LADIES AND STAYERS IMPRESS AT PACKED SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

Saturday’s action at Shelbourne Park featured the opening round of the Christmas Oaks and the semi-finals of the Shelbourne Marathon over the almost unique 1025y trip.

In doing so it provided great variety for the huge crowd that poured through the stiles.

In terms of going fastest, Boylesports Coco followed up her superb victory at the Winter Racing Festival last week with a quickest of the round 28.38 in the Christmas Oaks, while Ballymac Katie only went a length and a half faster than Terrific Intent in the Marathon.  

MAGS IN A THRILLER

The Christmas Oaks kicked off with a terrifically exciting contest with less than a length and a half separating the first five home.

In the end the verdict went to Highview Mags but in victory she displayed signs that she may have needed the run.

Indeed, it’s testament to her to win in such circumstances. Prominent from the outset, the Gerry Merriman trained daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Jayne took over on the third turn and stayed on to secure a half length verdict over the staying on Quivers Magic in 28.87. Delightful Izzy flew home to finish just a neck adrift in third. 

COCO SHOWS HER CLASS

Boylesports Coco set the standard in the Christmas Oaks with John Boyle’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Barn Swallow showing superb early dash to take charge on the corner from the fast starting Ballymac Run.

It was a decisive manoeuvre, although she was kept honest by Annual Coco. The latter flew into the third turn to challenge the pace-setter only to have the door shut in her face. Boylesports Coco, it seemed, had no intention of letting her lead slip and the Dolores Ruth trained star raced on to score by a rapidly diminishing half length from the closing Annual Coco in 28.38.

BUBBLES FLOATS IN

Peter Comerford’s Lets Go Bubbles has returned to her early season form and that was certainly evident in Heat 3 where she displayed fine strength and bravery to lead in the latter stages.

Ballymac Winx and Lilywhite Queen went up fast with the Oen McKenna trained Lets Go Bubbles moving second behind the first named at the second turn.

It was then only a matter of time before she overhauled the pace-setter. Ballymac Winx continued to lead to the final turn where Lets Gi Bubbles made her move. Staying on well, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx eased on to beat a fast-finishing Highview Coral by a length and a half in 28.53. Ballymac Winx tied home to finish just a further short head behind.

VIDA GETS LOOSE

A fast start and early speed ensured Ballymac Vida got back to winning ways in Heat 3.

Liam Dowling’s daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Vida Loca is sharp in the early yards and she was left in front of Arent We All at the turn with many of those behind finding traffic.

The order didn’t change up front thereafter with Ballymac Vida running right to the line to see off Arent We All by three and a half lengths in 28.60.

MOLLY SHOWS HER MANY QUALITIES

Bill Mullholland’s Rathdown Molly was fancied to take Heat 5 despite facing some tough opposition and she duly obliged, although she had to work hard for the lead.

Hello Mom flew from trap two to lead into the turn but it was at this point that Rathdown Molly displayed real determination to drive around in second.

Hello Mom continued to hold the lead to into the back straight but the writing was on the wall with Rathdown Molly and Droopys Nice One breathing down her neck. A matter of strides into the back straight, Rathdown Molly took charge but the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Some Ginger was under pressure when Droopys Nice One moved into pursuit mode.

As she always does, Droopys Nice One swung wide off the final turn, leaving the Marie Gilbert trained Rathdown Molly to increase her advantage before running right to the line to score by a length in 28.49. Hello Mom was another length and a half back in third.   

KATIE A WIDE MARGIN WINNER IN MARATHON

Ballymac Katie was eventually sent off a 1-2 favourite for the second heat of the Shelbourne Marathon but those that took bigger prices available on track were always happy.

Never too far off the pace in the opening lap, Liam Dowling’s star stayer moved to the front at the fifth turn.

Once doing so, there was never a concern. Pulling further and further clear, the daughter of Ballymac Anton and Ballymac Merkle went on to cross the line eighteen lengths clear of Grove Zenyatta in 59.83. Peters Sydney held on for third, a further length adrift.

INTENT IS TERRIFIC

The opening heat saw Terrific Intent produced a superb front running display to go only marginally slower than Ballymac Katie.

Ryhs Fortune’s daughter of Droopys Cain and Vinegarhill Toni broke smartly and was soon at the head of affairs.

Posting a sub 28.70 for the opening lap, she comfortably held her rivals although Chestnut King, Lisdaleen Range and Highjay Muzzy all looked capable of launching a strong challenge. With each passing stride, it was clear Terrific Intent wasn’t going to be denied. She just kept on going to deny Highjay Muzzy by a length and a half in 59.93. Lisdaleen Range was another three and a half lengths away in third.

BALLYMUN BOY EXACTS HIS REVENGE

After a narrow defeat at the paws of Capitan Garfio last weekend, Ballymun Boy exacted swift revenge in the final race on the card over 550yds.

Unlike last week, Ballymun Boy was able to turn close to the pace after showing fine early speed to turn second to his rival.

It was then a case of when he would strike the front rather than if. Charging into the third turn, Peter Sutcliffe’s talented son of Droopys Sydney and Burgess Helena nudged his way through on the fence, allowing him strike the front off the final turn. Once going to the front, he stayed on to secure a two and a half length victory over Capitan Garfio in 29.89.

CHIEF TAKES ADVANTAGE

Kilcolgan Chief has been in superb form lately and he added another victory to his career tally in the second race, in turn initiating a double for Neilus O’Connell and owner Karen Geoghegan.

His task was aided somewhat with both Cornetto and Faypoint Angry walking from traps but Kilcolgan Chief broke fast enough to take full advantage. Leading from early, Kilcolgan Chief repelled the persistent challenge of Lord Messi to the third turn before easing on to win by four lengths in 30.09.

ZEUS FOLLOWS CHIEF FOR A NEILUS DOUBLE

Just fifteen minutes later Neilus O’Connell and Karen Geoghegan completed a tremendous double with Kilcolgan Zeus really digging into see his rivals in the third race.

Here Dalcash Dotcom set a strong gallop but really folded in the second half of the contest.

In contrast, Kilcolgan Zeus, despite being forced to check his stride at the third turn when challenging, finished with real purpose. He recovered quickly from his third bend bother to lead on the run in for a comfortable three and a half length success in 29.00.

KAMARI WINS OPENER

Murt Leahy made a bright start to the evening winning the A1 opener with the progressive Droopys Kamari.

Early speed was the key to success for the daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Hunch as she burst between rivals to lead into the turn. Templeville Mia chased her hard throughout and closed on the run in but Daniel and Patrick Nagle’s Droopys Kamari went on to score by three parts of a length in 28.68.