BEAUTY SHINES IN CHRISTMAS OAKS
Ian Fortune
The ladies took top billing at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with the opening round of the valuable Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks providing some superb displays but the undoubted star of proceedings was Drive On Beauty as she set a strong standard.
Drive On Beauty is clearly on a rapid upward trajectory and her latest victory in Heat 4 was close to flawless. Chris O’Donovan’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Alice was foot perfect through the recent Winter Racing festival A0 Bitch 525, winning the final in 28.39 but she went even faster on this occasion.
Again, showing tremendous early speed, she was soon on complete command. Highview Katy emerged as her nearest rival in the early yards but couldn’t live with the pace-setter. Instead, Kilcolgan Whitney and Penny Cailin flew home to fill the qualifying places but they couldn’t get close to Drive On Beauty who would go on to win by five lengths in a rapid, fastest of the night 28.29.
ROSSA RUNS RIOT
Westway Rossa lowered the colours of hot favourite Short Grip in the final heat, posting an impressive 28.40 in the process.
Trained by Damian Maginn for Henry Scimia, the daughter of Good News and Ballydoyle Rossa broke fastest from the inside draw and quickly opened a lead on Short Grip.
Westway Rossa comfortably held her rival down the back straight before coasting home two lengths to the good, Short Grip was second with Hawkfield Abbie staying on well in third, a further half-length adrift.
LADY GETS LOOSE
Peter Comerford’s Grangeclare Lady was a hot favourite in Heat 3 and it was soon evident she was going to come home in front.
Showing all her wonderful early speed, she quickly assumed control at the head of affairs.
The Owen McKenna trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire was two lengths clear into the bend. Beretta Brandi was second at this point but Ardera Freya ran a better bend to go second. Grangeclare Lady was relentless down the back straight. Increasing her lead into the third turn, she would open a race-winning advantage. Ardera Freya did stay on well but Grangeclare Lady would cruise home, two lengths to the good in 28.42. Beretta Brandi was another five lengths further back in third.
DUCHESS DOMINANT
Velvet Duchess produced an almost identical display to Westway Rossa, breaking smartly from the inside to lead early for a comfortable success.
Ella Buckley’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Velvet Nannykate ran a clean turn to increase her lead into the back straight.
Deelish Nora gave chase but could never get to the pace-setter. Silverhill Freya did stay on well to grab second but Velvet Duchess was always in charge, staying on to win by two lengths in 28.46. Deelish Nora was third, just a half-length further back.
BABE TOO STRONG
The Paul Hennessy trained Youandme Babe may have moved off the fence in the early yards in the opening heat but when turning a clear second to the favourite Lets Go Bubbles, there was only going to be one winner.
After an impressive success over 850yds at the Winter Racing Festival, Youandme Babe would handle the step back in trip with minimum fuss. Although forced to challenge Lets Go Bubbles on the outside, she avoided serious problems to take charge as they turned for home.
From there, Paul Hynes’ powerful daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Jaytee Pearl eased on to beat another big finisher Coolavanny Ogie by two lengths in 28.61. Lets Go Bubble would finish another length and a half adrift in third.
MEMPHIS ON TUNE
Racing ended with Phoenix Memphis showing his rivals a clean pair of heels to make every inch for Ian Reilly and the Keogh, Cunningham, Reilly Syndicate.
The son of Droopys Sydney and Swift Jezebel has struggled to get loose in recent outings but that was certainly not the case on this occasion.
Racing side by side with Denos Bay in the early yards, he moved on at the turn with the inside line in his favour. It was a decisive move. He quickly shot clear down the back straight and would go on to beat the staying on Maireads Prince by four lengths in 29.58.
PRINCE RULES
Prince Naseem has been a wonderful servant all year for Kim Bergin and Shaun Conway and he would add another impressive victory to his tally in the ninth race, showing fine speed into the turn to skip around in front.
The hot favourite Swords Don attempted to challenge on the turn but was forced to check wide as Prince Naseem drove the bend. Entering the back straight with two and a half lengths in hand, the son of Droopys Sydney and Razldazl Annie maintained a strong galop to the line to hold the best efforts of Droopys Deploy by a length in 28.63.
A BIG RUN FROM VAL
Neilus O’Connell and Thomas Lynch are having plenty of sport with Val Tashadelek and he gave them further reason to celebrate when producing a career best effort to win the second race in fine style.
The son of Dorotas Wildcat and Tic Tock Lizzy displayed a nice turn of early speed to lead his rivals into the bend and, once turning in front, he was never under any serious pressure. De Foxy Devil did chase him throughout but there was no stopping Val Tashadelek who went on to win by four lengths from De Foxy Devil in 28.35.
ROAR MAKES ALL
Racing commenced with an open 575 and the Ian Reilly trained Droopys Roar fully appreciated the longer run to the turn to make virtually all, although he was forced to pull out all the stops in the closing yards by Velvet Jenny.
Droopys Roar powered his way into a clear advantage in the opening exchanges and Michael Dunphy’s son of Droopys Sydney and Queen Lilly seemed likely to emerge a comfortable winner into the third turn but velvet Jenny had other ideas.
Closing on the inside of the track, she drew even closer when Droopys Roar swung wide off the final turn. He maintained his momentum, however, and stayed on to secure a head victory over Velvet Jenny in 31.55.
STANDS OUT WINS WELL
Stands Out claimed her first success in open company when making all to win the third race for Francie Murray and Francis Murray.
The daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Coolavanny Chick broke smartly and was soon on charge. Bluetimer pressed hard into the third turn and home but Stands Out went on to win by a length in 28.71.