FLORICAN FASTEST IN BOYLESPORTS A3 BITCH STAKE AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

The BOYLE Sports A3 Bitch 525 continued at Kilkenny on Friday night and honour of going fastest went to Florican Heights as she posted 29.10, just bettering the 29.13 return of Twenty Benson, while Ballinabola Ruth won in 29.41.

Florican Heights came away on terms and soon found a seam up the middle of the track, which allowed her drive the turn to assert at the head of affairs. Both Volcano Vicky and Droopys Mags went up strongly to challenge with the latter going second on the turn.

There was no stopping Florican Heights, however. Matthew Murphy’s daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Cruel Intentions maintained a strong gallop to the line to beat Droopys Mags by three and a half lengths with Volcano Vicky another length and a half away in third. Lemon Paris also progressed in fourth.

DOMINANT BENSON

Twenty Benson was a very comfortable winner for Michael Donnelly and the Babe Magnets Syndicate in the final heat.

Showing superior early speed to her rivals, she was in control from the opening yards. The daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Long Kiwi coasted home four lengths clear of Sliabh Bladhma in 29.13. Perfectionism was another eight and a half lengths away in third, a half length clear of the fourth qualifier Community Spirit.

RUTH TOO STRONG

Ballinabola Ruth stayed on strongly to win Heat 2.

Despite sitting off the pace in the early yards, she found a way to draw closer throughout. Droopys Melon was held up at various points in the contest but hit the front turning for home only to be picked up by Ballinabola Ruth. Trained by Pat Buckley for the Murphy Ballinaboola Syndicate, the daughter of Glengar Bale and Dolls Lady went on to win by a length in 29.41. Droopys Melon was second with a length and a half in hand on The Other Leona. Blackstone Fifi followed them through to the semi-finals.