BRILLIANT ACTION IN DUBLIN
Ian Fortune
There was some special racing at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night including a brilliant early paced display from Harvard Square in the Maiden Derby.
While Ballymac Kamala and Bouncing Monarch were fastest in the semi-finals of the BOYLE Sports Champion Stakes with Sober Barry taking Heat 3.
MONARCH OBLIGES
Bouncing Monarch inflicted Bockos Diamond with just his second defeat at Shelbourne Park in the opening heat but both emerged with real credit.
This was billed as the clash of the night and it delivered, although once Bouncing Monarch turned in front the result was inevitable.
Both Bockos Diamond and Bouncing Monarch broke smartly and the pair raced into the turn locked in battle. With the inside line in his favour, Dave Fradgely’s Bouncing Monarch emerged from the turn in front.
Bockos Diamond pushed hard throughout but Kirby Memorial champion Bouncing Monarch was not for catching. Maintaining a relentless gallop to the line, the Michael O’Donovan trained son of Deerjet Sydney and Lemon Elsa eased on from the final turn to win by three lengths in a rapid 29.30. Bockos Diamond ran a fine race in second with Deerjet Matilda finishing fast to take third another length and a half adrift.
KAMALA SIMPLY BRILLIANT
Epic Ace was a drifter in the second heat but still went off a warm favourite but there was nothing he could do to stop Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Kamala.
The latter was having her first start since finishing a close third in the Oaks and she was at her brilliant best.
Displaying awesome early speed from six, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Pete comfortably led the field into the bend and was always in command once doing so. Getup The Boy, Epic Ace and Jacktavern Turbo took up the chase but Ballymac Kamala never gave an inch.
Striking the third turn with three lengths in hand, she seemed to kick again to increase her advantage before cruising home a superb winner in 29.25. There was a five length gap to Getup The Boy in second. Third went to Gaytime Clyde, some three lengths further back.
BARRY WINS A THRILLER
Sober Barry (Skywalker Barry/ Sober Pearl) displayed real dash and grit to win the final heat for Karol Ramsbottom and Sean Malone.
This was a great viewing experience with Coloursaregreen and Sober Barry flying into the turn to dispute the lead. Glengar Kane moved third and this set up a tremendous contest.
Sober Barry had the inside line on Coloursaregreen and moved to the front on the bend. Coloursaregreen moved with purpose down the back straight to join Sober Barry into the third turn. He seemed likely to go on at this point but the front two bumped a couple of times.
At the same time, Glengar Kane moved off the fence to challenge out the outside of the duo and he briefly hit the front as they approached the final bend. But things were still very tight up front. Coloursaregreen was squeezed between Sober Barry and Glengar Kane and lost his opportunity.
Instead, Sober Barry stuck his neck out and forced his way back to the front before digging deep to see off Glengar Kane by two lengths in 29.88. There was another length to Coloursaregreen in third.
BOYLE Sports Champion Stakes
Final draw
1 GETUP THE BOY
2 BALLYMAC KAMALA
3 GLENGAR KANE
4 SOBER BARRY
5 BOUNCING MONARCH
6 BOCKOS DIAMOND (W)
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Shelbourne Maiden Derby
HARVARD WINS MAIDEN DERBY FAIR AND SQUARE
Early speed has long been the greatest weapon a 550yd greyhound can have around Shelbourne Park and Harvard Square used his abundant pace to the bend to emerge a deserving winner of the Shelbourne Maiden Derby.
The talented son of King Sheeran and Footfield Siren was a big price ahesad of the €10,000 decider but there was nothing lucky about his success. Indeed, the son of King Sheeran and Footfield Siren did everything right for owner Pat Grimes and handler Shaun Conway.
Fastest into stride, Harvard Squyare displayed superior early speed to his rivals, although he was under severe pressure when ballymacMalinas turned on his heels. The pair were clear of the chasing pack and it seemed a two-dog affair.
