MOFO LAYS DOWN A MARKER IN OAKS
Ian Fortune
The Sporting Press Irish Oaks continued at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and there were a number of brilliant second round displays, including that of defending champion Raha Mofo as she joined the illusive 28 second club.
In fact, she became just the eighth bitch to do so, clocking a simply magical 27.96 on her way to victory. It was a clear and very loud warning to her rivals that she won’t be surrendering her Irish Oaks crown without a battle.
Heat 1 - NICE RUN FROM NICE ONE
After an encouraging opening round effort, Droopys Nice One continued her path back to full match sharpness in the opening second round heat, storming through at the third turn to see off the opposition with a bit in hand.
Rathdown Molly took over from the fast starting Droopys Nice One on the opening bend but was never far enough clear. As expected, Droopys Nice One was far too strong in the second half of the contest.
John Coleman’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dance raced up to and past the leader on the third turn and, despite running very wide off the final turn, came home three lengths clear of Cashen Bazooka in 28.46. Paradise Nikibel stayed on to take third in the closing yards, some two lengths further adrift.
Heat 2 – MORE MAGIC FROM QUIVERS
Owners PJ and Charles Sugrue and handler Adam Dunford are getting some sport out of Quivers Magic at present.
After a superb opening round success, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Quivers Manor maintained her unbeaten Oaks record in the second heat.
Drawn in red for the second week running, she shot from the inside box, posting a 2.06 sectional, to dictate from the very outset. Terezas Mendoza soon moved second and chased her hard throughout but the pace-setter is blessed with fine pace and power as well as real determination.
Terezas Mendoza started to close turning for home but Quivers Magic held on for a deserving length verdict over her pursuer in a fast 28.25. Footfield peach grabbed third on the line, a further seven and a half lengths back.
Heat 3 – MARTHA TOO GOOD
Glengar Martha was too good for her rivals in Heat 3 once coming away on terms.
She got the better of Gracebridge Star into the turn and it was all one-way traffic thereafter. Trained by Pat Buckley for William Wood, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Glengarbadminton eased further and further clear to eventually win by a wide margin.
The October ’21 whelp eventually took the verdict by nine lengths from Fire Height Mal in 28.31. Crossfield Orla stayed on well for the second week running to grab third, a half length behind the runner-up.
Heat 4 – RAPID BURGESS COMES HOME CLEAR
There was great excitement in Heat 4 although Burgess Rapid had the answers to her rivals when getting to the front early.
The daughter of Burgess Bucks and Burgess Helena flew into the turn and, despite taking a bump, just get around in front.
Bredas Wood emerged as the main threat, showing fine pace into the third turn to challenge the leader. It was at this point the door was closed on her, forcing her to check her stride. This left both Droopys Alyssa and Boylesports Coco to come through but Burgess Rapid was now home and hosed.
Representing JJ Fennelly and Hall of Famer Sheila Spillane, Burgess Rapid ran out a tremendous five length scorer in 28.55. Droopys Alyssa took second a neck to the good over Boylesports Coco.
Heat 5 – ALL SO EASY FOR DREAM
Willie Joe Murphy’s Bobsleigh Dream may have fluffed her lines in the opening round before performing heroics to finish second but she was almost foot-perfect seven days on, capturing Heat 5 in facile fashion. Amongst those disputing the lead into the turn, she managed to slip around in front.
As you would expect, the result was never in doubt thereafter. The Pat Buckley trained star, who has tasted classic glory twice before, eased right away to eventually emerge a seven length winner over her kennel companion Glengar Bridie in 28.25. There was another three lengths to Cashen Miska in third.
Heat 6 – AN EPIC GOES TO SHIVOO
There was an incredible buckle between Peter and Brian Divilly’s Crafty Shivoo and fastest opening round scorer Undisputed in Heat 6 with the verdict just going to the former.
Both went up fast with Crafty Shivoo holding a narrow lead into the back straight.
Undisputed was soon on terms, however, and seemed to be getting the better of the argument at the third turn. Despite edging on, she couldn’t maintain her lead. There is a possibility the pair bumped as Undisputed was going past as Crafty Shivoo quickly made up the ground to slip up the inner of his great rival.
Off the final turn, Crafty Shivoo had a narrow advantage but Undisputed was still moving with purpose. In a desperate buckle up the straight, Crafty Shivoo (Droopys Sydney/ Ballymac Sanjose) just held the renewed challenge of Undisputed to score by the minimum margin in 28.41. Easy Razzle was five lengths further back in third.
Heat 7 – DEFENDING CHAMP GOES BALLISTIC
If anyone was in any doubt that Raha Mofo is ready to defend her Oaks title, they need only look at her display in Heat 7 as she left a fast field standing on her way to a stunning 27.96 return.
This was nothing short of sensational from Marissa Molloy’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Clares Queen. The recently crowned Bitch of the Year shot from trap five and was in front from the opening stride.
Droopys Timing forced her way into second on the bend and did all she could to hold on to the coat tails of the leader but it was a futile exercise. The Murt Leahy trained Raha Mofo, who is ever so strong, pulled away from the third turn to eventually cross the line eight lengths to the good. Our Dog Molly was best of the remainder, some four lengths further back.
Heat 8 – THREESIX FIVE GETS LOOSE
As with Raha Mofo fifteen minutes earlier, the rivals of Threesixfive were facing an uphill task one she got loose in the early yards.
A real eye-catcher in the opening round when finishing at speed, she was never going to stopped when setting the pace around the turn.
Trained by Scott Phelan for the Pints Of Heino Syndicate, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Dunquin Anna kept the pursuing Cornetto at a safe distance back to the third turn before really winding it up on the run for home. At the finish, Threesixfive had an ever-widening three length advantage over 2022 runner-up Scooby Duchess in 28.41. Cornetto was just a neck adrift in third spot.
Supporting card
GLIDEAWAY LIVES UP TO HIS NAME
The opening round heats of the RCETS A1 575 served as a perfect dessert to the oaks action and all three heats were won in fine fashion, although none went faster than Music Glideaway as he turned the second heat into a procession.
Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for the Pension Plan Syndicate, the son of Newinn Taylor and Glideaway Magic relished the long run to the turn, opening a clear advantage over Ballymac Nunez before going on to see off the same rival by three lengths in a fast 31.04.
AURIC SLIPS CLEAR
The opening heat saw Brendan O’Shea’s Crossfield Auric take the turn before going on to a comfortable success.
The lightly raced son of Droopys Sydney and Crossfield Kate ran right away from the chasing pack to come home six lengths to the good over Caumrue Lemon in 31.16.
RUN HOLDS MAC IN FINALE
The final heat saw Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Run return to some form to contain Kilgraney Mac.
The latter actually held a narrow lead into the turn but stayed towards the middle of the track, allowing Ballymac Run to take over.
The talented daughter of Bull Run Bolt and Jaytee Pearl shot into a three-length advantage and seemed set to emerge a comfortable scorer. Kilgraney Mac is strong, however, and he came at the leader on the run in. Ballymac Run held on to score by a half length in 31.30.