CRAZE SHINES ON NIGHT OF FINE DISPLAYS
Ian Fortune
There was much to talk about at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with wonderful displays from start to finish. Bocko Diamond trialled exceptionally well ahead of racing (see separate story), while the racing action was also of a tremendous quality.
The feature was the final of the Upcoming Yvonne Barry Dual Distance decider and it saw Jaytee Craze run out a superb scorer, while Phoenix Memphis and Stripe Sparky also impressed in their respective deciders.
Elsewhere on the card, there were some notable performances in the opening round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 525.
CRAZE SHOWS HIS POWER AND CLASS
Jaytee Craze displayed all his power and pace to land the feature for Paul Hennessy, Lee Craze and John Turner. Rapido Bob set a strong pace into the turn and looked the most likely pace-setter when turning with three lengths in hand on his rivals.
The most important point of the contest came when Jaytee Craze moved second on the corner as Dashing Toro checked wide. There was still over three lengths between the front two at halfway but Jaytee Craze made big inroads into the advantage at the third turn.
Moving with real purpose, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Minton waited for a gap along the fence which came before the final turn. Once moving through on the fence, Jaytee Craze moved on to see off a rallying Rapido Bob by three parts of a length in 32.17.
MEMPHIS ON TUNE
Phoenix Memphis was razor sharp as he atoned for his semi-final defeat in the final of the Upcoming Shelbourne Maiden Derby open 525, landing his owners the Keogh, Cunningham, Reilly Syndicate €3,500 in the process.
Early speed was very much the key to success for Phoenix Memphis as he made virtually every inch from trap two. The Ian Reilly trained son of Droopys Sydney and Swift Jezebel had room to get up to full stride after a slick exit and he entered the back straight with almost four lengths to spare over Dapper Zara. The latter had picked up Phoenix Memphis in the semis but not on this occasion. Credit must go to Phoenix Memphis, who ran right to the line on this occasion to emerge a fully deserving three length winner in a quick 28.20.
SPARKY TOO STRONG
Stripe Sparky emerged a superb winner of the IRGT A0 Dual Distance over 600yds, confirming his wonderful semi-final form. Sent off the 5-2 second choice in the market, Ned Freeman’s son of Ballymac Bolger and Gareths Star went up strongly on the outside of the field to hold a narrow advantage over Jades Rocket into the bend.
The pair bumped at this point but Stripe Sparky continued to set the pace. Jades Rocket did all he could to stay on terms but Stripe Sparky eased on into the third turn. It was all very straightforward thereafter.
Staying on powerfully, Stripe Sparky emerged a five length scorer over Jades Rocket in 32.25.
NOTEWORTHY DISPLAY FROM TOOLMAKER
The standout performance in the opening round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 came from Toolmaker Note as he shot clear from a kind draw on the fence to record a scorching 28.09 in the penultimate heat.
Razor sharp at trap rise, Willie Hyslop’s son of Dromana Bucko and Droopys Berry held a comfortable lead into the bend and that is how it remained. Old Tricks held off Scooby The Boss to turn second but the latter did show fine pace into the third turn to challenge again.
Toolmaker Note cruised home six lengths clear for Robert Gleeson with Scooby The Boss coming through for second, some three lengths further back. It was quite a run from the winner, while the second will soon be going far faster also.
TORPEDO IS NO TURTLE
The opening heat saw Torpedo Turtle run out a most impressive winner for Jack Kennelly and the Big Boohaw Syndicate.
Contesting the early lead with Chloes Jet, the son of Ballymac Vic and Ballymac Minton moved on at the turn and proceeded to ease clear from the third turn for a comfortable six length success over Chloes Jet in a rapid 28.23. Beaming Ollie was best of the remainder, some six and a half lengths further adrift.
HOFFA JUSTIFIES FAVOURITISM IN SOME STYLE
Stonepark Hoffa was sent off the 2-5 favourite for the final heat of the round and his odds-on backers had few reasons to worry. The Michael O’Donovan trained star has already established himself as a leading sprinter and his early speed carried him clear.
Corduff Mystery stayed on well to grab second but Michael O’Dwyer’s Stonepark Hoffa was always in total command. The son of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Ella would eventually come home four and a half lengths clear in 28.36.
WINK LEAVES RIVALS SLEEPING
Not A Wink may be topping the scales at ninety pounds plus but he looked sprightly in Heat 2 as he displayed fine early speed after a good start to make every inch.
Casements Fort initially took up the chase but he was headed by Coolavanny Shay around the last two bends. Not A Wink was not for passing, however. Joe Tyrell’s son of Droopys Sydney and Combined Effort stayed on well to secure a two and a half length victory in 28.41. Coolavanny Shay was two lengths clear of Rathmoyle Gerry in third.
MONITO MAKES ALL
Meenagh Monito justified favouritism in Heat 3, getting to the front early to repel the persistent challenge of Zaconey Adonis. It was into the third turn that Meenagh Monito finally put some daylight between himself and his pursuer before coasting home a good winner.
Owned by Michael Corr and Roy Ball, the son of Ballymac Kingdom and Meenagh Miracle hit the line two lengths to the good over the rallying Zaconey Adonis in 28.62. There was another length to Valderrama in third.
DUSTY COMES THROUGH TO SCORE
Dusty Chief provided Brendan Matthews with a winner in Heat 4. Prominent from the outset, the wide running son of Laughil Blake and Love Island avoided opening bend traffic that saw Highview Tom take a bump when holding a narrow advantage.
Born Racer found himself in front into the back straight but Dusty Chief charged into the third turn to take over at the head of affairs. Despite running extremely wide at the final turn, Dusty Chief maintained his momentum before staying on to secure a three-parts of a length victory in 28.79. Highview Tom came through for second with Quarry Boy another length and a half back in third.
ERROR LEAVES IT LATE
Marginforerror left it late to get on top in Heat 5. Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for Stephen Murphy and Miles Anderton, the son of Burgess Bucks and Ballymac Notoyou was second for much of the journey with Coolavanny Brave setting the pace at the head of affairs.
Things started to tighten up into the third turn with Marginforerror staying wide of the pace-setter to challenge for the lead. It took the full length of the straight for Marginforerror to get on top. Staying wide of the long-time pace-setter, Margfinforerror hit the front on the line to win by a head in 28.81. Unreal Unreal was another length adrift in third.
BEACH SURELY DERBY BOUND
Jennifer O’Donnell will be a seeking a third Derby win in a row when the classic gets underway next month and Seven Beach will certainly be part of her team after he continued his superb run of form to run out a tremendous winner of the fifth race on the card.
This was a contest packed with real quality and superb early speed but none could live with Seven Beach. Owned by the beach Boys Syndicate, the son of Pestana and Whitings Gift broke smartly and was a close second in the early stages behind Whyaye Bonnylad but Seven Beach ran the most fluent bend to take charge before they hit the back straight.
It was a decisive maneouvre from the talented tracker. Whyaye Bonnylad continued to chase hard but Seven Beach would go on to claim victory.