JULIE IS A DERBY GEM AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

Julies Gem completed her unbeaten passage through the JAG Building Services & KGOBA A1 Derby at Kilkenny on Friday night although she did have to work considerably harder than in her three previous outings in the valuable stake.

The Murt Leahy trained daughter of King Sheeran and Droopys Meteor was sent to traps the 5-4 favourite and she did seem to come away well from trap four, only to take a small bump from her kennel companion Ballybough Olwyn after a couple of strides.

It wasn’t a hefty bump but it was enough to cost her momentum. In contrast, Glitzy Magic hit the ground running and found himself in front into the corner. Julies Gem and Creative Ozzy were side by side into the turn disputing second.

On the corner, Julies Gem edged on from Creative Ozzy to sit on the heels of Glitzy Magic. This set up a tremendous finish to the €9,000 contest. The order remained the same down the back straight but Julies Gem did edge closer into the third turn before making her move along the fence.

Between the last two bends, Julies Gem moved upsides the pace-setter before moving on. It was a decisive maneouvre. Julies Gem, owned by the Gem Spring Syndicate, entered the straight with almost a length in hand and she stuck on grimly to contain a rallying Glitzy Magic by a half length in 28.94. Creative Ozzy was third, some two lengths further back. 

JAN FASTEST IN MEANEY MEMORIAL

Blackstone Jan set the standard in the second round of the Peter Meaney Memorial, showing her rivals a clean pair of heels from the early yards in Heat 2.

Pat Sinnott’s well-bred daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa and Calzaghe Jan cruised to a six length victory in 29.31.

The Thomas Buggy trained Bit View Bobby claimed a third win on the bounce in the final heat, leading from the opening stride to win by six lengths in29.40, while the opening heat saw the in-form Comer Buster also make every inch to contain the staying on Max Gizmo by a short head in 29.71.