TWOINAROW DEMANDS THE HEADLINES AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
Saturday nights at Shelbourne Park never fail to deliver. While there were no major competitions on Saturday, there was a number of brilliant displays.
On a night when Neilus O’Connell, Liam O’Rourke and Robert Gleeson recorded impressive doubles, the headlines went to Twoinarow as he gave a clear indication in the finale of why he is favourite for Boylesports Derby glory with the sponsors.
A SERIOUS DISPLAY
In what was his first race since picking up an injury in his National Puppy Stake semi-final success last November, the brilliant son of Droopys Sydney and Murdaniel Beauty displayed absolutely no signs of rust as he saw of two of Ireland’s very fastest with a magical display of front running.
This was as close to perfect as you can get. Owned by the El-Moro Syndicate, the January ’20 whelp flashed from the inside box. Kilgraney Sydney was second from the outset, while Good Cody had to show fine early dash after a slow start to turn third.
Fresh from a 27.94 trial, Kilgraney Sydney looked a serious challenger once turning close in second but the Pat Kiely trained Twoinarow was up to the task. Kilgraney Sydney and Good Cody pushed hard into the third turn and seemed to be within striking distance if the leader displayed any signs of fatigue but the exact opposite happened.
Once turning for home, Twoinarow started to turn the screw. Easing clear to the line, he looked a greyhound that would only improve for the step up to the 550yd Derby trip. Twoinarow hit the line four and a half lengths to the good over Kilgraney Sydney and Good Cody who dead-heated for second. In stopping the clock in 28.07, the winner sent out a very obvious warning to his rivals; he is going to be a major player in the Derby.
REQUEST INITIATES ROBERT’S DOUBLE
Robert Gleeson posted a rapid double with Droopys Request and Toolmaker Zipper coming home in front in successive races.
Droopys Request was a comfortable winner of the final of the Talking Dogs Bitch A1 525, showing her fine early speed to make every inch.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dance shot from the inside box and never saw a rival. Innfield Supreme ran on well for second but Drooopys Request was too good as she emerged an impressive three length winner in 28.29. She will likely next appear in the opening round of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks next weekend.
ZIPPER COMPLETES THE DOUBLE
Some seventeen minutes later, Toolmaker Zipper also won in superb fashion for Robert Gleeson. Prominent in the early yards, he asserted as the field entered the back straight and quickly raced clear of the pursuing Allovertheworld.
Willie Hyslop’s son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dance built a sizeable lead to the third turn before coasting home to an easy five and a half length victory over Allovertheworld in 28.34.
FLAMIN ON FIRE
Flaminmoneybags produced a truly professional and brilliant display to turn the eighth race into a procession.
Owned by the Two Laois, Four Kilkenny Syndicate, the son of Laughil Blake and Killaheen Queen rocketed from traps to dominate throughout.
Posting a fast 2.03 to the winning line and a very quick 15.98 to the third turn, Flaminmoneybags was never under an ounce of pressure. Lynchy Boy stayed on to take second but Flaminmoneybags hit the line three and a half lengths to the good in a very fast 28.16.
REMARKABLE MONARCH BOWS OUT IN STYLE
One of the most dependable and consistent trackers in the sport, Razldazl Monarch brought his tally to an incredible twenty wins in the seventh race over 550yds, completing a superb double for Neilus O’Connell in the process.
Now over four and a half years of age, the powerful son of Makeshift and Razldazl Pru quickly set about trying to make every inch. Making a fast start from the inside box, he comfortably led the field into the corner and dug deep to repel the late challenge of Rewired.
In what was later to be announced as his final start, Razldazl Monarch held on to score by three parts of a length in 29.83. For his owners the Kildare Kilcolgan Syndicate, he was a true superstar and he leaves them with so many memories on the track.
SOCKS INITIATES A DOUBLE FOR NEILUS
It was a similar scenario in the second race with Mohane Socks making every inch of the running after a slick exit.
Trained by Neilus O’Connell for Cormac Davern, the son of Ballymac Vic and Mohane Misty was never headed despite the best efforts of Brayview Bally. At the line Mohane Socks had a half length in hand in 28.56.
WINK TAKES OFF
Thomas Glynn’s Thirtynine Winks got back to winning ways in superb style in the third race over 550yds.
The David Murray trained son of Laughil Bolt and Combined Effort was headed in the early yards by Ceide Prince but ran a tremendous bend to shoot past the leader as they hit the second bend.
Ceide Prince did all he could to stay with the new leader into the third turn but Thirtynine Winks ran another wonderful bend to increase his advantage before cruising home four lengths clear in a fast 29.35.
BRUISER BATERS RIVALS TO INITIATE A FINE DOUBLE FOR LIAM
Gary Carey and Liz Whyte’s Burnell Bruiser is a greyhound in wonderful form at present and he relished a return top six bends in the fifth race as he initiated a superb double for Liam O’Rourke. The powerhouse, who is a half-brother to Beach Avenue, was only third in the early yards as the high-class Auxerre set a searching gallop but the latter struggles to see out the trip.
The same can’t be said for Burnell Bruiser. He began to close on those in front as they entered the back straight and, when moving past Harriestown King to go second, it was only a matter of time before he moved to the front. Auxerre ran out of petrol around the last two bends, leaving Burnell bruiser to emerge a comfortable and most impressive four length winner over Harriestown King in a quick 41.41.
JETSTREAM TOO QUICK
Liam O’Rourke didn’t have to wait long to complete his wonderful double as Jirano Jetstream broke his duck with a fine display in the A1 sixth race.
The opening half of the contest was pretty messy but when they started to get room to race it was Black Matador that set the pace into the back straight.
Innfield Jet was second with Jirano Jetstream third. It was clear as they hit halfway that Jirano Jetstream was moving with real purpose. Moving second at this point he set his sights on the leader. Joining Black Matador at the third turn, Jirano Jetstream forced his way to the front as they hit the final turn. From there Pat Norton’s son of Droopys Jet and Ballymac Scala eased on to record a well-deserved success by two lengths in 28.96.
CAYDEN KEEPS FINDING
Kishlawn Cayden provided Gavin Nolan and Cayden Nolan with a winner in the fourth race, showing great determination to contain the persistent challenge of Shall We.
Kishlawn Cayden (Droopys Roddick/ Kishalwn Caylia) took up the running on the bend but was always under pressure. Shall we looked poised to shoot up the fence at the third turn but Kishlawn Cayden had other ideas and kept finding to hold off his rival by a length in 28.42. Tarsna Soda ran on well in third, a further length and a half adrift.
FLYER OFF TO A FLIER
Kilbrook Flyer lived up to his name in the A3 opener, shooting from trap five to dominate throughout.
Jerry Daly’s son of Jackies Flyer and Innfield Sparky quickened into a clear advantage by halfway and while he did tire on the run in, he held on to see off the fast finishing Lissatouk Anna by a length in a useful 28.51.