PRICELESS ROMOEO AND DESERT FLOWER STAR IN A1 KASKO DERBY

Barry Drake

PRICELESS ROMEO, trained by Paul Hennessy for Bryan and Kathleen Murphy, set the standard in the semi-finals of the A1 Kasko Derby at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

Bartlemy Lucky set a strong early pace, and Sirius Alpha then took over on the run to the final corners. The winner was tucked in behind, and he displayed plenty of staying power to finish best of all and deny Sirius Alpha, by a short head, in 28.48. A length and a half back to Hand Crafted in third place.

In the second semi-final, favourites Bushpark Rodney and Droopys Sort were eliminated as Desert Flower, trained by Kieran Lynch for the Hold On To Your Hat Syndicate, finished with a flourish to land the spoils and record back-to-back wins. A 28.68 winning run, a head clear of Barnfield Molly, with a short head back to the De Bull in third. Kieran Lynch enjoyed a great day all round, and he will have three runners in next week's feature final. Draw below.

1 DE BULL
2 PRICELESS ROMEO
3 HAND CRAFTED
4 DESERT FLOWER
5 SIRIUS ALPHA
6 BARNFIELD MOLLY

Ballyhimikin Rio proved a class apart in the final of the €2,500 to the winner Pat O'Driscoll Memorial A3 Stake, winning for trainer John Linehan and owners the B S S Syndicate. The short-priced 1-4 favourite came away racing to lead, soon in total control, and he pulled further and further clear up front. Clocking top-class finishing sectionals, the impressive winner came home nine lengths clear of Danish Bubble, in 28.13.