STARS FOLLOW THE SCRIPT IN IRISH SPRINT CUP

Ian Fortune

The stage is set for the most incredible finish to the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup after Saturday’s semi-finals went largely to script at Dundalk. Droopys Patriot and Broadstrand Syd were hotly fancied to come home in front and both obliged.

Broadstrand Syd remains on target to defend his title and those that took short odds about the stunningly fast son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Alice were in clover from the start. The Johnny Linehan trained superstar was razor sharp at traps, flashing rom trap three to make every inch.

He was kept honest throughout by Stonepark Browne but the order never changed with Broadstrand Syd eventually hitting the line a length and a quarter clear oft Stonepark Browne in 20.91. Epic Ace was the same distance away in third. The Ryan-Drake-Donovan Syndicate, who are lucky enough to own Broadstrand Syd can start dreaming of reclaiming the sprint classic.

PATRIOT FINDS A WAY

Droopys Patriot was forced to work a bit harder in the opening heat for Robert Gleeson and the Newmarket Racing Syndicate.

Southwind Wild flashed from five, closely followed by Ballymac Brandan from four, leaving Droopys Patriot playing catch up from the start.

Displayed awesome early dash, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Alyssa joined the leaders on the corner. Despite not running the most fluent of bends, he was still on terms with Southwind Wild off the second turn before asserting on the run in. Showing his class, Droopys Patriot powered on to win by two lengths in 21.16. Southwind Wild was a good second with the inexperienced Ballymac Brandan just a half length further back in third. 

AN INCREDIBLE FINAL TO LOOK FORWARD TO

As a result of the two semi-finals going largely to plan, we now have a final line-up of incredible quality.

In truth, this year’s Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup has been amongst the best ever and the line-up is truly elite. The draw is below:

Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup

Final draw

1 BALLYMAC BRANDAN

2 DROOPYS PATRIOT

3 BROADSTRAND SYD

4 STONEPARK BROWNE

5 SOUTHWIND WILD (M)

6 EPIC ACE (M)