FINE DISPLAYS APLENTY AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

There was no shortage of terrific performances at Shelbourne Park on Friday night.

There were two finals up for decision with Onceina Lifetime and Nushkas Best coming out on top, while there were also superb displays over two and six bends on the undercard.

LIFETIME KICKS OFF PROCEEDINGS IN STYLE

Onceina Lifetime got proceedings off to a great start, coming through on the run in to justify odds of 1-3 in the final of the Upcoming Sweepstakes A4/A5 Dual Distance over 575yds.

Pookies Thira set the pace for much of the way but the Brendan Matthews and Lee Wragg owned Onceina Lifetime was simply too strong at the business end, coming through to win by three parts of a length in 31.37.  

NUSHKAS IS BEST

Nuskas Best dominated in the final of the Shelbourne Museum A2 525, making all for Arthur Ryan and Maureen Finnegan.

The daughter of Ballymac Best and Killeen Princess flashed from boxes and was never headed as she saw off the favourite, Esmonde Champ, by two and a half lengths in 28.73.

GALAXY SPRINTS TO ANOTHER FINE SUCCESS

Stefans Galaxy and Ballymac Brandan did what was needed in the semi-finals of the BOYLE Xtra One Card, Giving Your Xtra Open Sprint.

Stefans Galaxy brought his Shelbourne record to three from three in the opening heat, showing fine early dash to take over the lead on the opening bend from the fast- starting Ballymac Setanta.

The latter continued to press hard but Stefans Galaxy would run right to the line to win for Shea Campbell by a length in 18.65. Cooladerry Kate progressed in third.

SETANTA TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Ballymac Setanta may have been beaten into second but his litter brother Ballymac Brandan made a successful Shelbourne debut in the second heat, racing prominently into the turn alongside Badminton Bach before taking charge between the first and second bend.

Once doing so, Liam Dowling’s exciting son of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Art would ease on to win by three lengths in 18.60. The hot favourite Stonepark Browne overcame a moderate start to take third, just a half length further back. 

EVIE LOOKS A SERIOUS STAYER

There was a statement performance from Anthony Dean’s Tullymurry Evie in the second race over 750yds.

An impressive winner of her Novice 750 a week earlier, the John McQuillan trained daughter of Grangeview Ten and Stellas Fruity ran away from some useful rivals to go considerably faster on this occasion.

Stretching further and further clear after going to the front off the second bend, she would eventually go on to beat Ashmar Una by twelve lengths in a rapid 41.45. Have little doubt, the winner is potentially very talented and could make a serious stayer.

DOCTOR ON CALL

Doctor Darcy also impressed over the extended 750yd trip, winning in 41.81.

In what was his first outing over the trip, the powerful son of Good News and Pennys Bobbyjo would overcome early crowding to lead the field from the fourth corner. Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for the Thirsty Seven Syndicate, Doctor Darcy would go on to win by six lengths, leaving the impression there was certainly better to come.