UNANIMOUSPANTHER CROWNED KASKO PRODUCE STAKES CHAMPION

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by Kasko Feeds, the final of the €20,000 to the winner Kasko National Produce Stakes concluded at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Sunday night and it was Unanimouspanther that handed Pat Buckley a second Produce Stakes success in the past three years.

Won in 2022 of course by Gaston Pecas, Unanimouspanther actually came into the Classic as a reserve in the opening round and it’s fair to say that he took full advantage of his opportunity to win in phenomenal style for owner Ciaran O’Sullivan.

TAYLOR SENT OFF FAVOURITE

After the trap draw, the final looked a wide-open affair and this was reflected in the market as Romeo Taylor went to traps as the 13/8 favourite. Next best was Unanimouspanther at 9/4, while Silverhill Adam was a 4/1 shot to go one better than his final appearance in the Champion 550 at Shelbourne last month. Tralee record-breaker In Good Time was 9/2 on the night and the two outsiders were Romeo Kingpin at 10/1 and Quarry Boy at 25/1.

ALL-IMPORTANT BREAK

Romeo Taylor was bidding to land a prestigious double at Clonmel after claiming the Rural Kennels Unraced 525 at the start 2024, however, his chances were dented slightly when handed a tricky trap five berth in the decider. At traprise, the Graham Holland-trained charge needed to come away racing in order to dictate but it was soon evident that this wouldn’t be his night as he was slowly into stride at traprise. In contrast, In Good Time came through the bars of trap six to lead early for Brendan Maunsell and he was joined in the early exchanges by Unanimouspanther, who also bolted from a plumb draw in red.

HEAVYWEIGHT TAKES CHARGE

Racing neck and neck into the opening bend, Unanimouspanther was showing incredible early speed on the rails and he really excelled into the corner to nip up the inside of In Good Time. Meanwhile, Romeo Taylor had shown brilliant acceleration to get back into contention, however, a bump at the opener saw him forced to settle for fourth entering the back, just a length behind the rank outsider Quarry Boy. At this point, given both Quarry Boy and Romeo Taylor have their stamina limitations, this already had the look of a two-dog affair between the Unanimouspanther and In Good Time.

PANTHER POUNCES

Tipping the scales at a massive 87-pounds, Unanimouspanther was eating up the ground as he held a one length lead over In Good Time and he stretched clear passing the sprint box as Quarry Boy now briefly improved into second for Paul Heffernan. Posting a sensational 15.94, the son of Droopys Sydney and Mystical Moll continued to set a relentless for connections and he was three lengths clear rounding the penultimate turn as In Good Time now cranked it up a notch to re-claim second place and emerge as the nearest threat to Unanimouspanther.

CLASSIC TRIUMPH FOR O’SULLIVAN

However, the efforts of those in behind mattered not to Ciaran O’Sullivan’s tracker as he was well within sight of becoming a Classic winning owner. Railing tightly rounding the final turn, Unanimouspanther powered up the Suirside straight and he emerged a comfortable, three length winner over the gallant In Good Time in second. A further four and a half lengths back was Romeo Taylor in third as the clock returned a sizzling 28.38. A winner of three of the four rounds on offer in the 2024 renewal, ‘Panther’ proved a fitting winner of this magnificent Classic and congratulations are extended to Ciaran O’Sullivan and the Buckley team. Many thanks must also go to Kasko Feeds for their generous sponsorship of the flagship event at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium.

*****

RECORD-BREAKING RUN FROM ARDERA FREYA

On the supporting card, there were a number of sweepstake finals on offer and there was a really special performance in the Top ‘Piper’ Delahunty Memorial A2 550 as Ardera Freya posted new figures for the 550-yard trip.

Coming into the €1,500 final as the 1/2 favourite after a string of superb performances in the rounds prior, Ardera Freya was expected to land the spoils, however, the manner in which she claimed victory was hugely impressive for owner William Brennan. Just turned two in recent days, the daughter of Head Bound and For Lightning made her intentions clear from the outset as she was spring-like at traprise to quickly assert from trap four. Appreciating the long run-up, ‘Freya’ showed the superior early speed to lead and despite a slight touch rounding the opener, she recovered well to lead into the back straight. Chased in second by Julies Gem, the latter kept the leader honest throughout, however, in truth there was never any danger of Ardera Freya being picked up as she continued to set a blistering gallop around the final two bends. Staying on stoutly, Brennan’s black powered up the home straight and she duly crossed the line two and a half lengths clear of Julies Gem in second. The time, as mentioned, was a new track-record, 29.58.

ROUNDING UP THE FINALS

The curtain-raiser was the final of the €800 to the winner Clonmel Track Members A5/A6 525 and this went the way of Chesterfield Pal as he justified his 5/4 pricetag with an effortless victory.

Owned by John Hayes, Chesterfield Pal landed his semi final assignment in 29.30, however, it’s fair to say proved a class above his rivals in the decider. Running from five, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Asian Auntie pinged out to record a slick 2.79 sectional and it was clear his rivals were all to play catch-up thereafter. Rounding the opener with four lengths in hand, ‘Pal’ drew clear down the back to double his advantage and he posted a superb 16.05 to the third bend. Staying on well up the hill, he accounted for a near twelve length success over nearest rival Barnora Horse in second. The time was 28.63.

Howareyounow went to traps as the 7/4 in the final of the Clonmel Track Members A4 525 and he made every post a winner to land the €850 decider.

Trained by Maurice Organ for Daniel Gibbons and Stan Boles, Howareyounow is all about early speed and he was on-song right from the off in this contest as he burst out of trap five to clock a rapid 2.79 opening section. From here, the son of Sparta Maestro and Finnery Sparks was all out to hold on as Subtle Ben made big inroads in the closing stages; however, he was still half a length adrift crossing the line. The time was 29.11.

The final of the €900 to the winner Clonmel Track Members A3 525 was next on the agenda and the favourite prevailed yet again as Ascot Logan made every yard to score.

Running for Billy Murphy and Frances Mullan, Ascot Logan went off as the 7/4 jolly and like many on the night, he was fully focused at traprise as he made a blistering start to post 2.75. In charge wearing red, the son of Laughil Blake and Ascot Grace held a two length lead entering the back straight and this was to remain crossing the line as ‘Logan’ stayed on stoutly to see off Sinbolina in second. The time was 29.01.

The Kieran Purcell Snr Memorial Guys & Dolls was the main supporting act on the card and the €1,600 to the winner event was landed by 8/1 outsider Brigadir Brindle.

Just a September puppy, Brigidir Brindle was still chasing a maiden victory prior to the final and he picked a brilliant night to do the business for F. Timms and Martin Unsworth. Trained by Clonmel regular Rachel Wheeler, the son of Dromana Bucko and Palace Queen was headed in the early exchanges by both Beaming Opium and Airfield Katie, however, as both came together rounding the opener, the door opened for the red jacket of Brigidir Brindle. Taking his opportunity expertly, ‘Brindle’ set a scorching gallop thereafter to come home two lengths clear of Airfield Katie in second. The time was a fast 28.66.