MORE MAGIC IN IRISH SPRINT CUP
Ian Fortune
The signs had been there in previous weeks that it was going to happen soon so it was perhaps no surprise to see Lennies Tank go ballistic at Dundalk on Saturday as he posted a stunning 20.68 to set the standard in the quarter finals of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup.
Once again, it was evident that this year’s competition is amongst the best ever run. To highlight how good the competition is, defending champion Broadstrand Syd maintained his unbeaten record in the classic with a fine victory over some hot rivals, Droopys Patriot also stayed unbeaten with a fine run, while Ballymac Brandan continued his rise to stardom but the headlines simply had to go to Lennies Tank.
TANK DESTROYS THE OPPOSITION
Drawn to perfection in the stripes in the opening heat, Lennies Tank was nothing short of brilliant. Showing fine early zip, the son of Good Cody and Deelish Oreo got the better of Sogna Ancora into the turn before handing his rival a lifeline by swinging wide into the home straight.
there was no matching Lennies Tank, however. Representing the Paul Hennessy/ Lee Craze combo, the exceptionally fast tracker powered clear to eventually win by an ever-increasing five and a quarter lengths. Boozed Burgess emerged from the pack to take third, a further two and a half lengths adrift. The winner’s clock was sensational. 20.68 puts him fourth on the all-time list at Dundalk with only Broadstrand Syd going faster, albeit three times.
BRANDAN A REAL PROSPECT
Ballymac Brandan may have been having just his third career start in Heat 2 but it was scarcely evident with Liam Dowling’s youngster looking right out of the top drawer as he flew around in 20.94.
The January ’24 son of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Art broke fastest and never saw a rival.
Flawless throughout, Ballymac Brandan stayed on well to secure a comfortable two length victory over the always second Mirage Majesty. The runner-up ran well in defeat but clearly ran into a very bright prospect. There was another two lengths to Exclusion Order in third.
SLICK SYD TOO HOT
The aforementioned Broadstrand Syd made it three from three in this year’s classic in Heat 3, seeing off two exceptional sprinters in Stonepark Browne and Epic Ace in the process.
Although the Ryan-Drake-Donovan Syndicate owned star has gone faster in the past, he was close to foot-perfect.
The Johnny Linehan trained son of Droopys Sydney and Droopy Alice broke fastest and soon asserted at the head of affairs. Stonepark Browne chased him hard into the turn but there was no catching Broadstrand Syd, who would go on to win by three and a quarter lengths in 20.91.
Stonepark Browne was always second while Epic Ace rode a bump on the turn to finish another two and three quarter lengths away in third.
PATRIOT POUNCES
Droopys Patriot won Heat 4, also dipping under 21 seconds, to maintain his unbeaten record in the competition for Robert Gleeson and the Newmarket Racing Syndicate.
The hugely talented son of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Alyssa was headed in the early yards by Southwind Wild but he joined and headed his rival on the corner.
Running a fluent bend, he quickly eased on before going on to score by two and a half lengths in a sizzling 20.88. Southwind Wild was second with Road Exile third, a further two and a half lengths adrift.