HOLLAND TIGHTENS GRIP ON IRISH ST. LEGER
Peter Farrell
The quarter finals of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger concluded at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it’s safe to say that Graham Holland holds an extremely strong hand heading into next week’s semi finals as both Swords Rex and Clonbrien Treaty once again produced exemplary performances.
There has been much published in recent weeks surrounding the strength of this year’s renewal and patrons were treated to more incredible racing from the Country’s finest canine athletes last night at Limerick. Swords Rex flew around in 29.27 one week prior, which saw him catapult to clear favouritism to follow on from his 2022 Con & Annie Kirby success, however, despite producing another phenomenal display last night, he still has work to do if he is to dethrone reigning champ Bobsleigh Dream. Throw into the mix Clonbrien Treaty, who produced a masterclass to land his quarter final, and the €30,000 classic is very much still all to play for.
REX ON A MISSION
After clocking a spectacular 29.27 last weekend, which was just six spots outside of the track record, Swords Rex was understandably the one to beat in the second quarter final and his odds of even money seemed rather generous given his exploits one-week prior. Running from trap three, Barbara Lowndes’ runner pinged the lids and in truth, this contest was over within a matter of strides. Showing his terrific early speed, Swords Rex rounded the opening corner with a clear advantage over Beepers Lariat and he galloped majestically into the bottom turn to record a rapid 17.05 sectional clock. While Graham Holland’s son of Droopys Sydney and Starry Display had this contest sewn up in front, Beepers Lariat was running a fine race in behind and there was a real buckle ensuing back in third between Ballinabola Una and Deadly Style. Continuing his relentless gallop rounding the bottom turn however, Swords Rex put this contest to bed as he raced to a two and a half length success over Beepers Lariat in second, and it was Ballinabola Una who showed the superior stamina to reclaim the third qualifying position ahead of the gallant Deadly Style. The time was another hugely impressive 29.35.
TREATY HOT HIS HEELS
With kennel companion, Swords Rex, producing another incredible display to land his quarter final, Clonbrien Treaty was next to show his hand and he did so emphatically in the last of the quarter finals.
Given the remarkable early speed that the reigning Kirby champ has in his armory, and the lack of it elsewhere in the field, Clonbrien Treaty was expected to make every inch of the running and his starting price of 4/5 represented this expectation. That said, he picked a fine night to produce one of his better starts from trap six and he flew into the opening turn with a good four lengths already in hand. Chased in second by Churchtown Syd, the blue son of Pestana and Clonbrien Millie was well on his way to a fourth straight victory as he opened up a sizable advantage over the chasing pack in behind. Stopping the third bend sectional in a scintillating 17.04, which was one spot quicker than Swords Rex, Muireann and James Murphy’s charge maintained that brilliant gallop to cross the line with a solid, five lengths in hand. Kennel companion Gaytime Hugo finished at speed to relegate Churchtown Syd into third and the time was another sizzling 29.38.
BACK-TO-BACK FOR MR CHELM
In the opening quarter final, there was a minor shock as Mr Chelm made it back-to-back wins for Lee Michael Harris.
This was a very hot race with the likes of Sober Glory, Another Holiday and Ryhope Beach all involved and it was Another Holiday who went to traps as the 6/4 favourite to build on an impressive performance in behind Swords Rex last time out. As traps opened, it looked like Michael O’Donovan’s tracker would deliver the goods, however, despite leading on the run-up, and indeed around the opening turn, Mr Chelm turned very close and he showed his trademark back straight speed to take control. Showing a blistering turn of foot passing the sprint box, Mr Chelm quickly manufactured a two length lead over Another Holiday and it was Sober Glory who was applying the pressure to the latter as he loomed large in the rear-view mirror. A son of Droopys Sydney and Palermo, there was no doubt about who was going to claims the spoils as Peter Cronin’s 9/2 shot continued to go about his business in fine style and he was to stay on stoutly to record a one and a half length victory over the staying-on, Sober Glory, in second. The final qualifying position went to Another Holiday and the time was 29.60. (Sec: 17.29)
BOBLEIGH CONTINUES TO DREAM
In the third quarter final, this scribe was foolish enough to suggest that Bobsleigh Dream may struggle to reel in the likes of Trinity Junior, however, she firmly batted away those claims with another powerful performance.
Trained by Pat Buckley for Willie Joe Murphy, Bobsleigh Dream was installed as the 9/4 second favourite in behind Trinity Junior (5/4) and despite not breaking too fluently from trap one, it was Peter Cronin’s champion stakes winner who outpaced Dromana Dano to lead around the opener. Music Glideaway was also within the vicinity at this point; however, Bobsleigh Dream enjoyed a beautiful passage around the opening turn as she tucked in on the rails to turn second. At this point, there was a certain inevitability about the result. Just one and a half lengths adrift passing the pick-up, Bobsleigh Dream immediately expressed that huge engine to soar past Trinity Junior and take control entering the penultimate turn. Now a formality, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Bobsleigh Jet maintained a decent gallop to cross the line one and a half lengths clear of Trinity Junior in second. The final qualifying position went to the Pat Guilfoyle-trained Music Glideaway and the time was 29.64. (Sec: 17.28)
THE DRAW FOR THE SEMI FINALS OF THE WILLWEGO.COM IRISH ST. LEGER
1st Semi Final
T1 – SWORDS REX
T2 – GAYTIME HUGO
T3 – BOBSLEIGH DREAM
T4 – BALLINABOLA UNA
T5 – ANOTHER HOLIDAY
T6 – CLONBRIEN TREATY
2nd Semi Final
T1 – BEEPERS LARIAT
T2 – MR CHELM
T3 – SOBER GLORY
T4 – TRINITY JUNIOR
T5 – CHURCHTOWN SYD
T6- MUSIC GLIDEAWAY
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SUPPORTING CARD
Elsewhere on the supporting card, the final of the John O’Connell Crash Repairs/Clancys Basr 750 offered a winner’s prize of €750 and it was Mysterious Angel who claimed the pot.
Jointly owned by Jeanette Woodhead and Edward Smith, Mysterious Angel went to traps at the 6/4 favourite but she was left behind early on as Bright Tamara trapped best of all wearing the blue jacket. The latter continued to set a good gallop thereafter until briefly headed by Trembling Gloria rounding the penultimate turn. However, meanwhile, Mysterious Angel was really motoring in behind and the daughter of Ballymac Anton and Ballymac Berry turned the screw entering the home straight. Drawing clear thereafter, she crossed the line with four lengths in hand, in a time of 42.64.
TEN SETS THE STANDARD
There were six opening round heats of the Con Murphy Bookmakers A1 525 also on the card and a previous St. Leger semi finalist, Drombeg Ten, was to set the standard.
Owned by Evan McAuliffe, Drombeg Ten was a beaten finalist in the recent Paddy O’Gorman A1/A2 at Galway but he showed he is now back to his very best. Installed as the 4/5 favourite, the experienced fawn was bullet-like at traps as his black jacket emerged first to lead. Holding a four length lead down the back, the son of Grangeview Ten and Blastoff Khalesi stayed on brilliantly thereafter to see off Ballybawn Belle, by six and a half lengths, in 28.61.