JOEY FASTEST AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
There was another low-key night of action at Shelbourne Park on Saturday, although there were still some fine displays from those in action.
Fastest run over the standard trip came from Produce Stakes champion Lemon Joey, while Westway Rossa emerged a tremendous winner of the finale over 575yds.
Lemon Joey won the ninth race on the card, an open 525, in trap to line fashion. The Murt Leahy trained son of Ballymac Best and Lemon Arianna would dominate to win by four lengths from Kereight in a fast 28.27.
RAMPANT ROSSA WINS FINALE
Racing ended with a similar display from the talented Westway Rossa as she made virtually every inch for Damian Maginn and Henry Scimia.
Going to the front on the long run to the turn over the 575yd trip, she was never going to be stopped and proceeded to coast home for a six length verdict over Darraghs Sydney in 31.01.
CHAPS SHINES IN DUAL DISTANCE
The semi-finals of the Two Steps to Victory were early on the card and all three heats were won in superb fashion.
Honour of going fastest went to Sawdust Chaps as he ran out an impressive winner of the second heat in 28.34. The Produce Stakes consolational final winner charged up the inside of Bowadis Raven into the turn to assume control and he always had his rivals at arm's length thereafter.
Trained by Murt Leahy for the Chissel Syndicate, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Alyssa would go on to win by two and a half lengths from Bowadis Raven. Phoenix Memphis was another two lengths away in third.
JET POWERED
Manalishi Jet was a pretty straightforward winner of the opening heat.
Making all for his owner James Kerr, the son of Ballymac Best and Fleadh Ramona would hit the line three lengths clear of Skippy Fantasy in 28.68. Coolavanny Shone was two and a half lengths adrift in third.
CLON ALWAYS IN CHARGE
John Byrne's Kanturk Clon (Good News/ Clongeel Mills) won Heat 3 in almost identical fashion.
Drawn on the fence, he broke fastest to dominate before going on to see off Composition and Down To the Wire by four and a half lengths and a neck in 28.76.
ELLO ELLO SETS TRI DISTANCE STANDARD
The inexperienced Ello Ello opened his account when setting the standard in the opening round of the Three Steps to Victory A3/A4 Tri Distance.
Brendan Matthews’ son of Airmount Nando and Million Dreams was headed at traps by Tickets Lizzie but he displayed better early speed to lead into the turn. He would go on to dominate for a three length victory over Tickets Lizzie in 30.10.
SABB MOTORS CLEAR
Boscos Sabb displayed superior early speed to his rivals in the second heat, giving him a distinct advantage.
Once going to the front he was never under any real pressure and went on to comfortably hold the always second Hold On Tight by two and a half lengths in 30.11.
SUUZAY KEEPS FINDING
Kilgarran Suuzay was always to the fore in the opening heat for Craig and Conor Heffernan.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx kept repelling those in behind to eventually see off Fun by two and a half lengths in 30.14.
CROSS REFERENCE WINS WELL
The final heat went the way of Cross Reference.
Representing Francie Murray and his son Francis, the son of Ballymac Anton was second into the turn but moved to the front as they hit the second turn after Priceless Maria took a very wide path. The pair battled for the lead for much of the remainder but Cross Reference was too strong, staying on to score by a length in 30.27.
GROUCHO WASN’T TO BE DENIED
Grouchos Hoffa was a good winner of the penultimate race on the card, overcoming early traffic to leads on the line.
Trained by Dave Bourke for Shane and Luke O’Connell, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Senahel Trudi missed the start but flew into the turn.
He looked set to turn in front only to take a hefty bump from Dwell Mock. The latter would make much of the running from that point but failed to contain Grouchos Hoffa, who got back up in the closing yards to win by a head in 28.71. The winner will certainly go far faster in the near future.
BUCKS BOUNCES OUT
Racing commenced with Timmys Bucks making every inch to score for Tim and Olive Cliff.
The powerful son of Burgess Bucks and Trusted Exile made every inch of the 600yd trip to eventually beat Town Lucky by four lengths in 32.53.