SANDWICHES PUTS THE FOOT DOWN IN DERBY
Ian Fortune
The BOYLE Sports Derby field was reduced to the final twelve at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and Cheap Sandwiches took the opportunity to put the foot down at the head of the Derby market, producing a flawless 29.27 success to set a strong standard in the quarter finals.
Magical Mag, Proper Heiress and Ballyhooly Bruno won the remaining three heats with all three wearing the red jacket of one to success. Outside of the Derby action, the second-round heats of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate also provided some superb racing with Magical Major again displaying massive pace and promise to go fastest.
Heat 1 – TOP CLASS SANDWICHES
After taking over as favourite for outright honours last weekend despite suffering defeat, Cheap Sandwiches quickly returned to winning ways with a brilliant run in the first of the four quarter finals in the BOYLE Sports Derby as he put his rivals to the sword with ruthless efficiency.
Although not the fastest into stride, he flew into the bend to join and head Unanimous Leo. It would be the pivotal moment in the contest. Quickly driving clear, Cheap Sandwiches was in complete control by halfway.
The race for the minor placings was far more competitive. After a flying start, Callaway Five had been headed into the turn by the front two and sat third as they hit the back straight with Droopys Deploy in fourth.
Meanwhile the Graham Holland Cheap Sandwiches was on his way to a facile victory. The Bark Wahlberg Syndicate owned son of Burgess Bucks and Hearthill Josie would race to a seven length success in 29.27 with Droopys Deploy running on strongly to take second, just a half length ahead of Callaway Five in third. Unanimous Leo would agonisingly lose out by a short head in fourth.
Heat 2 – MORE MAGIC FROM MAG
For the third week running, Magical Mag was simply flawless in the second quarter final as she shot from the inside box to dominate throughout.
Despite edging off the inside rail, Pat Guilfoyle’s daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Mystical Luna would comfortably make the turn from Happy Jet and Blastoff Heffo.
Ballymac Stud and Shanahee Boomer had bumped in the opening yards and the former was forced to check off the turn. It looked to all the world that he would struggle to get back involved but he had different thoughts.
Magical Mag would continue to run with purpose out front before eventually coming home three and a half lengths clear of Happy Jet in 29.69, while the race for third was far more eventual. Ballymac Stud, after entering the back straight in fifth of five, displayed huge pace down the back straight to go third but he was then all out to hold the renewed effort of Blastoff Heffo. The pair would finish two lengths behind Happy Jet with Ballymac Stud getting the better of his rival by a neck.
Heat 3 – HEIRESS REMAINS UNBEATEN
UK challenger Proper Heiress maintained his unbeaten record in the competition in Heat 3, although he did have to work hard for victory.
In a race where there were a number of hard luck stories, Cheque For Cash had perhaps the saddest tale to tell.
He too was defending his unbeaten record in the competition and seemed set to go around in front when leading up from four. Proper Heiress had other ideas, however. Despite making a moderate start from the inside box, the Mark Wallis trained star charged up the fence to challenge on the turn.
Bumping Cheque For Cash out of the way, the son of Droopys Sydney and Powerful Mush forced his way to the front. This would make all the difference. Cheque For Cash would recover to challenge for second into the back straight alongside Singalong Curly but both would be pressed by Glengar Silent who found a seam around the opening corner.
It was now Proper Heiress in charge but Glengar Silent displayed the best back straight pace to go second into the third turn. It was at this point that he edged off, hampering Cheque For Cash and allowing his kennel companion Singalong Curly back into the qualifying spots.
It also aided Proper Heiress, who increased his advantage. Glengar Silent did run on well to close again on the run in but the MWD partnership owned Proper Heiress would justify odds-on favouritism by a length in 29.78. Glengar Silent again caught the eye in second with Singalong Curly holding on for third by the shortest of short heats from Magical Sapphire a further two and a half lengths adrift.
Heat 4 – BRUNO BACK TO WINNING WAYS
An opening bend scrimmage had a huge bearing on the outcome in the final hat with Ballyhooly Bruno taking full advantage of an inside draw to turn within striking distance.
Oreo Ollie hit the front in the opening exchanges and would turn in front only to find Ballyhooly Bruno on his tail.
The latter hadn’t won in Shelbourne since late June but he displayed all his experience on the corner. Staying tight to the fence he nudged his way up the inside of Barefoot On Song, who was forced wide into De Lahdedah. Rural Pest and Coosane Pickles would also take a bump, effectively ending their claims. De Lahdedah came out worst of the traffic.
