ALL TO PLAY FOR IN THE SPRING DERBY AT CURRAHEEN PARK

ALL TO PLAY FOR IN THE SPRING DERBY AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

The €7,500 to the winner A2 Spring Derby produced some fantastic racing at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

An ultra-consistent performer, Coosey Hall went quickest when winning the second quarter-final for trainer James Kelleher and owners the Castlegrounds Syndicate. The 7-4 second favourite drove a great opening two corners to slip around in third as Burgess Cannon was setting the early fractions. A strong stayer over this trip, the winner hit top gears at halfway and he powered home to beat the early leader, by a neck, in 28.65. A length and a half back to Faypoint Maureen in third place.

In the fourth and final heat, Move Too Soon, trained by Kieran Lynch for the Lenght And A Half Syndicate, was another to impress. The 4-7 market leader was in control early and he quickened right away to win in fantastic style. All one-way traffic up front, he beat Droopys Cynthia, by six lengths, in 28.68. Three and a half lengths back to Corrough Bolger in third place.

Katsumoto scored in the opening heat for trainer Gerry Holian and owners Basil and Bernadette Holian. The even-money favourite delivered a smart front running winning performance to beat Da Gonzo, by half a length, in 28.76. Two lengths back to Ballymac Slick in third place.

Labana King returned to winning ways in the third heat. Batt O'Shea's 4-1 winner displayed plenty of early pace and he got the better of Tempestade, by the shortest of margins, in 28.97. Just a neck back to Ferryworth Wild in third place.

Droopys Onestop, a recent winner of the Cork Oaks, went quickest over the standard trip when winning for trainer Johnny Linehan and owner Sean Dunphy. Turning handy around the opening corners, the 3-1 shot delivered one of her typical big finishes. A superb 28.27 winning performance, eight lengths clear of kennel mate Droopys Beglin. 

In the sixth, Rebel Ocean delivered a top-class performance to win for trainer Kieran Lynch and owner Vincent O'Keeffe. The even-money favourite produced a flying start and he displayed massive all-round gears to beat Da Dapper Flynn, by four and a half lengths, in 28.30.

Dainty Exile came home in front to win the €1,000 to the winner Denis McCarthy Memorial A3 Bitch Stake. In the ownership of Andrew Lynch, the 9-4 winner was in the mix up front early and she stuck to her task well in the closing stages to beat Samba Bailey, by three-quarters of a length, in 29.00.