IT REALLY WAS SHOWTIME AT KILKENNY
Ian Fortune
Kilkenny has been a happy hunting ground for Garry Hannon and Karol Ramsbottom in recent years and the duo have their sights set on further success at the St James Road venue.
On Friday night, their talented tracker Deadly Showtime produced a stunning standard-setting 28.66 return in the opening round of the JAG Building Services & KGOBA Kilkenny A1 Derby. It was an emphatic display from the son of Droopys Sydney as he dominated after a flying start to trap three. Going further and further clear, Deadly Showtime eventually saw off Jirano Supreme by six and a half lengths.
MUFFIN NEXT FASTEST
To highlight the quality of the run, only two other heat winners went under 29 seconds with Muffin closest on the clock with a superb 28.82 return in Heat 6.
The David Hanlon trained bitch is a half sister to Deadly Showtime and was equally decisive in her movements.
Taking charge on the corner, she eased right away to emerge a four and a half length scorer over Kilgarran Timmy.
DUKE DOMINATES
The other heat winner to break 29 seconds was Leahs Duke in Heat 2.
Owned by David and Thomas Weadick, she flew from trap four and never saw another rival, emerging a four length winner over Johnnys Gem in 28.91.
A DOUBLE FOR MURT
Murt Leahy completed a double with the bookends, Sawdust Good Job and Delirium Tremens.
Sawdust Good Job was never far away in the opening heat before staying on to secure a length victory over the running on Janey Macarooney in 29.06.
Delirium Tremens completed the double in the last of the eight heats, making every yard to contain the staying on Blastoff Harry by a length in 29.01.
OLLIE COMES THROUGH
The Other Ollie rode a couple of bumps to win Heat 7 for Jennifer O’Donnell.
Always close to the pace, he asserted into the third turn to beat Warzone Milo by a length and a half in 29.39.
BEAUTY TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS
Fresh from her Boylesports A3 Bitch Stake success, Beautyquickstep ran out a good winner of Heat 3 for Margaret and Birdy Barrett and trained David Flanagan.
Never too far back, she stayed on in her usual manner to come through for a length verdict over Yankee Doodle in 29.12.
DIAMOND SHINES
Sober Diamond, a brother to Beautyquickstep, later completed a double for the litter.
His record around Kilkenny now reads three wins from three starts after he took charge soon after halfway before containing the late charge of Hillview Queen by a length in 29.19.
The draw for the second round of the JAG Building Services & KGOBA Kilkenny Derby can be found here: https://www.grireland.ie/racing/upcoming-race-cards/upcoming-race-card-summary/?track=KKY&id=104096&date=09-Sep-2022