SERIOUS QUALITY ON SHOW AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
Racing at the ‘old’ Shelbourne Park ended in some style on Saturday night with quality racing from start to finish.
The semi-finals of both the Paddy Merriman Memorial and the Yvonne Barry Open 600 were the feature but there was also a number of superb performances in the opening round of the Shelbourne Maiden Derby, while racing commenced with a stunning debut by a potential superstar.
JIM RAMPANT OUT FRONT
After a recent return to his best form, Ballinabola Jim (Good News/ Ballinabola Rum) set the standard in the semi-finals of the Yvonne Barry Open 600.
A superb winner in the opening round, he went even faster on this occasion, shooting into a clear lead after making the bend in front before going on to secure a comfortable success.
Magical Sapphire turned second despite taking a bump but would never lay a glove on the pace-setter. The Brendan Murphy trained Ballinabola Jim looked very content bowling along out front and he would eventually coast to a most impressive three and a half-length scorer over the running on Coolavanny Otto in a rapid 31.98. Magical Sapphire was just a half-length further back in third.
SUPERB BUSINESS FROM DOWN
The second heat saw Down To Business emerge a good winner for Bernadette Connolly, Darragh Kelly and Sharon Mulcahy.
A 6-1 chance ahead of the off, the son of Pestana and Newinn Madam ran with real purpose, shooting from trap three to open a clear lead into the bend.
Rapido Bob and Ryhope Beach were the big two in the betting but neither could land a blow after failing to come away on terms. Instead, Fleadh Rileigh and Glenlara Blue slipped around in second and third before attempting to close on the pace-setter.
Down To Business was to live up to his name, however. He kept on finding up front to eventually cross the line a length and a half to the good over Fleadh Rileigh in 32.54. Glenlara Blue was another half length back in third.
Yvonne Barry Open 600
Final draw
1 DOWN TO BUSINESS
2 COOLAVANNY OTTO
3 MAGICAL SAPPHIRE (M)
4 FLEADH RILEIGH (M)
5 GLENLARA BLUE (W)
6 BALLINABOLA JIM (W)
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HOFFA MAINTAINS UNBEATEN RECORD IN MERRIMAN MEMORIAL
Stonepark Hoffa continued his unbeaten march through the Paddy Merriman Memorial with a superb trap to line victory in the opening semi-final.
The Michael O’Donovan trained brindle is razor-sharp and he again left his rivals trailing in his dust, going clear into the turn before making every inch.
Unreal Unreal was second from the opening strides and ran a big race in defeat but Michael O’Dwyer’s Stonepark Hoffa was majestic out front. The son of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Ella proceeded to hit the line a length and a half to the good over his staying on rival in 28.31. Scooby The Boss did plenty wrong, missing the kick and moving off the turn to find traffic, but he managed to grab third in the closing yards, a further six lengths adrift.
QUARRY BOY OBLIGES
Quarry Boy had an ideal draw on the fence in the second heat and took full advantage when staying tight to the fence to recover from a slow start.
Last into the turn, Paula Heffernan’s son of King Sheeran and Mean Beauty stayed tight to the fence, avoiding opening bend scrimmaging to go second.
Coolavanny Brave was clear into the back straight but Quarry Boy was bearing down in second before making his move on the turn for home. Taking over on the inside of the track, Quarry Boy went on to win by a length and a half in 28.41. Meenagh Monito recovered after early traffic to take third, a further length adrift.
Paddy Merriman Memorial
Final Draw
1 MEENAGH MONITO
2 SCOOBY THE BOSS
3 STONEPARK HOFFA
4 QUARRY BOY
5 UNREAL UNREAL
6 COOLAVANNY BRAVE (M)
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PICKLES FASTEST IN MAIDEN DERBY
There were many superb displays in the opening round of the Shelbourne Maiden Derby but the final heat was a bit special with Coosane Pickles picking up Bombay Pat in a tremendous contest.
Bombay Pat displayed huge early dash to get to the front into the bend but Coosane Pickles managed to turn second.
The race was now on. Trained by Michael O’Donovan for Clement Ryan, Coosane Pickles again highlighted why she is seen as one of the fastest females in training. Bombay Pat continued to run hard out front but it was futile. Coosane Pickles ran on strongly to lead in the closing yards for a brilliant length verdict in 29.37. Cazador stayed on to grab third in the closing yards, some ten length further back.
