and the standard was set on the night by the John Kennedy-owned Epic Chick. Running in heat four, it was the impressive first round scorer, Droopys Metaphor, who went off as the 4/5 favourite and Epic Chick was next in line at odds of 3/1. Donning the striped jacket, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Jaytee Osprey wasted no time at trap rise as she blasted from her wide berth to assert. Always in control thereafter, this was a brilliant display from Epic Chick as she drew clear of the always second Scooby Pacemaker to win by four lengths, in an incredible 28.00. The remaining qualifier was Droopys Metaphor, who recovered from a sluggish start to advance.
KING RULES SUPREME
Stonepark King has been threatening a serious performance since debuting at Clonmel earlier this year and Michael O’Donovan and Michael Sean O’Dwyer have another Kirby challenger on their hands after the victory of Stonepark Leo in 2021. Swords Hero was installed as the 5/4 favourite in this contest with ‘King’ a next best at 5/2 and it was the latter who bolted from three before outpacing his rivals to the opening turn. Rounding with four lengths in hand of Ballymac Dapper, the son of Droopys Sydney and Ballyverry Sarah posted a rapid 15.88 to the third turn and he drew clear in the closing stages to stay on expertly up the hill to win by six lengths from Ballymac Dapper in second. The time was a blistering 28.03 as Phoenix Tyson secured the final qualifying spot in third.
HOLLAND ON THE DOUBLE AS KINGPIN TAKES OFF
Graham Holland has landed the past two Kirby Memorials and Romeo Kingpin looks hell-bent in his attempt to seal an historic third straight Classic. Drawn in heat five in trap one, the 5/4 jolly emerged from a level break to show fine early dash on the rails before dominoing his rivals aside to take an unassailable lead into the back. Striding out majestically, the son of Superman and Buckos Lass, owned by Dave Firmager, never relented thereafter as he powered to a seven length victory over Merits Inclusion in second. The time was a serious 28.24 with Coolavanny Poppy landing the third qualifying position back in third. (Sec: 16.00)
The Golden trainer was to seal a heat double on the night as Faypoint Sean, another opening round winner, landed heat five. Owned by Patricia Flanagan, ‘Sean’ was the 6/4 favourite heading into the contest but he looked in serious trouble early on after almost hitting the deck at the opener. It was in fact Serene Highway that took a flier from three to lead but as Faypoint Sean progressed out wide, he was sent sideways at the opener and sat some ten lengths adrift down the back. However, the son of Droopys Sydney and Roaming Shari never gave up as he ate into the lead in the closing stages before finishing with a wet sail to land the spoils. A winner by a head from Da Bold Falcon in second, the time was 28.94 as Tally Ho Storm claimed the final qualifying spot for the Wall-Of-Tally-Ho syndicate.
OWER IS A REAL CRACKER
Pat Buckley is chasing a fourth Kirby Classic and he has a strong hand heading into next week’s quarter finals if the performance of Ower Cracker was anything to go by. A noted eye-catcher behind Ballymac Danica last time out, he built on that performance brilliantly with an off-the-pace victory in heat six. 6/4 at the outset, Ower Cracker broke well from five but had no answer to the early speed of Feshtys Mo in trap one, who took the contest by the scruff of the neck early doors. Little to separate the duo down the back, Ower Cracker bridged a one length gap to sweep to the front at the penultimate bend and this move proved decisive. Staying on stoutly up the Limerick hill, the son of Deerjet Sydney and Nice Mystery powered clear thereafter to see of Feshtys Mo by three lengths, in a sizzling 28.26. Ballymac Patriot ran a fine race to finish just a head further back in third. (Sec: 16.11)
BACK TO BACK FOR DAZZLER
Daniel O’Rahilly is getting a fine tune out of Knockeen Dazzler and he made it back-to-back wins in the Kirby in heat one. All about early speed, the son of Laughil Blake and Love Island was fluently into stride from six and he paced around his rivals to lead Prince Naseem into the back. Just over a length to separate the pair, they matched one another stride for stride, however, ‘Dazzler’ stayed out stoutly to ensure he was to make every yard of the running. Another professional performance from O’Rahilly’s charge, the time was 28.54 with Prince Naseem and Fantasy Alex also sealing their progression into the quarter finals. (Sec: 16.20)
EXCITING HARRY BOUNCES BACK
Radical Harry set tongues wagging on debut as he posted an exceptional 28.18 and he got back to winning ways in heat two for Ger Hutton and Thomas O’Donovan. Drawn in a tough heat where Ballymac Danica and Carrick Keano would have been expected to figure prominently, ‘Harry’ broke well from two and the inside line proved crucial in holding off Ballymac Danica and In Good Time early on. Taking full control entering the back, the son of Epic Hero and Vita Bella, a 4/1 chance, was always holding In Good Time thereafter and he pulled clear in the closing stages to win comfortably, by three lengths. The time was 28.50 as In Good Time and Ballynabola Jim took the minor placings in behind. (Sec: 16.24)
TESLA SENDS BOOKMAKERS HOME HAPPY
There was a 50/1 shock in the final heat and a very popular one at that as Tom Fitzgerald’s Ocean Tesla took full advantage of skirmishing up front. A bitch that packs an almighty finishing kick, ‘Tesla’ completely fluffed her lines at traprise, however, was given a second opportunity rounding the opener as the closely knit pack bunched together up front. Displaying a fine turn of back straight pace, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ocean Olive did not require a second invitation as she stormed to the front at the penultimate turn and that was all she wrote thereafter. Drawing clear to win by three and a half lengths from Serene Rex in second, the time was 28.90 as Barefoot On Fire also progressed in third.