Ballymac Malinas seemed poised to strike but Harvard Square was having none of it. Showing fine back straight pacem, he held his rival and that was enough to secure the victory. Ballymac Malinas continued to push into the home straight, but isn’t a stout stayer. Nor is the winner but he had enough in hand to see off the fast-finishing Uncle Keith by a half length in 29.63. Ballymac Malinas was a short head away in third.
Richard O'Regan GRI presents the trophy to trainer Shaun Conway after Harvard Square "won The Shelbourne Maiden Derby AAO 550. Also included are Dylan Brennan Racing Manager, Brian Conway, Niall Foley and Conor Flynn. Pic: Imelda Grauer
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BOYLE Sports Champion Plate
ROMEO STRIKES IN PLATE
Priceless Romeo continued Paul Hennessy’s incredible run of form when coming home in front in the opening semi-final of the BOYLE Sports Champion Plate.
Newinn Spot set some strong fractionals in this contest but was always going to be tested by the 550yd trip.
In fairness to the early pace-setter, he didn’t exactly fall into a hole but Priceless Romeo was simply too close in second when they hit the third turn. Staying on well, Brryan and Kathleen Murphy’s son of Priceless jet and priceless opera came through on the run in to win by a half length in 29.56. Newinn Spot held on for second with Ballymac Siun just a length adrift in third.
POWERFUL GWENNIE
Ballymac Gwennie took the second semi-final for Liam Dowling. Showing her pace and power from halfway to assert at the third turn.
Bockos Gold was a hot favourite in this contest but was tardy at boxes and found traffic at the turn.
Instead, Ello Ello led the field for much of the way, but was stalked by Ballymac Gwennie to halfway. It seemed inevitable that Ballymac Gwennie would close further and she struck at the third turn, going to the front before easing on.
The daughter of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta held off a rallying Ello Ello to score by two lengths in 29.67. there was an identical gap to Coolemount Fame in third.
BOYLE Sports Champion Plate
Final draw
1 COOLEMOUNT FAME
2 NEWINN SPOT
3 BALLYMAC SIUN
4 ELLO ELLO
5 BALLYMAC GWENNIE (W)
6 PRICELESS ROMEO (W)
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BRUNO KOS RIVALS
The final of the talking Dogs A1 550 was the second race on the card and the Michael O’Donovan trained Skywalker Bruno took the opportunity to open his career account at the sixth time of asking, emerging a facile winner after a fast start.
Breaking smartly, Ray Patterson’s son of Dromana Bucko and Ballyverry Sarah cleared the corner and proceeded to pull away. Six lengths to the good at halfway, he was left further clear on the third turn before eventually hitting the line ten lengths to the good over Aussie Alert in 29.79.
FIA FLIES IN MINI-OPEN DECIDER
Callaway Fia emerged a good winner of the Sporting Press A0 525 for Owen McKenna and Denis Murphy.
A fast start from trap three set her up with the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Ballymac Cams making virtually all.
Letembelucky challenged early but could never get past and Callaway Fia ran right to the line, increasing her advantage from the final turn to win by three lengths from her early rival in 28.54.
GEE UP PROFESSIONAL AS ALWAYS
Harlequin Gee Up was typically professional in the finale over the standard trip, leading from the early yards and repelling the challenge of his rivals to emerge a good winner for Scott Phelan and the Harlequin Syndicate.
The talented son of King Sheeran and Swift Zap was sharpest into the turn, securing a length on his rivals before making every inch. Old Alaska stuck to the task in the latter stages but Harlequin Gee Up held on to win by a length in 28.52.
GASTON MAKES VIRTUALLY ALL
Racing commenced with an Open 550 and the Heeney – Goff Syndicate owned Gaston (Lenson Bocko/ Vigorous Orla) made it two wins on the spin from trap four, showing good early speed to lead throughout.
Despite being clipped from behind at the turn, he maintained his lead before holding the late efforts of Riverside Rex by three parts of a length in 30.22.