STREET SETS STANDARD IN ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

Blue Street was the undoubted star in the opening round of the Glengar Bale @ Stud Open Unraced at Enniscorthy on Monday night, posting a rapid 28.85 on his way to a commanding victory in the first of the three heats.

John Kearney’s son of Ballymac Bolger and Jades Beauty was making a slightly belated debut as a September ’24 whelp but it was a very exciting debut all the same. Blue Street was fast into stride but Ballinabola Star flew up the fence to take over into the bend.

Blue Street was always in a position to strike, however. Showing fine pace and favouring an inside line, Blue Street moved to the front at halfway. Sent to traps the 6-4 joint favourite, Blue Street pulled away into the third before staying on strongly to win by an ever-increasing five and a half lengths in 28.85.

Ballinabola Star faded home, allowing the staying on Elsie Mischief to take second with the early pace-setter another two and a half lengths adrift.

TOBI IMPRESSES WITH BETTER TO COME

Ciaran O’Sullivan’s Unanimous Tobi justified very short odds in the final heat, although he also left room for improvement. Breaking smartly, he stepped right and took a bump. The son of Dromana Bucko and Mystical Luna immediately recovered, displaying fine early speed to assert into the corner.

He would move clear of his rivals down the back straight before tiring on the run in. The Pat Buckley trained youngster hit the line two and a half lengths to the good over the staying on Snazzy Black in 29.12. There was four lengths to Corrageenrunaway in third.

PRINCESS POUNCES

The remaining heat went the way of Belles Princess. Owned jointly by Jimmy O’Reilly and Isabel Canning, the daughter of Ballinabola Jim and Ballinabola Evie was third in the early yards but was kept wide before entering the back straight in fourth.

Terrific Attack set the pace, challenged by Getgoin Steve. The pair bumped between the last two bends and Belles Princess was ready to pounce. Cutting to the inside, she headed the front pair before staying on to win by two and a half lengths in 29.76. Donishall Ella was another three parts of a length adrift in third.