PANTHER SHAKES THE CLOCK IN SECOND ROUND ST. LEGER ACTION

PANTHER SHAKES THE CLOCK IN SECOND ROUND ST. LEGER ACTION

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger dominated Saturday night’s card at Limerick Greyhound Stadium and for the second straight round, Unanimouspanther set the standard with an incredible performance in heat six.

Indeed, while the likes of Unanimouspanther, Carmac King and Jaytee Craze all produced hugely impressive displays, there was still room for a number of shocks on the night as both Clonbrien Treaty and Knockeen Dazzler were forced to settle for second after surrendering the lead in their respective heats.

PANTHER DOMINANT

Despite clocking a serious 29.34 in the opening round, Unanimouspanther still had his doubters heading into his second round assignment, however, those doubts were firmly put to bed as the National Produce Stakes champ sent out another warning sign to his rivals with an emphatic victory that saw him give the clock a real scare. Trained by Pat Buckley for Ciaran O’Sullivan, the heavyweight tracker has really taken off since claiming Classic glory at Clonmel earlier this year and he built on that first round win with a sensational display of pace and power in heat six. Running from trap four, the son of Droopys Sydney and Mystical Moll went to boxes as the 2/5 favourite and he emerged from a level break immediately dictate. In doing so, the 88-pounder opened a sizable lead over his rivals and this got bigger and bigger as the contest progressed. It was a case of all eyes on the clock as ‘Panther’ upped the ante at the halfway mark and he duly crossed the line six lengths clear of Extra Gain, who came through well for second. The time was just a half length off the track record set by Jaytee Taylor in 2019, a sensational 29.24. The one to beat from here on in.

TREATY REELED IN BY BLISTERING BONNIE

In the opening heat of the night, Clonbrien Treaty was expected to take all of the beating, however, he came up just short as 14/1 chance, Roanna Bonnie, took off at halfway to reel in the reigning champ.

Clonbrien Treaty was installed as the 4/5 favourite and this looked generous once the classy blue powered past Roanna Bonnie in the early stages to take control on the run-up. Showing exceptional early speed to amass a five length lead down the back, the son of Pestana looked certain to bounce back from his opening round defeat. However, Roanna Bonnie had other ideas and anyone familiar with the daughter of Good News certainly would have been gripping their docket given her abilities from the halfway mark. Closing the gap notably around the bottom two bends, ‘Bonnie’, owned by Breda Boyle and Patrick Sheehy, hugged the rails to soar up the home straight and comfortably reel in the reigning champion. Crossing the line with one and a half lengths to spare, this was a terrific performance from Roanna Bonnie as she stopped the clock in a blistering 29.42.

DAZZLER DOWNED BY TIME

While Clonbrien Treaty failed to hold Roanna Bonnie in heat one, Knockeen Dazzler was to suffer a similar fate in heat two as In Good Time wore down the early pacer to come out the right side of a judge’s call.

Knockeen Dazzler was bidding to build on an impressive first round win but the 4/7 chance didn’t break as fluently as standard from six and despite showing exceptional early speed to the opening turn, was forced to follow the fast-starting Drombeg Pearl into the back. Nip and tuck at this point, the Kirby champ took over passing the sprint boxes, however, he was being chased by In Good Time, who was showing eye-catching pace to stake a claim approaching the three-quarter mark. A thrilling finish in store, Knockeen Dazzler was still at the head of proceedings, however, he failed to hold the determined In Good Time (Droopys Sydney - Peters Queen). The Brendan Maunsell-trained charge recording a short-head win, the time was a fast 29.62 with Drombeg Pearl just a further one length back in third.

KING REMAINS UNBEATEN

Carmac King produced a fine display in heat one to get his Classic bid off to the best possible start but the Owen McKenna-trained star took off in the penultimate heat to firmly cement his status as a leading outright player.

The Shelbourne Champion 550 winner and the joint outright favourite, Carmac King was sent to boxes as a 4/7 chance but followers would have been slightly concerned after just a moderate start from five saw Timmy Carmody’s charge forced to express all of his early speed to get back on terms. However, the son of Droopys Sydney and Peters Queen did just that as he swept to the front upon entrance to the back straight to quickly assert from Gurtnacrehy Mark in second. Holding all the aces at this point, Carmac King soon drew clear of his rivals to stay on powerfully and record a seven length victory over Kilcolgan Whitney in second. The time was a brilliant 29.56.

JUST JAYTEE

The concluding heat of the night sent patrons home happy as the 1/2 favourite, Jaytee Craze, got up in the dying strides to see off kennel companion Barefoot On Fire.

Indeed, it was Barefoot On Fire who displayed the superior early speed on the run-up from trap four and he took a slender lead into the back from Coolavanny Percy in second. At this point, Jaytee Craze (Ballymac Cashout - Ballymac Minton) had plenty of work to do as he disputed third place some four lengths adrift with Ventry Faith. However, ‘Craze’ went into overdrive on the approach to the penultimate turn and John Turner and Lee Craze’s charge quickly began to turn the screw on those in front. Barefoot On Fire still in charge rounding the final turn, while he steered a middle course, his kennel companion flew up the rails and this proved decisive in recording back-to-back victories. Getting the nod by a short-head, the Paul Hennessy-trained powerhouse stopped the clock in a blistering 29.43 with both Barefoot On Fire and Ventry Faith also running tremendous races in defeat.

HEAT WATCH

Heat 3 - Oscar The Grouch was installed as the 2/1 favourite in this contest but he failed to repeat last week’s heroics and he was subsequently eliminated after a tardy start from three. In contrast, Sogne In Grande came away on skates from trap six to open up a healthy lead and he was followed into the back by Bockos Crystal in second. Meanwhile, Blastoff Salah sat third, however, he made eye-catching progress rounding the bottom two bends to stake a real claim for victory. Indeed, Daniel Jones’ tracker was in full throttle on the run for home and the son of Grangeview Ten duly flew up the rails to just get the nod by a short-head. Bockos Crystal just pipped in second, Sogne In Grande was the other tracker in a three-way photo in third. The time was 29.80.

Heat 4 - There was an identical time recorded in heat four as the Evan McAuliffe-owned Drombeg Rio justified his 5/4 favouritism in a five-dog affair. A winner on the opening night in a slick 29.65, the son of Grangeview Ten and Grangeview Nifty was untidy at traprise, however, had plenty in the tank as he recovered brilliantly to lead Newport Pier and Hazelhill Bucko early on. Holding a slender lead down the back, ‘Rio’ pulled out all the stops to deny Newport Pier, by two lengths, in 29.80.

Heat 5 - One of the most eye-catching heats on the card was that of heat five with Ballyhimikin Rex, Coolavanny Otto, Superfast Gorden and Miami King all involved. It was ‘Gorden’ that took a flyer from trap five to assert and the even money favourite looked certain to take some stopping as a result. However, Ballyhimikin Rex was showing serious early dash from one and the two came together at the opener, which saw both losing valuable momentum heading into the back. In turn, this allowed Miami King to get involved and he grabbed his opportunity with both paws. Further traffic saw Ballyhimikin Rex and Superfast Gorden once again come together and this was a similar scenario for Coolavanny Otto, who was also stopped in his tracks when improving. Miami King (Ballymac Vic - Newline Mo) went about his business in fine style however, and the Garry Dempsey-trained runner crossed the line two and a half lengths clear of Coolavanny Otto in second. The time was 30.05.