A WONDERFUL START TO THE FESTIVAL
Ian Fortune
The RCÉ Winter Racing Festival got underway at Shelbourne Park on Friday night and the opening night of the annual showpiece certainly didn’t disappoint.
From start to finish, the racing was competitive, very clean and, ultimately, twelve wonderful winners emerged.
There was great variety with races over 525, 550, 600, 750 and 850yds and it was also great to see a whole host of names winning some of the big prizes on offer.
KURSK SETS A STRONG STANDARD
No greyhound went faster over the 525yd trip than Elite Kursk as he continued his comeback from injury with a magical display of front running in the final of the Winter Racing Festival A0 525.
A warm favourite after an impressive semi-final performance, he went even quicker to justify his billing as the one to beat.
Myles Roban’s hugely talented son of Elite Black and Minnies Kursk displayed all his old sharpness, flashing from trap six before quickening clear into the bend. His rivals were chasing shadows from the outset.
Jacktavern Storm turned second and was his nearest pursuer for much of the way only to be picked up late by the fast-finishing Cushie Flytplan. Elita Kursk was in a league of his own, however, going on to win by five lengths in a brilliant 28.25.
EMMA POWERS TO SUPERB 600 VICTORY
The final of the WRF A0/A1 600 was the penultimate race on the card and Brendan Murphy sent out Ballinabola Emma to emerge a most impressive winner at the expense of odds-on favourite Magical Sapphire.
The favourite was always playing catch up after a tardy start. In contrast, Ballinabola Emma was sharpest, breaking smartly from two to dictate into the turn. Bartlemy Mainoo pressed off the second turn but Ballinabola Emma kept finding out front and remained in control to the third turn.
Magical Sapphire was now trying to get involved in the shake up but she swung very wide off the final turn. Mary Murphy’s Ballinabola Emma stayed a tighter line and powered up the straight to win. The daughter of Glengar Bale and Ballinabola Evie crossed the line three lengths to the good in 32.68. Magical Sapphire was second.
MISTY COMPLETES A BUCKLEY DOUBLE IN STYLE
Pat Buckley recorded a superb double on the card, which was completed by the hugely progressive Malabar Misty in the WRF A0 Bitch 525.
Early speed was the key to her success. There was a pretty level start but Malabar Misty displayed wonderful acceleration to go to the front into the bend.
With her rivals battling it out for track position behind, Malabar Misty quickened clear. Drveen Lass turned second but was never going to worry the leader. Instead, Rural Ana ran on strongly to grab second but Malabar Misty was one of the more straightforward winners on the card. The Malabar Syndicate owned daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Sanjose coasted home a comfortable two length scorer in 28.36.
POWERFUL POLLY IMPRESSES OVER 750YDS
Singalong Polly had earlier initiated the double for Pat Buckley when coming in as a reserve into the WRF Novice 750.
It was soon evident she was going to play a huge part in proceedings. Goodnitekathleen flew from trap two to lead early but had no match for the pace of Singalong Polly passing the stands.
Gilbert Anderson’s daughter of Grangeview Ten and Mystical Luna flew to the third turn to move to the front before quickly extending her advantage. It was a move that would prove decisive.
Goodnitekathleen and Kilcolgan Whitney stayed on well to close slightly from halfway but Singalong Polly was not for catching and she hit the line two and a half lengths clear in 41.76. Goodnitekathleen was a good second.
BUTTON MAKES IT A PEREFCT FIVE
Button It is bred to be a bit special as a son of Juvenile Derby champion Droopys Flytline and National Puppy Stake winner Up The Style.
Both sire and dam were trained by Robert Gleeson and so too is Button It who made it five wins from five starts in the final of the WRF A1 (NB) 525.
The 11-10 favourite after strong support, he produced the best display of his career to date to make every inch. Breaking fastest from the inside box, Button It led his main market rival Slippery Brian into the turn and that was how they remained. Button It won by two lengths from Slippery Brian in 28.47.
PRINCE BACK TO HIS BEST
Former Easter Cup finalist Maireads Prince had failed to win since his return from the UK until he lined out in the final of the WRF A1 550.
A 9-4 chance in the market, his backers were soon in clover with the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Clona Skye returning to form on the right stage.
