UNDISPUTED THE QUEEN OF SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

Saturday’s action at Shelbourne Park was right out of the top drawer.

On a night when three Derby finalists were in action, the headlines went to the hugely promising Undisputed as she set a stunning standard in the opening round of the IGOBF National Puppy Stake.

MAGIC FROM UNDISPUTED

It wasn’t just about Undisputed in the second heat of the National Puppy Stake as her sister Up The Style played a huge part in making this a contest to remember but the bragging rights most certainly went the way of the former as she doubled her career tally in brilliant fashion.

Breaking smartly from three, the daughter of Pestana and Unlock Unlock just held her sister Up The Style into the turn. From that point it was very much a two-dog affair. Undisputed and Up The Style had a great buckle down the back straight.

There was scarcely more than a half length between them at any point but Undisputed really dup deep to hold her narrow advantage. By the third turn, she had done enough. Up The Style had no more to give and this saw the leader ease on.

Full of running up the home straight, Paul Prendergast and Wayne McCarthy’s talented youngster moved clear to score by three and a half length in a stunning fastest of the night 28.05. Up the Style was second, a length ahead of Scaglietti.

UNDULATION COMPLETES A DOUBLE FOR HER LITTER

Incredibly, two more members of the Pestana/ Unlock Unlock litter went head to head in Heat 3 with recent Paddy Merriman Memorial winner Undulation getting the better of Press Unlock.

IN many ways, this was an identical contest to the one involving their siblings half an hour earlier. Undulation broke fastest from three and led into the turn, holding Press Unlock on her outside. Again the pair had a great tussle down the back straight but Undulation was just too strong in the latter stages. Kicking on at the final turn, Undulation went on to score by a length and a half in 28.42. Press Unlock held the eye-catching Ballymac Johnjo by a half-length for second. 

MAGIC MOLLY IS A BRIGHT PROSPECT

Rathdown Molly set the tone for the National Puppy Stake in the opening heat, once again showing her rivals a clean pair of heals into the turn before racing to a third career victory in what was just her fifth start.

Bill Mulholland’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Some Ginger really does look a polished performer and she put her rivals to the sword with ruthless efficiency. Showing tremendous early dash, the Marie Gilbert trained bitch was never under a moment’s pressure.

Romeo Turbo and Ballymac Bronze had a great buckle for second but just never seemed to be getting to the leader. In the end, Rathdown Molly stopped the clock in 28.27, a length and a half to the good over Romeo Turbo with Ballymac Bronze another length adrift in third.

AWAY AND GONE FOR KODI

The final heat of the round saw Romeo Kodi flash from traps to make every inch, seeing off the hot favourite Boylesports Vic in the process.

It was clear from the opening stride that the son of Romeo Recruit and Fabulous Mila meant business as he quickly opened a three length lead on his rivals.

Boylesports Vic did get going into the turn to slip around in second but he was always on the back foot. Showing few signs of cracking out front, Romeo Kodi continued to set a strong pace into the third turn and he coasted home a pretty comfortable half length winner over a staying on Boylesports Vic in 28.29. Fire Time was third, some

ROCKER DEVELOPING INTO A STAR

There were two exceptional semi-finals of the Talking Dogs AAO 525 and both Droopys Rocker and Allforthebest were mighty impressive as they came home in front.

Predictably, Serene Ace set a strong gallop in the opening heat but he could never get fart enough clear. Importantly, Droopys Rocker just got the better of Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn into the bend to turn second. This was to prove decisive with the Johnny Linehan trained star getting first run at Serene Ace.

Closing on Serene Ace into the third turn, it was clear the talented son of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Isabella was going to be hard to contain. Owned jointly by Sean and Pat Hegarty, Droopys Rocker powered home to emerge a half-length winner over Serene Ace in a sizzling 28.16. After going under 28 seconds in his previous outing at Cork, it seems safe to suggest Droopys Rocker is now amongst the very best in training and he could be set for a massive 2023.

ALLFORTHEBST RETURNS IN STYLE

The second heat saw Allforthebest return from a long injury layoff to win in typically swashbuckling style for the HDJ Syndicate.

