WONDERFUL RACING AT SHELBOURNE AS DIAMOND SPARKLES
Ian Fortune
There was a bit of everything on offer at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with the second round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial and the opening round of the Yvonne Barry Bookmaker Open 600 providing some tremendous racing, although the undoubted star of proceedings was Bockos Diamond as he sent out a clear warning to his potential Derby rivals.
MONITO SETS STANDARD
Meenagh Monito made the most of a good start to dominate in the opening heat of the Paddy Merriman for Michael Corr and Roy Ball, in doing so setting the standard in the valuable competition. Clona Bingo emerged as a serious threat down into the third turn and attempted to close all the way to the line but Meenagh Monito wasn’t for catching.
The talented son of Ballymac Kingdom and Meenagh Miracle held on for a half length success in 28.55. the favourite Scooby The Boss recovered from a slow start and traffic to grab third, some six and a half lengths further adrift.
HOFFA TOO SHARP, TOO GOOD
Michael O’Dwyer’s Stonepark Hoffa justified favouritism in the second heat, producing an almost identical run to Meenagh Monito. A top-class sprinter, the Michael O’Donovan trained son of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Ella was always in the driving seat.
Showing superb early speed, he entered the back straight with a healthy advantage and never looked under any pressure. The race for second was a different matter, however. While Stonepark Hoffa coasted home for a comfortable length and a half verdict in 28.63, Unreal Unreal flew home to grab second on the line, getting the better of Torpedo Turtle, Zaconey Adonis and Rathmoyle Gerry by a head, a head and a head.
BRAVE BY NAME AND BY NATURE
Coolavanny Brave also displayed fine early speed to win Heat 3 for Michael Taggart and Daniel Kerr. The son of Broadstrand Bono and Our Brave Heart flew into the turn to quickly put daylight between himself and the chasing pack but he was under severe pressure from the third turn as Not A Wink drew closer in second.
The leader lived up to his name, however, showing fine bravery to call on extra reserves in the closing yards. In doing so, he held on for a length victory over Not A Wink in 28.76. Dusty Chief stayed on to take third, two lengths further back.
NO ERRORS FROM MARGIN
Marginforerror was one of the more straightforward winners of the night when coming home clear in Heat 4. The well-built son of Burgess Bucks and Ballymac Nonotyou went up strongly to dispute the early lead before asserting on the corner.
By the time they straightened up into the back straight, the Karol Ramsbottom trained tracker was three lengths clear before increasing his lead into the third turn. Old Tricks emerged from the pack to chase Marginforerror into the home straight and began to close slightly but Marginorerror was always comfortable.
Stephen Murphy and Miles Anderton’s strapping pace-setter emerged a three-length winner over Old Tricks in 28.60. There was another two and a half length gap to Quarry Boy in third.
GLENLARA LEAVES RIVALS FEELING BLUE
Less than a length separated the three heat winners of the Yvonne Barry Open 600 and, fittingly, in a competition sponsored by one of the track bookmakers, there were a couple of bigger priced winners.
Honour of going fastest went to Shelbourne regular Glenlara Blue, although he seemed destined to be a bit part player when the hot favourite Carrick Keano got loose at the head of affairs.
Sadly, the latter didn’t seem to be striding out with too much fluency down the back straight and Glenlara Blue charged upsides and past the early leader at the third turn. Once doing so, Liam Kirley and Thomas Garry’s son of Droopys Sydney and Glenlara Rosa eased on to a facile four and a half length verdict over Snowy April in 32.38.
BOB IS RAPID
Rapido Bob was just five spots slower in Heat 2. One of the 7-4 joint favourites, the talented son of Dorotas Wildcat and Ballintee Annie broke fastest to hold a narrow advantage into the turn. Magical Sapphire was on his shoulder and proceeded to push him hard throughout.
Behind the front two, the remaining quartet were involved in a little scrimmaging. Rapido Bob continued to set a strong gallop at the head of affairs, although Magical Sapphire was going nowhere. Nomadic Nova and Coolavanny Otto attempted to close on the leaders but their task was too great.
Rapido Bob, trained by Peter Cronin for Margaret Walsh, did what was needed. He kept finding up the run in to hold Magical Sapphire by a half length in 32.43. Coolavanny Oto ran on strongly to finish just a length further back in third, while Ryhope Beach also came home fast to grab fourth.
BIG JIM BACK TO HIS BEST
The opening heat saw Ballinabola Jim return to his best early season form, charging into the third turn to take control. Down To Business set the pace after a fast start from two but he had no answer to Ballinabola Jim into the third turn.
The massive son of Good News and Ballinabola Rum, who tips the scales at 90lbs, quickly opened a decisive lead. Owned by the Murphy Ballinaboola Syndicate, and trained by Brendan Murphy, Ballinabola Jim galloped on to a five length success over Swords Hero in 32.44. Down To Business and Fleadh Rileigh were the remaining qualifiers.
SENSATIONAL DIAMOND DISPLAYS HIS DERBY CREDENTIALS
After recently being unshipped from the top of the Boylesports Derby betting by Callaway Knegare, Bockos Diamond could find himself back at the top of the market after a stunning Shelbourne Park debut in the tenth race on the card.
The awesomely fast son of Dorotas Wildcat and Seaglass Shadow was sent to traps the even money favourite and he soon left those in the stands open-jawed. Seven Beach broke fast from six but Bockos Diamond was electric in the early yards.
Displaying devastating early speed, the Graham Holland trained superstar shot into the lead and proceeded to fly to the third turn. Seven Beach ran a huge race in second to stay relatively close but Bockos Diamond was simply too good. On a track that certainly wasn’t running as fast as recent weeks, Bockos Diamond hit the line three lengths clear in a sizzling 28.01.
Seven Beach was second with Dark Dilemma also running very well in third, another three lengths adrift. In victory, Bockos Diamond posted a red-hot 15.74 to the third turn, while also sending out a clear message to those paying attention that he is now Derby bound and means business.
SANDWICHES IMPRESSES OVER 550YDS
Graham Holland completed a superb last two race double with Cheap Sandwiches relishing the longer run to the turn over 550yds in the finale.
Owned by the wonderfully named Bark Wahlberg Syndicate, Cheap Sandwiches took a bump after a couple of strides from Sogna In Grande but quickly moved through the gears to go to the front before the turn.
In what was comfortably his most impressive run in Dublin, the son of Burgess Bucks and Hearthill Josie proceeded to dominate for a three length victory over the De Foxy Devil in 29.63.
KAMARI AT HER SHARPEST IN TOP CLASS OPENER
Murt Leahy and Pat Nagle got straight off the mark in the opener, a top-class bitch contest, with Droopys Kamari showing her rivals a clean pair of heels from the early yards.
The daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Hunch moved clear after a slick exit and always had those in behind at arm’s length before going on to beat Deelish Nora by six and a half lengths in 28.57.
SLICK SYD SHOWS HIS METAL
Airdown Syd displayed both fine pace and determination to win the ninth race for Stephen Parker.
Flying up the outside of the track to challenge and lead Ballymac Deboss into the turn, he rode a hefty bump to dictate into the back straight. Ballymac Deboss continued to press down the far side but Airdown Syd seemed to have the bit between his teeth. The son of Newinn Taylor and Airdown Rena went on to beat Ballymac Deboss by a length and a half in 28.81.