WILDCAT POUNCES FOR SUPERB CHAMPION SUCCESS

Ian Fortune

Moanteen Wildcat produced a brilliant performance to emerge a superb winner of the Champion Open Unraced Stake at Kilkenny on Sunday night. Broadstrand Syd was sent to traps the 11-10 favourite but a trap five draw ultimately proved his undoing as he took an early bump as he edged inwards hunting a rails pitch.

Broadstrand Syd did overcome the early bump to lead into the bend but Moanteen Wildcat also displayed early speed was far too close in second. The race was now on. Broadstrand Syd continued to a set a strong gallop to halfway but Moanteen Wildcat was moving with real purpose. 

Charging into the third turn, the Rachel Wheeler trained Moanteen Wildcat made his move on the outside of the pace-setter. The pair bumped slightly but it failed to halt the progress of the advancing Moanteen Wildcat. The son of Dorotas Wildcat and Seaglass Shadow moved on before staying on strongly to capture the €15,000 prize by three lengths in 28.85. Broadstrand Syd finished runner-up and lost nothing in defeat. He remains destined to be a star. Third spot went to Ballymac thelad, who stayed on well after early traffic.

It was a super performance by the winner who is now set to join Graham Holland. He had been purchased after his opening round effort by the Remember Them Syndicate which consists of some familiar names, including Bev Lochead, Graham Box, Austin Whelan and Thomas McNamara. They will be dreaming of classic glory with their hugely exciting prospect, who seems certain to be renamed in the coming days.