BALLYDOYLE TINA A BRILLIANT PUPPYS OAKS CHAMP
Ian Fortune
Ballydoyle Tina was a superb winner of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, again confirming her huge promise and ability.
On a night featuring many superb performances, hers was the clear standout as she raced to the most straightforward of victories, leaving a talented field in her dust.
There were also two fine displays in the semi-finals of the IGOBF National Puppy Stake with both Sawdust Barry and Shotgun Dez posting 28.23 in their respective heats but the headlines belonged to Ballydoyle Tina.
TINA TRIUMPHS
The least experienced of the six finalists, Ballydoyle Tina would prove popular in the ring, going off the 7-4 favourite to land the €10,000 prize and those that took the odds were in clover from the opening strides.
The Graham Holland trained youngster, who won’t be two until June 2026, rocketed from the inside trap and was in command from the very first stride. Ballymac Kamala, who had been touted as the possible pace-setter, missed the start leaving Good Katie to take up the chase.
As good as she is, Good Katie was never going to bridge the gap and she came under pressure in the second half of the contest from those behind.
Meanwhile, Ballydoyle Tina was still running free at the head of affairs, showing little sign of mercy to those in chase. Owned by Paul Ellis and Seamus Hagan, the hugely exciting leader was on her way to the first major success of her short career.
Hitting the third turn with just over three lengths in hand, she continued to race with real purpose into the home straight. Good Katie continued in second but was headed late by the fast-finishing Ballymac Altobel. Ballydoyle Tina was in a league of her own, however.
The daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballydoyle Rossa raced to a facile four length victory in a rapid 28.13. Ballymac Altobel was second with Good Katie another length adrift in third. So many of those on show in the decider have a big future but the winner is potentially very special. After just four career starts, there is no ceiling to how good she could be.
Sponsor Plunkett Matthews presents the trophy to Paul Ellis after Ballydoyle Tina won the 2025 Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks. Also included are Pat Flanagan Chairman GRI, trainer Graham Holland, handler Nickey Holland, joint owner Seanie Heagan and winning connections. Pic: Imelda Grauer
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IGOBF National Puppy
BRILLIANT BARRY
After showing plenty of promise in his previous six career starts, Sawdust Barry took his level of performance to the next level in the opening semi-final of the IGOBF National Puppy Stake.
Drawn on the wide outside, he needed to be at his very sharpest in the early yards and he clearly had read the script.
Showing massive early speed, the son of Skywalker Barry and Sober Pearl comfortably made the corner before racing into a clear advantage. The fast-starting Droopys Map led in the early yards but he had no answer to Sawdust Barry into the bend.
Cutting across his rival at the turn, Sawdust Barry quickly opened a decisive lead. Trained by Murt Leahy for the Chissel Syndicate, the January ’24 whelp was clear by the second turn and continued to race clear of his rivals into the third turn.
Behind the leader, Droopys Map and Ballymac Siun both finished strongly to close the gap on the run in but Sawdust Barry emerged a thoroughly deserving winner by a length in 28.23. Droopys Map was second with Ballymac Siun a length and a half adrift in third.
DEZ FIRES ONCE AGAIN
Not for the first time in recent weeks, Pat and Molly Muldoon’s Shotgun Dez ran a remarkable opening bend to justify odds-on favouritism in the second heat.
Ballycowen Frank flew from traps to lead the field into the turn but Shotgun Dez was in his slipstream.
With little room to work with, he somehow nudged his way up the inside of the leader on the bend to assume control. Beanos Yank slipped around Ballycowen Frank to give chase but it was the latter that came through in the closing yards to chase home Shotgun Dez.
Shotgun Dez was never going to be denied, however. The Graham Holland trained son of King Sheeran and Danish Robyn ran right to the line to win by a length from the staying on Ballycowen Frank in 28.23. Beanos Yank was third, just a half length further back.
IGOBF National Puppy Stake
Final draw
1 DROOPYS MAP
2 BALLYMAC SIUN
3 BALLYCOWEN FRANK
4 SHOTGUN DEZ
5 BEANOS YANK
6 SAWDUST BARRY (M)
RODNEY MAKES HIS MOVE ON THIRD TURN
The final of the Shelbourne Park Opens AA0 525 was the fifth race on the card and Bushpark Rodney came home in front in a thrilling finish, containing the renewed challenge of Brockagh Justine.
