BUCKLEY WITH A HAT TRICK AS ECHO SETS PUPPY OAKS STANDARD
Ian Fortune
Conditions were tough at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with high winds certainly having an effect on the times through the evening but there were still a number of superb performances, most notably in the opening round of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks.
All four heats were won by talented prospects but Glengar Echo set the standard, initiating a heat double for Pat Buckley, who would later complete a superb treble with his recent Cesarewitch winner Ballinabola Joe.
ECHO IMPRESSES
Glengar Echo was a superb winner of the opening heat of the Puppy Oaks for Jackie and Tom Hegarty, showing fine early speed from five to get loose into the bend.
The favourite Droopys Croia was left tight for room in the early yards and Glengar Echo took full advantage.
Entering the back straight in a clear lead, the Pat Buckley trained daughter of Ballinabola Ed and Ambey Bamby was always in complete control before going on to stop the clock in 28.37. Droopys Croia displayed good pace to get past Avenue Queen into second but she had no chance of containing the very strong Ballymac Gwennie. The latter came home fast to take second, some four and a half lengths behind Glengar Echo, while Droopys Croia was another length back in third.
CHERRY ON TOP AS BUCKLEY COMPLETES DOUBLE
Minutes later Pat Buckley completed a superb double with Singalong Cherry showing superb middle pace to better Susies Shadow.
The latter broke fastest from the inside trap and led the field into the back straight but Singalong Cherry turned right on her heels before making her move after halfway.
A daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Singalong Sally, Gilbert Anderson’s promising youngster was in front by the third turn. Once going to the front, she eased on to eventually run out a ready five length winner over Susies Shadow in 28.55. There was another length and a half to Sparta Calli in third.
NOELLE A MAIDEN NO LONGER
Silent Noelle lost her tag as one of the most talented maidens in training when emerging a good winner of Heat 3.
From a perfect draw on the fence, she was sent to traps the even money favourite and it was soon clear she meant business.
Owned by the Nolan, Mullins, Ahern Syndicate, the daughter of Newinn Taylor and Terezas Mendoza was prominent from the outset, taking up the running on the turn before forging her way into a decisive advantage. Glengar Blitz emerged from the pack to chase home Silent Noelle but there was a length and a half between the pair on the line with the favourite stopping the clock in 28.55.
LIX IN A HURRY
Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Lix was flawless in the final heat, showing tremendous early zip to get loose before entering the back straight with almost eight lengths in hand on Lennies Ash.
Kishlawn Kudos ran on really strongly to take second from Lennies Ash but Ballymac Lix was a very comfortable scorer. The daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Pete hit the line seven lengths clear in 28.65. Lennies Ash was a half length behind the runner-up in third.
JOE TOO GOOD AS HE COMPLETES A BUCKLAY HAT TRICK
Pat Buckley ended the night on a high, completing a wonderful hat trick with his Cesarewitch winner Ballinabola Joe coming home clear of his rivals over the 575yd trip.
Showing fine pace into the bend to assert, it was little more than a procession for the brilliant son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Ballinabola Ruby.
Sure Exile did all he could to hang onto the coattails of the leader but Ballinabola Joe was in a league of his own. The Murphy Ballinabola Syndicate owned star ran out a seven length scorer in 31.20, highlighting how the high winds and cold temperatures were having an effect on the times.
BARRY BACK TO FORM
The third race on the card saw Sawdust Barry returning to something like his best to emerge a good winner for Murt Leahy and the Chissel Syndicate.
Darbys Queen flashed from traps to dictate early but she was always under pressure from Sawdust Barry.
Showing his class down the back straight, Sawdust Barry moved past the leader into the third turn. Once doing so, the son of Skywalker Barry and Sober pearl shot clear. To her credit, Darbys Queen rallied on the run in but Sawdust Barry landed the spils by a length and a half in 28.55.
CASH AN AA0 WINNER
Pat Hogan’s Aulton Cash is a maiden no longer in AA0 company after winning the ninth race on the card.
The Vincent McKenna trained son of Ballymac cashouit and Confident Petal was the very definition of professional as he flew from trap two to dominate throughout.
Miami Hyland ran on really well after early traffic to take second on the line from Cracking Cody but Aulton Cash made all to win by three lengths in 28.79.
GROUCHOS SO IMPRESSIVE IN OPENER
Grouchos Gregor was a tremendous winner of the opener over 600yds, charging into the turn to take control before emerging a comfortable winner.
Badminton Chopin turned second but Grouchos Gregor was clear entering the back and he never showed any signs of cracking.
Trained by Pat Bucklet for Ken O’Connell and Billy Thompson, the son of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Wisdom went on to win by five lengths from Bsadminton Chopin in 32.33.
SCAMPI FLIES
Droopys Scampi arrived late and fast to capture the open sprint in 18.76.
Kirk Michael won the battle to the turn, slipping around with a length and aahalf in hand but Droopys Scampi really hammered home to collar the leader on the line.
The Johnny Linehan trained daughter of Droopys Flytline and Droopys Winifred got up to win by a neck.
BELLE LEAVES RIVALS FEELING BLUE
Blue Belle was a facile winner of the second race over the 550yd trip for Howard Wallace and Francie Murray.
Fastest into stride, she simply had too much dash for her rivals, opening up to lead by three to four lengths into the back straight.
Made To Measure won the battle for second but Blue Belle wasn’t for catching. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire won by four lengths in 30.10.