BUDDY TAKES DUNDALK PRIZE

Ian Fortune

Buddy Bruno ran a big race to land the final of the Bar 1 Betting ON1 400 at Dundalk on Saturday night, showing fine pace and track craft to overcome a tardy start and a little early traffic.

Magical Jason was a non-runner after being sold but his litter brother and fellow semi-final winner Magical Marty was installed favourite. He too missed the start and found traffic, however, although he did finish fast to push Buddy Bruno in the closing yards.

Buddy Bruno, an October ’24 son of Dromana Bucko and Miss Chicky, was only fourth into the turn although he found a seam up the inner to go second on the corner. The fast starting Partners Jet led the field into the bend but he steered a middle to wide path, leaving room for Buddy Bruno to assert as they turned for home.  

Magical Marty began to close at this point and pushed right to the line but Buddy Bruno would hold on by a short head in 21.52. Both the winner and runner-up will go considerably faster in time and both are worthy of a place in the notebook.

STORM GOES FAST

Elsewhere on the card, Whiterock Storm set a strong standard in the semi-finals of the Track Supporters Club A3 525 when making all to win the second heat.

Trained by Graham Kelly for Thomas McKevitt and Craig Kelly, the son of Grangeview Ten and Dapper Jess was in charge early and proceeded to see off Berties Bassett by six and three quarter lengths in 28.53.

The opening heat went the way of Martin Lanney’s Unanimous Xena as she stormed home to lead late for a narrow victory over Hallies Cashout in 29.03.