QUALITY ALL-ROUND AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
Conditions may have been a little cooler at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night but a quality card helped warm up proceedings.
The feature was the final of the RCETS Open 525 which saw Droopys Have It emerge a tremendous winner but both the opening round of the RPGTV Puppy Oaks and second round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial also provided exceptional racing.
HAVE IT STUNS
Droopys Have It again produced a stunning finishing kick to land the valuable RCETS A0 525 for Brendan Keogh and Simon Senyk.
As predicted, the powerful daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Pickles was off the pace in the early yards but found a lovely seam along the fence to move fourth.
Hes Made It set a strong gallop out front although Bobsleigh Syd charged up the leader’s inner to the third turn to take over at the head of affairs. In normal circumstances it would have been a decisive maneouvre but Droopy Have It was now in full stride in behind. Staying close to the fence, she closed rapidly around the final turn before charging home. Highview Treat also stayed on strongly but it was Droopys Have It that came through to score by a half length in 28.47. Bobsleigh Syd eventually finished another three parts of a length back in third.
VIDA GOES LOCO
Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Vida set a strong standard in the second round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial, getting loose early in Heat 3 before running out a good winner.
Ballynew King gave chase throughout but as hard as he tried, he couldn’t get back on terms with the front-running daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and
Vida Loca. Ballymac Vida, who quickened to the front a long way before the opening bend, galloped on strongly to emerge a three length scorer in a fastest of the night 28.22. Mustang fever was just a length away in third.
BONNYLAD SHOWS HIS CLASS
Early speed was again the key to success for Whyaye Bonnylad in the second heat.
Trained by Robert Gleeson for Martin Langley, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Drumalee Premier matched his opening round return, clocking a fast 28.41 from the front.
Whyaye Bonnylad didn’t quite make the start he did seven days earlier but he did show fine early
speed to lead around the turn. Point Of Rescue took up the chase and did keep the leader honest
but Whyaye Bonnylad kept going to the line to win by two lengths. Third spot went to Innfield Lucky
another five lengths away.
TOM AN EASY WINNER
Uncle Tom justified odds-on favouritism in the opening heat, getting the better of the early leader Hot Rod down the back straight before easing on to win with a bit in hand.
Mark Robinson’s son of Droopys Sydney and Skirk Grace stayed tight to the fence to turn a close second before going to the front before halfway.
Onc doing so, Uncle Tom went on to see off Hot Rod and My Man Sam by two and a half and half a length in 28.68.
ALONG TAKES CARE OF ALL
All Along was actually completing a double for David Murray and Alan Devine when coming home in front in the final heat.
The duo had earlier been on the mark with Arent We All in the Puppy Oaks but All Along went slightly faster than her litter sister.
Disputing the early lead, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jet Ski Queen used her inside line to great effect, taking charge off the second bend. After striking the front, the December ’21 whelp eased on to emerge a ready three lengths winner over Yuppie Love in 28.68. Highview Coral was just a short head away in third.
SHORT GRIP DOMINATES
PJ Cocoman’s Short Grip made short work of her assignment in the opening round of the RPGTV Puppy Oaks, posting the fastest time of the round in the Heat 2.
Showing fluency at traps and to the turn, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Mystical Luna skipped around in front. Scooby Countess was right on her heels to this point but was forced to check her stride as the favourite cut the corner. This left the early pace-setter even further clear.
It was all very easy for Short Grip thereafter with the Juvenile Derby runner-up galloping strongly to the line to emerge a comfortable scorer. Westway Lucy, who had come in as a reserve, found herself second into the back straight and ran a huge race in defeat but was never going to worry the pace-setter, who came home five length scorer in a rapid 28.25. Scooby Countess ran a far bigger race than the result would suggest in third, a further five lengths adrift.
CHICK TAKES FLIGHT
The final heat, which seemed the hottest on paper, saw Epic Chick open her Dublin account when reeling in the long-time leader Lincoln Legacy.
It was highly predictable that Lincoln Legacy would set a strong pace but the writing was on the wall when Epic Chick managed to slip around in second.
By halfway, Lincoln Legacy had moved four lengths clear of the chasing Epic Chick but the gap began to close into the third turn. John Kennedy’s Epic Chick is immensely strong, however, and the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Jaytee Osprey quickly closed on the leader to the final turn before pouncing on the run in. Epic Chick emerged a length winner in a fast 28.41. Lincoln Legacy was a good second with Fashion Model running on fast for third, some six and a half lengths further back.
DOLLY SINGING A SWEET TUNE
The opening heat of the Puppy Oaks provided a tremendous contest with Gilbert Anderson’s Singalong Dolly getting the better of Droopys Edel, although both enhanced their reputation.
Droopys Edel actually broke the better and held a narrow lead to the corner only for Singalong Dolly to run a great bend, joining and heading her rival as they hit the second turn.
This was to prove decisive. Droopys Edel did attempt to come back up side at the third turn but was forced to check as Singalong Dolly closed the door. Once doing so, the Pat Buckley trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Mydras Dawn stayed on to hold her Droopys Edel by a length and a half in a rapid 28.33. Now Were Talkin was the best of the rest, two and half lengths further back.
WE ALL HOLDS ON
Alan Devine’s Arent We All (Droopys Sydney/ Jet Ski Queen) wasn’t the fastest into stride in Heat 3 but she did show fine early speed to join the fast-starting duo of Callaway Annika and Rushy Meadows at the turn.
Staying wide of her rivals, who bumped on the inner, she quickly shot into a clear advantage.
Entering the back straight with three lengths in hand, the David Murray trained star seemed certain to emerge a comfortable winner but Droopys Drape had other ideas. The latter came from the back of the pack to challenge on the run in, only for Arent We All to hold on by a head in 28.74.
Callaway Annika was two lengths away in third with Rushy Meadows fourth, only to progress after the runner-up had her card held for one trial.
GARFIO IS THE CAPITAN
Racing ended with Capitan Garfio adding to his already impressive career tally.
Ken Busteed’s talented son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Petsy shot from trap five and quickly asserted at the head of affairs. He needed every inch of his advantage, however, as Unmatched finished with a real flourish. At the line the pair were separated by just a short head in 28.42.
FRED IS RAZOR SHARP
Dunnanelly Fred emerged a good winner of the A0 sixth race for Doonan Ritchie and Damian Maginn. Early speed was very much the key to success with the son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Ring flashing from trap five to dictate from the outset.
Bonkersinyonkers slipped around second and threatened throughout but Dunnanelly Fred was up to the task, digging in on the run in to hold his rival by a half-length in a quick 28.37.