The latter set a strong pace but was always a sitting duck with Riverside Popsie and Bushpark Rodney turning close in second and third.
It was into the third turn that Bushpark Rodney made his move. Eoghain Whelan’s son of Malachi and Please Blossom moved upsides Brockagh Justine and edged into a narrow advantage. The latter did rally on the run in but Bushpark Rodney had enough in hand to hold on by a half-length in a quick 28.36.
KURSK RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS
After a career threatening injury, 2024 Irish Sprint Cup runner-up Elite Kursk recently returned to action showing plenty of his old spark in three second place finishes.
He finally returned to winning ways on the semi-finals of the Winter Racing Festival A0 525.
Racing in the stripes in the second heat, Myles Roban’s early paced son of Elite Black and Minnies Kursk was headed at boxes by the fast-starting Southwood Stan but flew into the turn to go to the front. Belfast Gerry took up the chase from the second turn but Elite Kursk really had the bit between his teeth and he kept finding out front to win by a length in 28.37. Belfast Gerry was second with two and a half length back to Cushie Flytplan in third.
DEAN CONTINUES HIS FINE FORM
The opening heat was a very competitive affair with Crossfield Dean making a decisive move into the third turn for Brendan O’Shea.
In tremendous form of late, the son of Droopys Sydney and Crossfield Linda was never far away before making his move.
Talking over from Breaghmore Dice, he went on to beat Uncle Keith by two and a half lengths in 28.82. Jacktavern Storm was best of the remaining in third, a further two lengths away.
MAGIC MATI WINS EXCITING FINALE
Racing ended with a terrific contest as Hackney Mati got up in the closing yards to get the better of Faypoint Ranger and Droopys Orator.
There was quite a battle into the turn with Droopys Orator emerging on top.
He was then put under severe pressure by Faypoint Ranger, who displayed fine pace to take up the running on the third turn. Meanwhile, Hackney Mati was always poised to strike on the inside of the duo.
The Michael O’Donovan trained son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Pete moved with purpose into the third turn and went on to strike on the run in. Outstaying Faypoint Ranger, he got up to win by a half length for the Hackney Boys Syndicate in 28.36.
FRANKEL FLIES
Racing commenced with the semi-finals of the Winter Racing Festival A1 550 and Pennys Frankel took the opportunity to announce his arrival in Dublin with a superb front running display in the second heat to set the standard.
Representing Eugene and Rosemary Price, the well-bred son of Dorotas Wildcat and Pennys Jetstream was rampant. Flashing from trap one, he never saw a rival as he ran out a ready and most impressive two and a half-length winner over the always second Hackey Shorts in 29.65. Johnnie On Faya was third.
ELLO IMPROVES HIS STRIKE RATE
Ello Ello, owned by the Three B’s Syndicate, brought his record to five wins from ten starts in the opening heat of the WRF A1 550, showing fine pace and a bit of grit to do so.
Only fourth into the bend, the son of Airmount Nando and Million dreams forced his way through into third on the bend and then closed on both Klassy Shoe and Mairead’s prince to the third turn.
Finding a seam up the fence, the Brendan Matthews trained youngster moved to the front before the final bend before staying on best to emerge a comfortable three length winner over Maireads Prince in 29.82. Cashout Girl stayed on well to qualify in third.
BUNDLE IMPRESSES ON COMEBACK
Droopys Bundle returned after a long layoff to go fastest in the semi-finals of the Winter Racing Festival A0 Bitch 525.
Malabar Misty set the pace for much of the journey but Droopys Bundle was always on her heels and took her chance on the run in, staying on best to land the spoils.
The Robert Gleeson trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Sweet had to show patience but when the gap finally arrived, she shot through. Staying on well, Matthew Derrick’s October ’23 whelp raced to a length verdict over the long-timeleader in 28.50. Rural Ana ran on well to finish a close third.
LASS JUST HOLDS MYA
The opening semi-final went the way of Drveen Lass as she left her rivals standing to build a clear advantage after a flying start.
Jim Joe McGrath’s daughter of Burgess Bucks and Moss Avenue looked home and hosed at halfway but she began to show signs of fatigue turning for home and Daleroad Mya flew home to force a photo finish. The judge declared that Drveen lass had held on by a short head in 28.68. Sassy Susie was the third qualifier.