LEELOO SETS STRONG STANDARD IN NEWBRIDGE DERBY

Ian Fortune

Perhaps inspired by her litter sister, Singalong Dolly, who is set to potentially start favourite in the final of the Shelbourne Open 600 this evening, Leeloo went fastest in the opening round of the Friends of Newbridge A1 Derby at the Kildare venue on Friday night.

A glance through the results would suggest this competition is going to provide some superb racing in the coming weeks, however, as very little separated many of the heat winners in terms of the clock.

LEELOO POWERS TO VICTORY

Leeloo did have the honour of going fastest, however, as she got closest to the 30 second barrier in the final heat. Fittingly on a night when there were so many tremendous finishes, Leeloo was one of three dogs driving for the line.

Da Quiet Syd set a strong pace, leading Corporatesupreme and Leeloo down the back straight. It was on the third turn that Leeloo made her move. Nuala Lynch’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Mydras Dawn moved second and began hunting the pace-setter. Coonough Paddy also finished fast but Leeloo got first run and she led late to cross the line a half-length to the good over another fast finisher Coonough Paddy in 30.05. Da Quiet Syd was the same distance away third. 

CIARAN TOO STRONG

Less than a length behind Leeloo on the clock was Catunda Ciaran as he won in similar fashion. The lightly raced but promising Southfield Duke turned in front and led for much of the way only for the Scott Phelan trained Catunda Ciaran to take over on the run in.

Michael Byrne’s powerful son of Dorotas Wildcat and Mags Angel, who was only fourth down the back straight, displayed all his power to eventually beat Southfield Angel by a length and a half in 30.11.

HARLEQUIN GIVES A SCOTT A SUPERB DOUBLE

In victory Catunda Ciaran completed a double for Scott Phelan as he had earlier struck with Harlequin James in the opening heat. Owned by the Harlequin Syndicate, the son of Confident Rankin and Boherna Actress actually missed the start but flew into the turn to go second to Burgess Bolger.

Harlequin James displayed fine pace into the third turn to challenge around the last two bends but couldn’t get past the pace-setter. Instead, he had to wait for the run in to make a decisive move. Charging to the line, he got up late to win by a length in 30.32. Burgess Bolger was second. There is much more to come from the winner, who was opening his account at the sixth time of asking.  

QUEEN RULES

There was a lot to like about the display of Make Me Queen as she clocked 30.13 in Heat 3. Derek Loughnane’s daughter of Jacob Tashadelek and Satin Abbie was prominent early before driving the turn to move on. It was a decisive move with the August ’22 whelp going on to dominate for the remainder to see off Lodgefield Mag by two and a half lengths.

BURGESS A CHAMP FOR SHEILA AND JJ

The potent combination of Sheila Spillane and JJ Fennelly were on the mark in Heat 3 as Burgess Champ powered his way to an impressive victory. Like many of the heat winners, the son of Sonic and Fairy Popular was off the pace into the back straight, turning only fourth, but flew into the third turn to go second behind Grouchos Finn.

Maintaining his momentum around the last two bends, Burgess Champ flew up the home straight to run out a ready two length winner over Grouchos Finn in 30.27.

NEON LIGHTS FLASHES HOME  

Paul James’ Neon Lights has long kept top class company and he displayed all his power to run out a last stride winner of Heat 5. Fresh from his RCETS Open Unraced victory, Southfield King set a strong pace at the head of affairs but could never quite get far enough clear.

Russmur Roddick was just a length behind into the third turn and challenged off the final turn. As the front two bumped, Neon Lights drew closer. Flashing home, the Alan Byrne trained son of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Natalie got up to beat Southfield King by a neck in 30.27.

TAZ AND HAZEL CAN’T BE SEPARATED

Closest finish of the night came in the penultimate heat as the judge failed to separate How Ye Taz and Fahy Hazel. Neither set the pace but they both charged into the third turn to move first and second.

How Ye Taz got first run for Ben Corcoran and Keith Powell but she was joined on the line by Barry Clancy’s fast-finishing Fahy Hazel. The two daughters of Grangeview Ten shared honours in 30.59.

SECOND ROUND DRAW

The draw and full form for the second round of the Friends of Newbridge A1 Derby can be found in upcoming cards or by clicking the link: https://www.grireland.ie/racing/upcoming-race-cards/upcoming-race-card-summary/?track=NWB&id=108761&date=10-May-2024