BLUE CHARGES CLEAR
Boylesports Blue justified favouritism in the opening heat of the Maiden Derby, riding a bump on the turn from the main challenger at that point, Romeo Control.
Once holding his inside line, the Paul Hennessy trained Boylesports Blue led his rivals into the back straight.
Romeo Control turned second but Boylesports Blue has a big engine and he never looked under any serious pressure, although Gneevebawn Girl did come with a big challenge into the third turn to better Romeo Control. Boylesports Blue was not for catching, however. John Boyle’s talented son of Ballymac Cashout and Hugh Dream emerged a three-length winner in 29.61. Gneevebawn Girl was a real eye-catcher in second, while Romeo Control was third, some two lengths further back.
ROCKET TAKES FLIGHT
Jades Rocket produced a superb display to emerge a good winner of the second heat for John Rainsford and the Halifax Rover Syndicate.
The son of Ballymac Bolger and Blacknose Molly was a close third into the turn but displayed real track graft and guile to nudge Astra Fairy wide, who in turn bumped Toolmaker Curio.
Suddenly, Jades Rocket found himself in front and it was curtains for his rivals thereafter. Having run over further in the past, it was no surprise to see Jades Rocket run right to the line to emerge a comfortable three length winner over Cloonturk Bruno in 29.88. Toolmaker Curio was another two and a half lengths adrift in third.
MAASAI MAULS RIVALS
Tarsna Maasai is clearly turning into a serious performer.
A winner in a brilliant 27.97 around Limerick in his previous outing, Geoff Parnaby’s son of Droopys Sydney and Tarsna Rose was sent to traps the 2-1 second favourite before producing a superb display.
After a good start, Tarsna Maasai flew into the bend to turn in front. Showing fine pace down the back straight, the leader never gave his rivals a chance. Ballyhooly Bruno also motored down the back straight to get the better of Toolmaker Note but could never get close to Tarsna Maasai, who emerged a superb winner in 29.55. Ballyhooly Bruno was three and a half lengths adrift with Toolmaker Note another length and a half adrift.
GAIN HAD AN EXTRA GEAR
Extra Gain is a real powerhouse who is perhaps better suited by 550yds but he displayed all his strength to get the better of Unanimous Roxy and Highview Bazarr in Heat 4.
Farney Chime forced his way to the front into the turn but was a sitting duck into the third turn with Unanimous Roxy, Highview Bazarr and Extra Gain closing in behind.
The eye was drawn to Extra Gain as he is a noted big finisher but he had to wait for a gap to arrive. When it did, he flew through on the fence to take over as they hit the home straight. Trained by Gerry Holian for Susan Garrahy, the powerful son of Pestana and Slippery Jade went on to win by two lengths in 29.98. Highview Bazarr was another length adrift.
ABBIE IMPRESSES AGAIN
Yorkie Ollie was a hot favourite in Heat 5 but failed to get room to race for the fourth time running.
In contrast, Jerry Connors’ Hawkfield Abbie who recently returned to her very best made the most of her inside draw to get the better of both Born To Perform and Yorkie Ollie on the bend.
Once going to the front, the daughter of Good News and Brownstown Tango was always going to be tough to beat. Born To Perform did charge into the third turn to challenge but Hawkfield Abbie is strong and the Ginger McGe trained starlet eased on to win by two and a half lengths in 29.85. Omey Mist ran on well to grab third, a length further adrift.
AN EPIC DEBUT FROM ACE
John Kennedy’s Epic Ace is a potential superstar.
That is the message to take out of the first race on the card, an open 350. Not only was the son of Signet Ace and Free From Desire making his racing debut but he wasn’t even first to hit the ground but the pace he displayed to clock a brilliant 18.31 was nothing short of breathtaking.
Showing exceptional early speed, the Pat Guilfoyle trained youngster struck the front on the opening turn, taking over from the fast-starting Airdown Syd. From there he pulled away to eventually hit the line four lengths clear of Second Treasure. To highlight the brilliance of this as a debut, his 18.31 return is the second fastest EVER recorded at Shelbourne Park. Have zero doubt, Epic Ace is potentially very special.