A BIG CROWD WITNESSES BRILLIANT ACTION AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

A big crowd poured through the Shelbourne Park stiles on Saturday night as the festive season got underway and they were treated to some superb racing including two wonderful displays in the semi-finals of the IGOBF National Puppy Stake.

Both winners did it from the front with Up The Style going fastest, while Romeo Kodi had to show real determination to get first run on his rivals.

A STYLISH DISPLAY

Up The Style was at her brilliant best in the second semi-final of the National Puppy Stake.

At this stage of the evening the wind was at its fiercest but it scarcely affected Up the Style as she flew into the bend to Rathdown Molly.

Once going to the front, the brilliant daughter of Pestana and Unlock Unlock wasn’t for catching. Rathdown Molly is normally a pace-setter but ran well to give chase throughout. She never looked like threatening the leader, however.

Up The Style, who is jointly owned by brothers Alan and Pat Dobbs, maintained a relentless gallop to the line to emerge a brilliant four length winner in 28.39. Rathdown Molly was second, while Ballymac Johnjo flew home to finish third, a further length adrift, denying Undisputed a place in the final by a half length.

KODI DRIVES THE TURN TO TRIUMPH

The opening heat was certainly competitive, although Romeo Kodi just got first run on his rivals.

That was to prove decisive. With the exception of Undulation, who missed the start, the field were separated by very little into the bend but Romeo Kodi was nothing if not game, driving the bend to slip around in front with a narrow advantage.   

Romeo Turbo and Ballymac Bronze turned closest, while Press Unlock and Boylesports Vic were just behind. Romeo Kodi hit halfway with just inches over a length to spare on the chasing pack allowing him a clean run at the third turn.

In contrast, those behind were struggling to get racing room. Boylesports Vic flew into the third turn to attempt to move through on the fence but was forced to check his stride. He regains his momentum and flew up the home straight to grab second but Romeo Kodi galloped all the way to the line.

Trained by Graham Holland or David Firmager, the son of Romeo Recruit and Fabulous Mila took the verdict by two lengths in 28.63. Boylesports Vic was second with Romeo Turbo claiming the all-important third qualifying spot a further head behind.

IGOBF NATIONAL PUPPY STAKE

Final Draw

1 ROMEO TURBO

2 BOYLESPORTS VIC

3 ROMEO KODI

4 BALLYMAC JOHNJO

5 RATHDOWN MOLLY

6 UP THE STYLE (W)

*******

BRILLIANT FINN SIMPLY TOO GOOD

The final of the Talking Dogs Open 525 provided a tremendous tussle with half the field having strong claims from the second turn.

Droopys Rocker seemed set to score when turning in pole position after a flying start but Callaway Pro Am and Ballymac Finn were soon in chase. 

As they entered the back straight Callaway Pro Am toyed with the idea of forcing his way through on the fence but he was forced to check his stride momentarily. In contrast, Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Finn moved wide of the leader and displayed huge pace into the third turn to move to the front.

Both Droopys Rocker and Callaway Pro Am chased him hard but Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn was on his way to a wonderful victory. The son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Petsy charged home to land the €2,500 prize by three lengths from Droopys Rocker in a rapid, fastest of the night 28.23.

HERO FOLLOWS UP IN SOME STYLE

A week after scoring in a rapid 28.25 for the standard trip, Savana Hero came in as a reserve to turn the fifth race over 550yds into a procession.

Owned jointly by Towcester supremo Kevin Boothby and Brendan Matthews, the son of Droopys Sydney and Follys View was far too sharp for his rivals in the early yards.

Showing superb early dash, Savana Hero was clear of the field by the second turn and he kept his foot on the pedal throughout to eventually emerge a most impressive four length scorer over the staying on Toolmaker Wilde in 29.75.

RUN COMPLETES A BIG NIGHT FOR DOWLING

Just minutes after Ballymac Run won her quarter final of the Leger at Limerick, Liam Dowling completed an across the card treble with Ballymac Drama emerging a tremendous winner of the tenth race at Shelbourne to add to Ballymac Finn’s victory a little earlier.

