FABULOUS FRIDAY NIGHT FARE AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
With three finals up for decision, the opening round of the Gold Collar and the semi-finals of a sweepstake, Friday’s action at Shelbourne Park certainly wasn’t boring. Indeed, from start to finish, the racing was of a high quality with a number of memorable displays.
Fastest of the night was the rapidly improving Threesixfive as she followed up her impressive semi-final success to capture the final of the Barking Buzz App A2 525 in fine style for Scott Phelan and the Pints of Heino Syndicate.
Prominent from the outset, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Dunquin Anna was always gong to b too strong for the early pace-setter Craiobhin Skip. Taking over into the third turn, the promising Threesixfive came home three and a half lengths clear in a rapid 28.33.
RUBY IS A GEM
Not long after, Enda Losty’s Black Eyed Ruby also went fast to capture the final of the Upcoming Events A2 Bitch 525.
She too was headed in the early yards by the fast-starting Cali Smurph but was always perfectly poised to challenge once turning second.
Hitting the front at the halfway mark, the Kevin Losty trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Laughil Alice drew right away to eventually score by an ever-widening eight lengths in a fast 28.43. Cali Smurph was second.
SCAGLIETTI TOO STRONG
There was also a superb display in the final of the RCETS Dual Distance over 575yds as Scaglietti proved too strong for his rivals.
Representing the powerful Pat Guilfoyle/ Cheryl Sutcliffe combination, the well bred son of Magical Bale and Outdoor Roller was always prominent, chasing Kilcolgan Chief into the back straight in second before pouncing around the last two bends.
On gong to the front, there was no way he was going to be denied and he duly powered home to see off the rallying Kilcolgan Chief by two lengths in 31.29.
RING SETS THE COLLAR PACE
The opening round of the Gold Collar ended the evening and Storys Ring (Droopys Sydney/ Droopys Ring) set the standard in the last of the four heats, when coming through to deny long-time leader Millridge Dolly.
Always close to the pace, Ray Stafford’s Storys Ring was too strong in the later stages, taking over on the run in to win by a half length in 29.95.
SEAMROG IN LUCK
Moyola Seamrog was one of two Shelbourne regulars to win a heat.
Trained by Marie Gilbert for the Five Morettis Syndicate, the son of Kinloch Brae and Moyola Inion broke best and held a narrow lead into the turn before going on to make virtually all for a length and a half verdict over the persistent Sawdust Good Job in 30.04.
SUPREME JIRANO
The other Shelbourne regular to oblige was Pat Norton’s Jirano Supreme.
The Liam O’Rourke trained son of Sonic and Ballydoyle Maura was always to the fore before staying on well to see off the fast-finishing Prince Lucius in 30.10.
WAS HOLDS ON
The remaining heat went the way of Mark Lowther’s As I Was (Ballymac Best/ Groveshill View).
Known as Roanna Sheiler to this point in his career, he displayed fine back straight pace to recover from an opening bend bump and go to the front from Delirium Tremens into the third turn. Despite tying up in the closing yards, the Pat Norris trained fawn went on to score by a half length from Delirium Tremens in 30.15.