SIR TAKES GUYS AND DOLLS AND AARI IMPRESSES ON DEBUT

Ian Fortune

Dear Sir fully justified very restrictive odds in the final of the Shelbourne Park Guys & Dolls on Thursday evening, flying around Shelbourne in a rapid 28.28 to say goodbye to A2 company.

Laurence Jone’s high-class son of Premier Fantasy and Dear Oh Dear was again razor-sharp, shooting clear to halfway before coasting home a three and a half length winner over Coolavanny Ogie.

It’s clear he is in the form of his life and is worth following even as he steps back in to open company, given his wonderful early speed and current well-being.

AARI A STAR OF THE FUTURE

Earlier on the card there were three brilliant debuts in the opening round of the Shelbourne Park Novice Dash ON1.

Unraced sprints are something of a rarity in Dublin but it’s clear that a number of potential stars will emerge from this stake including The Other Aari who set a blistering standard with an 18.51 return.

Bred in the purple, the Jennifer O’Donnell trained son of Grangeview Ten and twice Oaks runner-up Scooby Duchess was electric in the second of the three heats. Owned by the Born Wild Syndicate, the January ’24 whelp ran wild, flashing from the inside trap to emerge a facile and most impressive four length winner over Jacktavern Turbo. It’s clear the winner is a bit special, while the runner-up is clearly no slouch either. 

ALIYA FLIES

The opening heat was won in similarly professional manner by Knockeen Aliya for Daniel O’Rahily.

A well-bred daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Ballymac Cams, she never saw a rival, shooting from the inside trap to dominate throughout.

Beepers Cash In came in a reserve and emerged from the pack but Knockeen Aliya was too good and she galloped on powerfully to win by seven lengths in 18.71.

LAKE MAKES A SPLASH

The final heat was also won in hugely impressive fashion.

Ned Lennon’s Luminous Lake was allowed to go to traps a 5-2 chance but he quickly turned this contest into a solo. A son of former top sprinter Serene Ace and Ballymac Tam, the August ’23 whelp rocketed from trap three and displayed immediate acceleration to open up a sizeable advantage.

Gougane Buster id show fine pace to close the gap a little but Luminous Lake was in a league of his own as he stopped the clock in 18.68, three lengths clear of Gougane Buster.