Here Laughil Roy and Irelands Own had a great buckle for much of the journey but neither were aware of Ballymac Drama as she stalked them turning for home. The daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Clear Mountain became the second member of her litter to score on the night following Burgess Bolger in the opener. Storming home, she collared the front two in the final yards to beat Irelands Own by a half length in 28.79.

BELLA BOUNCING AT PRESENT

Racing ended with a tremendous contest over six bends as the Pillar Syndicate owned Jacktavern Bella (Droopys Sydney/ Lemon Ariana) again announced herself as a stayer of some note.

Cu Mochua set a strong pace at the head of affairs but, in the tough conditions, was always going to struggle to contain those in behind.

Hello Hammond emerged as the main threat passing the stands, taking over at the fifth turn. By this point both Jacktavern Bella and Kilara Zoe were closing fast with the former getting first run. Shooting through on the fence at the final turn, the Graham Holland trained star eased on to score by two lengths from Kilara Zoe in 41.87.

POWERFUL PEWEE ARRIVES LATE AND FAST

The penultimate race on the card was a high class 575yd contest with each of the five runners amongst the strongest greyhounds in training but the race itself turned into quite a muddling affair, although Storys Peewee was to prevail after a fin display.

Tommy Too Many went up fast but was headed at this point by Hoodoo Brown. In a normal contest, Hoodoo Brown would have been expected to drive clear but he could never get away from his talented rivals. Instead, Clona Blu displayed huge pace to join him into the third turn.

The duo battled for supremacy around the last two bends with Clona Blu moving on as they turned for home. As a result, Hoodoo Brown checked across the new leader’s heels, bumping into the improving Barefoot Supremo. Storys Peewee was now in full stride on the outside of the quartet and, despite taking a bump, he continued to advance.

Trained by Murt Leahy or Gavin O’Mahoney, Storys Peewee, who won over the 575yd trip on Derby final night, again proved too strong for his opposition, leading late to score by a length from Clona Blu in 31.47.

BOLGER SETS THE TONE

Burgess Bolger was a tremendous winner of the A1 opener for Sheila Spillane and JJ Fennelly. Leading early, the well bred son of Ballymac Bolger and Clear Mountain increased his lead over the pursuing Droopys Haze to halfway before maintaining a strong gallop to the line.

In what was his tenth career start, the January ’21 whelp doubled his career tally by three lengths in a fast 28.32. Kilgraney Mac moved with purpose into the third turn to go second but never get any closer to the winner.

DUKE REIGNS

Martin Lanney has his string in fine form at present and Roxholme Duke (Pat C Sabbath/ Allowdale Nokia) provided him with a winner in the third race.

Roxholme Duke broke smartly to contest the early lead with fellow fast-starter Flaminmoneybags but asserted as they entered the back straight.

Flaminmoneybags attempted to come back at Roxholme Duke on the run in but it wasn’t to be. The Hayley & the Glory Boys Syndicate owned Roxholme Duke stayed on well for a length and a half victory in 28.48.

NOTHING RUSTY ABOUT COOLBOY

After being picked up when in front in a couple of recent outings, Coolboy Rusty never had a moment’s worry in the second race as he dominated from flag fall.

Trained by Graham Holland for Eric Prestage, the son of Ballymac Best and Dysert Anna was dominant throughout.

Traffic amongst his rival on the corner left Coolboy Rusty even further clear and he eventually cruised to a very comfortable six length victory over Burgess Darcy in 28.53.

RAZOR-SHARP PEACH DOMINATES

Peach Tree East added to his already impressive tally in the ninth race, leading from the traprise to dominate for Tony Byrne and Justin Johnson.

The son of Dorotas Wildcat really did fly from traps and was clear into the turn.

Priceless Opera turned second and did close on the leader to the third turn but Peach Tree East was persistent on the bunny. The July ’20 whelp emerged a good two and a half length winner over Urban Captain, who stayed on strongly, in 28.64.