A FANTASTIC FRIDAY AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

For the second week running, Shelbourne Park hosted a tremendous card on Friday packed with sweepstake action.

There was huge interest in the semi-finals of the Gold Collar which saw Jirano Supreme and Millridge Dolly score but the feature on the night was the final of the Retired Greyhound Trust A3 525 and Boylesports Gift said goodbye to graded company in fine style.

GIFT IS GOING PLACES

A superb 28.50 winner in the semi-finals, John Boyle’s son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Hugh Dream went even faster on this occasion.

The key to victory was the start. Breaking fast, he held his line into the turn to slip around in front of Earl the Pearl and Fridays Awesome.

The duo gave chase throughout but there was no catching the Paul Hennessy trained leader. The rapidly improving youngster duly pulled away from the final turn to cross the line three and a half lengths clear of Earl The Pearl in a fastest of the night 28.41. 

DOLLY GOING FOR GOLD

Donal O’Mahoney’s Millridge Dolly set the pace in the semi-finals of the Gold Collar, reeling in long-time leaded As I Was on the run in before containing fast finishers Sawdust Good Job and Prince Lucius.

Millridge Dolly was fastest into stride and she led for much of the run up only to be headed on the corner by As I Was. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Sign On Katie remained within striking distance, however.

As the leader began to tire into the third turn, Millridge Dolly drew closer before taking over on the run in. She, in turn, needed the line as both Sawdust Good Job and Prince Lucius were finishing with a flourish.

In the end, Millridge Dolly held on to emerge a half-length winner in 29.94. Prince Lucius actually came from a mile back to qualify in second, while Sawdust Good Job was just another short head away in third.

SUPREME MIRRORS OPENING ROUND EFFORT TO SCORE

The opening heat was a pretty straightforward affair with Jirano Supreme following up his opening round victory with an identical display.

A week after clocking 30.10 from the front, the son of Sonic and Ballydoyle Maura replicated both the style and time of that run.

Trained by Liam O’Rourke for Pat Norton, the April ’20 whelp took charge in the early yards to repel the persistent challenge of Storys Ring by a length and a half in 30.10. The battle for the third qualifying spot went right down to the wire with Moyola Seamrog just getting the better of Delirium Tremens by a short head, some three lengths behind the runner-up.  

GOLD COLLAR FINAL DRAW

1 Prince Lucius

2 Moyola Seamrog

3 Jirano Supreme

4 Sawdust Good Job (m)

5 Millridge Dolly (m)

6 Storys Ring (w)