UNBELIEVABLE TALENT ON SHOW AT NEWBRIDGE

Ian Fortune

It was safe to expect a few big runs in the delayed opening round of the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525 but few could have expected the level of excellence on show as some hugely exciting ladies lit up the Kildare circuit on Monday night.

All five heat winners were most impressive, although honour of going fastest went to Peter Divilly’s Crafty Bondi as she emerged a wide margin winner of heat 4 in a brilliant 28.34, while Fairy Footsteps also went fast in the final heat, clocking a rapid 28.46.

BRILLIANT BONDI A POTENTIAL STAR

Crafty Bondi was sent to traps the 1-2 favourite for Heat 4 and she couldn’t have been any more impressive.

The well bred daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Coolavanny Bondi hails from one of the great dam lines and it’s clear from this debut effort that she will develop into a serious classic contender.

Whatever Next was the pace-setter into the turn and she led Miraculous into the back straight only for Crafty Bondi to move second early in the back straight. What was to follow was a display of pure pace and strength.

Devouring the ground into the third turn, Crafty Bondi joined and headed the early leader before shooting straight past. Powering up the home straight, Crafty Bondi ran right away from his rivals to emerge a facile eight and a half length winner. Bling Bling Annie stayed on to take second with Suzy Opera House another two and a half lengths away in third. 

FAIRY TAKES FLIGHT

Fairy Footsteps recorded a sizzling 28.34 in qualifying around Shelbourne Park so it was no shock to see her going fast on debut.

She was an odds-on favourite in the last of the five heats and quickly asserted into the turn.

Razor-sharp in the opening yards, Michael Flynn’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Enable shot clear to the bend and proceeded to dominate throughout. Fantastic Sister was her nearest rival throughout but Fairy Footsteps was simply too hot.

Pulling further and further clear, she eventually struck the line eleven lengths to the good in 28.46. Rolo Dakota was just a short head away in third. Fairy Footsteps is clearly a massive prospect and one that is likely to makes waves in the future.

WONDERFUL SENSE OF HUMOUR

Sense Of Humour set the tone with a wonderful performance in the opening heat.

From the same family as a number of stars including Leger winner Ballymac Merlin, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Orna got first run on the hot favourite Droopys Wiggle and proceeded to make every inch.

Breaking smartly from trap four, she just cleared the corner, avoiding Whisper Ruby and Fergus Pest to lead the field into the back straight. Droopys Wriggle recovered from a slow start to slip around in third but she moved second into the third turn. The Anton Butler trained Sense Of Humour was not for catching, however.

Owned by the I Cant Believe It Syndicate, Sense Of Humour ran out a ready three length winner in a fast 28.56. Both the winner and runner-up should be on your radar going forward with both showing plenty of promise.

POPPY BLOOMS

Coolavanny Poppy displayed fine early speed to win Heat 2.

A litter sister to Juvenile Classic finalist Kerogue Lady and a younger full-sister to Coolavanny Hoffa, Coolavanny Poppy was headed in the early yards by Ravenswood Elsie but forced her way through on the fence to take up the running on the bend.    

It was to prove a decisive maneouvre. Once going to the front, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Ella quickly built a clear lead. By halfway she had a three and a half length advantage and she maintained it all the way to the finish to beat Ravenswood Elsie by three and a half lengths in 28.79.

SONG WITH A SWEET TUNE  

Barefoot On Song was another to justify odds-on favouritism in Heat 3, although she had to be on her toes in the closing yards as the eye-catching Rossa Ella flew home to finish a close second.

Barefoot On Song broke fastest from four and quickly made her way to the fence.

Turning into the back straight with a two-length clear, she quickly increased her advantage. By the third turn, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Jaytee Osprey seemed certain to emerge a facile winner but Rossa Ella was starting to move into full stride.

Barefoot On Song came out on top for Paul Hennessy and owners Bryan and Kathleen Murphy but she had to keep up to her work to hold on by a half-length in 28.75. Rossa Ella was a tremendous second with another two lengths back to Ballydoyle Baby in third.

Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525

Second round draw

Heat 1

1 SUSY OPERA HOUSE

2 BAREFOOT ON SONG

3 BLING BLING ANNIE

4 DROOPYS WRIGGLE

5 ROLE DAKOTA

6 CRAFTY BONDI (M)

Heat 2

1 SENSE OF HUMOUR

2 NOWHERE TO GO

3 ROSSA ELLA

4 COOLAVANNY POPPY

5 FERGUS PET

6 BALLINABOLA EMMA (M)

Heat 3

1 FAIRY FOOTSTEPS

2 COOLPEACH ROBIN

3 BALLYDOYLE BABY

4 RAVENSWOOD ELSIE

5 LOCATION (M)

6 FANTASTIC SISTER (M)