For much of the way litter brothers Callaway Pro Am and Bogger Hunter battled for supremacy but they weren’t aware of Allforthebest closing in behind.

Callaway Pro Am set a strong pace but probably needed the outing in his first run since the Derby decider. Bogger Hunter flew into the third turn to challenge and head his brother, although the pair did bump.

The pair bumped again on the run in as Bogger Hunter steered a middle path and it was clear he needed the line. It didn’t arrive in time, however. Allforthebest was now in full flight after moving third on the third turn and he flew up the outside of the track to lead in the final twenty yards.

In his first outing since early April, he got up in the final strides to score by a length in 28.51. It was a fine display from the winner but an even greater training feat rom John Codd.

NICE ONE GOES FAST TO END PROCEEDINGS

On what a truly superb night of racing action it was fitting that that finale also threw up a tremendous contest with the Murt Leahy trained Derby finalist, Droopys Nice One, forced to pull out all the stops to deny Petersburg over 575yds.

Petersburg always looked the likely pace-setter but there had to be stamina doubts over the extended trip. Droopys Nice One also displayed fine early dash to turn second, setting up a great clash.

Drawing closer to the third turn, Droopys Nice One seemed set to cruise past the leader but Petersburg was really sticking to his task. When the favourite swung wide off the final turn Petersburg again stuck his neck out. Ultimately, John Coleman’s Droopys Nice One was too strong with the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dance powering home to win by a neck in a brilliant 30.83. It was a most impressive display from both the winner and the runner-up.

HEROIC RUN FROM SAVANA

Savana Hero was a mighty impressive winner of the third race on the card as he overpowered the early pace setter Coolboy Rusty.

The latter took charge on the bend and set a strong pace into the back straight but Savana Hero was simply too close.

Moving second as they entered the back straight, the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Follys View always seemed to be moving with more purpose than the leader. Coolboy Rusty attempted to repel Savana Hero at this point but Savana Hero forged his way to the front.

Once doing so, the talented tracker who is jointly owned by Kevin Boothby and Brendan Matthews eased on to record a comfortable four length victory over the early leader in a very quick 28.25.  

JOKER FLYING AT PRESENT

After digging deep to win seven days earlier, Marinas Joker produced an equally gutsy display to win the fourth race on the card for Marina McKeown and Kurtis Bain.

Jet Stream Wind broke fastest and led in the early yards but Marinas Joker displayed fine early zip to take over into the turn.

Pintsnotpilates then emerged as the main threat and briefly joined Marinas Joker as they approached the third turn but it was a short-lived effort. Marinas Joker kicked on again at the third turn before staying on well to score. The son of Good News and Realtins Star hit the line three lengths clear of Jet Stream Wind in a fast 28.45.

ULTRA PROFESSIONAL ROWLER DOMINATES

Rowlers Road must be one of the most professional starters in training at present and he was at his razor-sharp best in the A1 opener, making every inch after a flying start to claim an eleventh career victory.

Trained by Gary Walsh for the Liars Club Syndicate, the son of Laughil Blake and Tiddly Winks took two lengths off his rivals at traprise and proceeded to open a three length advantage by the corner. Urban Captain gave chase throughout but never looked like getting to the leader.

Supporters of Rowlers Road never had a moments worry as he galloped on to score by two lengths from Urban Captain in 29.83.

ANGEL FLIES TO LEAD LATE

Cheryl Sutcliffe’s Ruffian Angel was a good winner of the ninth race on the card as she laned on the line to deny long-time leader Killinure King.

The latter set the pace from the bend and seemed the most likely scorer but Ruffian Angel had other ideas. Staying on strongly, the Dave Bourke trained daughter of Laughil Blake and Love Honey closed on Killinure King all the way to the line to get up by a head in 28.87.

ATHENA GOES TO WAR

Footfield Athena may have been left little room in the early yards but she displayed fine determination into the turn to force her way to the front.

Burgess Rapid went up fastest but was edging in on her rival all the way before being forced out of the way.

Once going to the front, Footfield Athena never looked like surrendering her advantage. The Johnny Linehan trained daughter of Droopys Jet and Good Legacy raced right to the line to emerge a comfortable t6wo length winner over Burgess Rapid in 28.95.