Drawn in the stripes, the Barry Clancy trained June ’22 whelp made the most of the racing room he was afforded in the early exchanges to set a strong pace into the turn. It was all very easy for the powerful tracker thereafter. Maintaining a merciless gallop throughout, Shaun Gresham’s Maireads Prince would eventually see off Cashout Girl by five and a half lengths in a quick 29.58.
NUA IMPRESSES
Shaun Conway sent out Droichead Nua to emerge a superb winner of the WRF A2 525 decider.
His kennel companion Mind Your Head flew from two to set a searing gallop into the turn but the extra space afforded to Droichead Nua allowed him to get up a head of steam into the bend.
Turning a close second, the Newbridge Racing Syndicate owned Droichead Nua was always going to get past his kennel mate and he did so at the second turn. Staying tight to the fence, Droichead Nua was soon in control and he charged down the back straight to extend his lead.
Gallant Prince moved into second approaching the third turn and briefly threatened but Droichead Nua would stay on well to win by three lengths in a rapid 28.31.
PAT BOWS OUT IN STYLE
Chealsea Pat was having her final ever start in the opening race on the card, the final of the WRF Regulars A4/A5 525 and she picked the right time to produce a career best display.
The daughter of Ballymac Best and Killeen Princess has always been a true professional and she signed out in true professional manner.
Flashing from trap three, she was always in command. Donalds Trumpet displayed fine pace to give chase but he was never going to worry the leader once she hit the third turn in front and she stayed on strongly to emerge a comfortable winner.
Representing the Manor Racing Syndicate and handler Lar Kelly, Chelsea Pat raced to a brilliant three length success in 28.60. Donalds Trumpet displayed plenty of promise in second.
HARVEY WINS AN OLD STAGER THRILLER
The veterans offered up a real treat in the WRF Old Stagers 525 with Faypoint Harvey somehow emerging a narrow winner over Jaytee Craze and Kapuka Warrior.
This was a proper greyhound race with little separating the entire field for much of the journey.
Kapuka Warrior set the pace after a slick exit but Faypoint Harvey was always on his heels with Jaytee Craze and Prinhce Naseem also close enough to play a part. It all got very tight into the third turn with Faypoint Harvey joining the leader, while Jaytee Craze and Prince Naseem were also searching for racing room just behind.
Off the final turn, Kapuka Warrior and Faypoint Harvey continued to do battle but Jaytee Craze had found a seam up the inside and he too was challenging. The three battle-hardened veterans charged to the line. Jaytee Craze seemed the most likely winner but Faypoint Harvey was nothing if not determined.
Trained by Graham Holland for Patricia Flanagan, the thoroughly likeable son of Droopys Sydney and Roaming Shari dug deep to win by three parts of a length from Jaytee Craze in 28.53 with Kapuka Warrior just a short head further back in third.
UNA JUSTIFIES RESTRICTIVE ODDS
Ciaran O’Reilly’s Ashmar Una had to handle the pressure of going to traps the hottest favourite of the night in the final of the WRF Stayers D1/ D2 Dual Distance but the blue daughter of Pestana and Cu Abu was certainly up the task.
Lets Go Marty, her main market rival, took the lead on the bend and pressed on up the straight but Ashmar Una was always too close in second. Moving with purpose down the back straight, the hot favourite crept closer and closer before joining and heading her rival at the fifth turn. Once doing so, Ashmar Una eased on to win quite comfortably by four lengths in 47.99.
HANS TOO GOOD
Miami Hans was a facile winner of the second race, the final of the WRF A3 (NB) 525.
Sent to traps a warm favourite after three promising displays, he fully justified the support, flashing from traps to make every inch for Garry Dempsey and owners Birol Nadir and Noel McSweeney.
The May ’24 son of Ballymac Kingdom and Break the Best maintained a powerful gallop throughout to eventually see off Thurlesbeg Pablo by five and a half lengths in 28.52. At his current rate of progression, Miami Hans is a greyhound to keep an eye on going forward.
SIR GIVES RIVALS THE SLIP IN FINALE
Laurence Jones’ Dear Sir took the final race on the card, making an early advantage count in the WRF Regulars Open 525.
He was challenged into the turn by the fast-starting Droopys Orator but the latter seemed to take a false step as they approached the turn, leaving Dear Sir to drive clear.
It was all very easy for the son of Premier Fantasy and Dear Oh Dear thereafter. His nearest rivals were Droopys Orator and Exclusion Order but they bumped a number of times. Dear Sir took full advantage, cruising to a very easy seven length success over Droopys Orator in 28.59.