BALLYHIMIKIN REX ENDS THE YEAR ON A HIGH AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

In the care of Billy and John Dunne, Ladysbridge, BALLYHIMIKIN REX ran out a superb winner of the feature in Curraheen Park on Saturday night, the €5,000 to the winner Elite Contracting Open 575.
It was another outstanding winning run from Ballyhimikin Rex, a son of Ballyhimikin Jet, who himself won this event back in 2019 for the same connections.
On paper, it looked like a wide-open final, and the event had produced some big runs over the last couple of weeks.
Rex, a 2-1 shot, enjoyed the long run to the opening corner as he just slipped around in front from the reserve Footfield Violet. Kicking for home on the back straight, he quickly put the race to bed.

No stranger to big performances, Ballyhimikin Jet always looked good up front and he ran out a most deserving winner. It was one of those special runs over the distance, clocking 30.66 and coming home three lengths clear of Footfield Violet who replaced Extra Gain on the inside of the track.

The winning time was just four spots off the track record set by Nikita Billie back in 2003. What a great way to end the year for the Dunne family and of course, Ballyhimikin Rex himself. The son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Slaneyside Poppy had delivered some big runs in the Leger in Limerick a couple of runs ago, most notably his 29.55 run in round three before withdrawn before the next round due to injury. A super-fast tracker with a massive engine.

FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE
Owned and trained by John Gaine, Mallow, Blastoff Kobbie put on a fantastic performance to win the seventh, the €1,000 to the winner Curraheen Park Supporters Club A4 Stake Final.

Belindas Laila set a sizzling early pace up front and she was in total control early on. The 6-1 winner always looked dangerous and the May puppy finished best of all to win in a career-best of 28.64, four and a half lengths clear of the early leader.

PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS
The €1,000 to the winner Curraheen Park Supporters Club A3 Stake Final went the way of the hot 2/5 favourite Droopys Workout, who was winning for Breda Boyle and Master Patrick Sheehy. Quickest into stride, the early paced lady looked set for a comfortable victory, but that soon changed Mint Hero was showing plenty of pace on the back straight. Alongside on the turns for home, Droopys Workout was forced to dig deep and she pulled out all the stops to rally and score, by half a length, in 28.77.

JOHN KIELY DOUBLE
In the €600 Christmas Cracker ON3 Final, De Clinic Cure, trained by John Kiely for the C & C Partnership, Cork, came home in front. The improving May puppy, a 6-4 shot, was in an early battle with Brunos Bruno, however, she kept on best late on, and pulling three lengths clear of the unlucky in running Sleek Cruise, in 29.25.
It was a John Kiely double after Ardrath Ali just did enough to win the closing race, the €1,000 to the winner Curraheen Park A0-A1 Duel Distance Final. In front throughout, the 7-4 favourite just held the unlucky in running Droopys Optional, by a head, in 29.90. That's nine wins from her last 10 outings.

BACK TO BACK WINS
Mountruby Twist, for Daniel Buckley, Buttervant, completed back-to-back wins in the third, the €1,000 to the winner Curraheen Park Local Trainers & CPSC A6/A7 Stake Final.

The 1-4 short-priced favourite was in the mix early, hitting the front before the third corner, the promising April puppy pulled right away for a wide-margin victory, in 28.81.

IN OTHER RACES
Explosive Rolex, for Michael Spillane and Jack Walker, delivered a foot-perfect performance when making the most of the drop into A3 company in race number four. A flying start took the 5-4 favourite to the front and he never looked back. Pulling clear on the back straight, the impressive winner clocked a career best of 28.42, six and a half lengths clear of Millridge Timmy.
Droopys Carbine, trained by Pat Kiely for owners Mike Kiely and Michael Ryan, landed the Open 525. Out the back early, the 2-5 favourite was well on top late on, winning in 28.57.
In the S0-S1 Sprint, Morrigan Fay (2-1), trained by Kieran Lynch for John Hyde and James Spillane, Fairhill, recovered from trouble at the opening corner to run down Gerber late on. A messy affair with 18.50 on the clock and just half a length between the front two.