COMPETITIVE FARE AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
The semi-finals of the valuable Book Your Fishing at Swimbooker A2 525 were the feature of a low-key Saturday card at Shelbourne Park and Elite Josh set the standard with a very useful 28.90 on a track running on the slow side. Phoenix Tyson won the second heat, showing real alacrity at traps to dominate.
Ballymac Slick was a warm favourite for the opening heat but failed to threaten after a slow start. Instead, Getup Me Son et a strong gallop to the corner and own the back straight but Myles Roban’s Elite Josh was too close in second.
It was at the third turn that Elite Josh began to close the gap, drawing closer with each stride, before taking over inside the final fifty yards. Staying on well, the son of Elite Black and Ellies Runaway struck the line a length and a half to the good in 28.90 on a track rated .20sec slow. Getup Me Son was second with a further seven length gap to the staying on Ballymac Slick in third.
TYSON WITH A KNOCKOUT BLOW
Phoenix Tyson was a very straightforward winner of the second heat, showing a clean pair of heels throughout.
Trained by Ian Reilly for his son Billy, the son of Grangeview Ten and Fahy Ripley catapulted from trap five, posting a 2.00 sectional.
Valderrama emerged from the pack, riding a bump on the bend to turn second, but was always struggling to land a glove on the leader. Phoenix Tyson emerged a comfortable two length winner in 29.20. Valderrama was second with Rebel Autumn staying on for third, a further length back.
Book Your Fishing on Swimboker A2 525
Final draw
1 GETUP ME SON
2 ELITE JOSH
3 PHOENIX TYSON (M)
4 VALDERRAMA (M)
5 REBEL AUTUMN (W)
6 BALLYMAC SLICK (W)
******
FANTASTIC FIDGET
The undoubted performance of the night came in the finale with Droopys Fidget running her rivals ragged.
A top-class performer in the UK in the past, the daughter of Out Of Range and Droopys Natalia has the ability to make waves on this side of the Irish Sea also.
Now under the care of Robert Gleeson for owners Paul Allen and John Gilson, Droopys Fidget broke on terms before quickly asserting on the inside of the track. Foggy Bottom turned second but had no answer to the power of the pace-setter. Droopys Sohpia ran on well to take second but Droopys Fidget was merciless up front, eventually hitting the line six lengths to the good in 28.76. the track was rated .20 slow but it would be no surprise if the winner was to post 28.20 on normal going in the coming weeks.
TEENA SHOWS HER CLASS
Teena really appreciated an inside draw in the penultimate race, getting loose around the opening two bends to lead home her litter brother Win Again Syd.
Teena was actually quite slowly into stride but she shot up the fence to lead on the corner.
She proceeded to open a two lengths advantage over Kilcolgan Zeus, who continued to press to the third turn. Once containing her rival to this point, the Tommy Light trained Teena was always going to be hard to pick up. James Light’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Some Ginger ran right to the line to win by two lengths from the staying on Win Again Syd in 29.09.
BRAYVIEW IS PICTURE PERFECT
Brayview Picture was too strong for his rival in the seventh race, coming through in the latter stages to deny long-time leader Abbeyside Spice.
A rails draw allowed Brayview Picture turn a little closer than in recent outings.
Once turning second into the back straight, the son of Superior Panama and Highview Picture was always poised to challenge. Trained by Gerry Merriman for Edmund and Conor Nugent, Highview Picture joined and headed the early pace-setter on the run in to score by a length and a half in 29.25.
KODI TOO STRONG
There was a remarkable finish to the sole 750yd contest on the card with Unanimous Kodi (Pat C Sabbath/ Alls Well) coming through in the final strides to narrowly see off the long-time leader Kilcolgan Chief and the fast finishing Junction Polly.
There was never much between the front four in this contest with Kilcolgan Chief just holding Unanimous Kodi and Donishallharry for much of the way. That changed on the run in as Unanimous Kodi slipped up the fence to head the pace-setter in the closing strides. Trained by Martin Lanny for the Loyal Royals Syndicate, Unanimous Kodi got the better of Kilcolgan Chief and Junction Polly by a by a neck and a neck in 43.34.
GUNNER FIRES
Gunner Prince gave his rivals the slip in the second race, leading from the opening stride to emerge a comfortable winner for Rita O’Donnell.
The son of Pestana and Swift Vicki hit the line three and a half lengths clear of Russmur Stacey in 29.34 (.20 slow).
FLASH LIVES UP TO HER NAME
Ballycairn Flash was simply too sharp for her rivals in the third race, dominating from early to score for Evan Henrick and Julia McCarthy.
The daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Portumna West flashed to the corner, opening a clear advantage to the third turn before coasting home three lengths clear of Lego Charlie in 29.26 (.20 slow).
KENDRA WINS OPENER
Paul and Susan Hennessy were on the mark in the opener with Ballymac Kendra making most of the running.
Prominent early, she was briefly headed by Airdown Syd before taking over as they hit the back straight. From there, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Jaytee Pearl stretched clear to win by eight lengths from Hes Bizzar in 28.96 (.20 slow).
DELIGHTFUL EFFORT FROM URBAN
Urban Delight won the A2 eighth race, charging to the front at the third turn before pulling right away.
Regie Roberts’ daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Megan eased on for a seven length victory over Lolos Badger in 29.51 (.20 slow).
QUARRY BOY DRIVES THE TURN
Paula Heffernan’s Quarry Boy made a decisive move into the turn to emerge a good winner of the A2 ninth race.
Despite a slow start, the son of King Sheeran and Mean Beauty was third approaching the bend but he drove through on the inside of the track to enter the back straight with a clear lead.
It was enough to secure victory. Nushkas Bale id stay on well to close the gap in the latter stages but Quarry Boy held on by a length n 29.57.