It was now clear that the winner would come from Oreo Ollie or Ballyhooly Bruno. There was two and a half lengths between them as they turned into the back straight but Ballyhooly Bruno quickly set about closing the gap.
By the third turn, the Tom O’Neill trained son of Jacob Tashadelek and Foyle Lucy had shot up the inside of the early pace-setter and he quickly asserted. Once doing so, the Ashgrove Trio Syndicate owned Ballyhooly Bruno would ease clear to eventually win by two lengths in 29.69. Oreo Ollie ran a big race in second with Barefoot On Song the same distance away in third.
MAJOR SHOWS REMARKABLE PACE TO WIN
Magical Major posted 29.45 in the opening round of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate so it was hardly a surprise to see him go faster as he justified odds-on favouritism in the first of the second-round heats.
What was surprising was the manner in which he won, coming from off the pace to still clock a fastest of the round 29.42.After a slow start from trap four, the brilliant young son of King Sheeran and Magical Mary found himself off the pace into the turn.
Southwood Stan and Razldazl Kamaria were far sharper at boxes but it was Grouchos Hoffa that went to the front into the bend. Magical Major has clearly been learning with experience and, despite the doors closing in front of him, he took a step to his right to make a move into the turn.
Still fourth as they began to swing left, he stayed wide of his rivals to dispute second into the back straight. What was to follow was further evidence of his potential brilliance. Showing huge pace to the third turn, he raced up to Grouchos Hoffa with relative ease before shooting through on the inside.
It would prove a decisive manoeuvre. Pat Guilfoyle’s star would ease on to win by three lengths with Grouchos Hoffa second and Southwood Stan progressing, two lengths further back in third.
SIOUX IMPRESSES AGAIN
Supporters of Sunshine Sioux would have been delighted with what they saw in the early yards of Heat 2 as the Owen McKenna trained powerhouse again broke smartly to dispute the early lead.
Harlequin Gee Up would also aid his cause by moving wide from trap two, leaving Sunshine Sioux with plenty of room to get up to full stride.
Once forcing his way around in front, Sunshine Sioux was never going to be headed. Harlequin Gee Up did turn second and pressed to the third turn but it was futile. The superior strength of Sunshine Sioux began to tell as they turned for home. Stretching clear, Peter Comerford’s hugely talented son of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire would ease on to win by an ever extending eight lengths from Ventry Faith in 29.48. Carrick Scholsey recovered from bad early traffic to take third, just three parts of a length further adrift.
AXEL SHOWS HIS CLASS
Ballymac Axel was simply too fast and too strong for his rival in Heat 3, charging to the front into the third turn before easing on to record a comfortable success for Murt Leahy and his lucky owners the JR Racing Syndicate.
Predictably, Easter Cup champion Hopes Teddy went up fastest and led the field around the turn but the wirting was on the wall for his supporters when Ballymac Axel stayed wide of the likes of Cagey Billy and Breaghmore Dice to go second before they hit the second turn.
Closing the gap quickly on Hopes Teddy, Ballymac Axel was in front by the third turn and drove further clear at this point. Staying on strongly, the son of Ballymac Cooper and Jaytee Pearl would eventually see off Hopes Teddy by five and a half lengths in 29.58. Cagey Billy was three parts of a length back in third.
ANOTHER BIG RUN FROM ACE
There was a tremendous buckle in the finale with Lamrock Ace finding a way to get the better of Dear Me.
Both greyhounds have been in fine form of late and they both made a bold bid for victory. Dear Me broke smartly but Lamrock Ace displayed huge early dash to assert into the turn.
He would swing wide, allowing Dear Me to move to the front on the inside of the track at the second turn. Lamrock Ace wasn’t going to be denied, however. Showing fine pace to the third turn, he again took charge before building a decisive lead. Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for Michael and Brian Nash, Lamrock Ace would emerge a length and a half scorer in 28.39.
GREAT START FOR MORNING
Racing commenced with Great Morning benefitting from a slight ease in grade to make all in the A1 opener for Mary Clarke.
Flashing from trap two, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Dapper Daisy was always in the driving seat.
Kanturk Clon did emerge a challenger in second but never get on terms despite pushing the leader throughout. In the end, Great Morning went on to secure a two and a half length verdict over Kanturk Clon in a quick 28.42.
BLUETIMER GETS LOOSE
Bluetimer (Ballymac Bolger/ Midas Fern) would claim his first success in over four months in the penultimate race on the card, showing fine early speed to skip clear of his rivals.
Despite tying up Jerry and Mary Melia’s star would run out a comfortable length and a half scorer over the staying on Harlequin Coolio in 28.92.