KATHLEEN COULD BE ONE OF THE BEST EVER
Ian Fortune
On a night when a number of Ireland’s best were in action in the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate at Shelbourne Park, all the talk was of the special performance of Droopys Kathleen in the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks as she confirmed her standing as one of the most exciting youngsters to appear in recent years.
There were many superb performances on the night but none could match that of Dylan Browne-McMonagle’s Droopys Kathleen, who became the second fastest bitch to ever cover the 525yd trip at Shelbourne Park, while her 27.77 return also places her as the third fastest greyhound to ever race over the standard trip at the famous Ringsend venue.
Racing from inside draw in Heat 2 of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks, the Robert Gleeson trained star quickly gave warning that she was in no mood for messing about. Coming away racing, she was already in complete control by the turn.
Pragmatism turned second but could never land a telling blow. Droopys Kathleen was simply awesome. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer pulled right away hit the third turn in a sensational 15.78. And still she never took her foot off the pedal.
Powering home, the May ’23 whelp drew further and further clear to cross the line eleven and a half lengths clear of Pragmatism in 27.77. It was one of the most remarkable performances ever seen from a puppy around Shelbourne Park.
RAMPANT ROXY
Unanimous Roxy was also very impressive when coming home clear in the last of the three heats for pat Buckley and Ciaran O’Sullivan.
Rosy Cross broke fastest to lead in the early yards but Unanimous Roxy charged into the turn to go to the front.
Despite taking a bump herself, she just about contained Unreal Unreal to lead into the back straight. The latter pressed into the third turn but Unanimous Roxy was up to the task, kicking again to eventually win by four lengths from the staying on Shebetheone in a quick 28.17. Unreal Unreal was just a half lengths further back in third.
KITTY POUNCES
Hopes Kitty emerged a good winner of the opening heat for Amanda Jeal and Pat Buckley.
The talented daughter of Tullig Cryname and Nice Mystery was never too far off the pace before making her move into the third turn.
Teddie and Hopes Kitty went up fastest to turn first and second but as they bumped at the second turn, Ballybough Olwyn took her opportunity to challenge up the inside. Hopes Kitty was quickly back into full stride, however, and she too drove into the third turn to take over. Once doing so, Hopes Kitty stayed on well to beat Ballybough Olwyn and Coolavanny Shona by a length and two and a half lengths in 28.52.
Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate
PICKLES AND HARVEY FASTEST IN PLATE
The Michael Fortune Memorial Plate got underway and there were a number of superb displays but the best was left until late with Coosane Pickles and Faypoint Harvey setting the standard in the final two heats.
Clement Ryan’s Coosane Pickles was at her very best in Heat 7, showing all her power and pace to justify odds-on favouritism. The Michael O’Donovan trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Pickles was fourth into the turn but moved third as they straightened up into the back straight.
Charging into the third turn, she shot between High Trend and In Good Time to go to the front. From there, she stayed on strongly to eventually emerge a comfortable five length scorer over In Good Time in a brilliant 29.21. Ventry Faith was three lengths further back in third.
HARVEY HOPS OUT TO DOMINATE
The Graham Holland trained Faypoint Harvey produced a career best display in the final heat of the round, showing tremendous pace after a fast start from trap four.
By the turn, he had matters well in hand and proceeded to draw clear into the third turn.
Patricia Flanagan’s son of Droopys Sydney and Roaming Shari would eventually run out a superb winner. Deelish Nora came home in second but Faypoint Harvey was in irrepressible form, eventually hitting the line seven lengths clear in a fast 29.24. Benalmadena Puma was best of the rest, a further two lengths back.
A WALK FOR MEMPHIS
Phoenix Memphis was a hot favourite for the opening heat and never gave his followers a moment’s worry.
Trained by Ian Reilly for the Keogh Cunningham Reilly Syndicate, the talented son of Droopys Sydney and Swift Jezebel dominated from the opening strides. Blastoff Rex gave chase but he ran out of steam after being clipped from behind around the last two bends. Elite Josh came through to take second but Phoenix Memphis would emerge a facile six and a half length winner in 29.47.
KING REIGNS SUPREME
Miami King won the second heat in very similar fashion for Garry Dempsey and owners Tony Howard and Dave Lawrence.
The son of Ballymac Vic and newline Mo shot from the inside box to make every inch at the expense of the always second Daraghs Sydney. At the line Miami King was five lengths to the good in 29.50. Fire Height Kane was another length further back in third.
KING LEAVES IT LATE
Tribal Syd set a searching gallop in Heat 3 but Carmac King (Droopys Sydney/ Peters Queen) was too strong at the business end as he claimed his first victory since July, getting up under the shadow of the post to beat the long-time pace-setter.
Tribal Syd flew from the outside box to hold a comfortable lead but Clona Duke and Carmac King were less than three lengths down as they entered the back straight. Behind the pace-setter, Clona Duke and Carmac King were locked in a battle for second.
It was at the third turn that Timmy Carmody’s Carmac King got the better of Clona Duke before starting to close on the leader. In a tremendous finish, the Owen McKenna trained Carmac King drew closer and closer to pounce on the line, winning by a short head in 29.58. Radical Scoby ran on to finish two and a half lengths further back in third.
DAZZLER GETS LOOSE
Knockeen Dazzler needed the line in Heat 4 but the Kirby memorial champ ultimately made every inch to hold Ballyhooly Bruno by a half length in 29.44.
Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for Daniel O’Rahilly, Knockeen Dazzler was sharper than his rivals to the turn and quickly built what would be a race-winning advantage.
Ballyhooly Bruno ran a tremendous second turn to head Bockos Crystal to move second but he could never quite get on terms with the leader despite inching closing all the way to the line. Scooby the Boss emerged from the pack to take third, some three parts of a length adrift.
ABBIE POWERS CLEAR
Hawkfield Abbie was a good winner of Heat 5, running a tremendous second turn to take over from the fast-starting Burgess Supreme.
Forcing her way up the inside of the pace-setter off the second turn, Hawkfield Abbie continued to dictate down the back, holding Burgess Supreme by a length into the third turn.
It was from here, the Ginger McGee trained daughter of Good News and Brownstown Tango began to put distance between herself and her rivals. Magical Sapphire ran on well to grab second but Jerry Connors’ Hawkfield Abbie went on to score by four and a half lengths in 29.59. Burgess Supreme clung on for third, another half length adrift.
MEADOWS IN A RUSH
Brendan Matthews and Gert Du Plessi’s Rushy Meadows was a tremendous winner of Heat 6, albeit it in the slowest time of the round.
Ballybough Nutz set the pace from an inside draw but Dark Dilemma and Rushy Meadows turned second and third to keep the pressure on.
As they passed halfway, Rushy Meadows flicked a switch, showing superb pace into the third turn to challenge the front two on their inner. Flying through a gap along the fence, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Miss Pickpocket moved on before digging in to contain the challenge of Dark Dilemma by a length in 29.72. Ballybough Nutz would eventually finish two lengths further back.