ENTERTAINING FARE AT SHELBOURNE AS APRIL AND TEJAY IMPRESS
Ian Fortune
There was entertainment galore at Shelbourne Park on Friday night as both the Gold Collar and the Shelbourne Marathon got underway.
Fastest in the Gold Collar was Snowy April, although it looks a very competitive stake, while Ballyhooly Tejay was too good or his rival in the Marathon, comfortably posting the fastest time in the semis.
TURTLE TOO FAST
Torpedo Turtle made a good start to his Gold Collar campaign in the opening heat, recovering from a tardy start to turn in third behind the early paced Jetara.
He moved second on the bend and was always going to get the better of the pace-setter thereafter.
With Jetara steering a wide path into the third turn, the Jack Kennelly trained Torpedo Turtle made his move up the fence. Owned by the Big Boohaw Syndicate, the son of Ballymac Vic and Ballymac Minton eased clear to eventually see off a wall of dogs headed just by Jetara by three lengths in 29.97. there was just a neck to Droopys Glamour in third.
A SWIFT RUN
Esmonde Swift was back to his very best in Heat 2, showing his rivals a clean pair of heels from the early yards.
The son of Ballymac Bolger and Liberty Marie, who was a finalist in the Gold Cup earlier in the year, broke smartly and was soon in command. Owned by the Back In The Game Syndicate, Esmonde Swift would go on to race right away to win by five and a half lengths from Old Chicago in 29.88. Invergarry was third.
DEVIL TOO HOT
The Marie Gilbert trained De Foxy Devil wasn’t going to be denied in Heat 3 despite the best efforts of Razldazl Edward.
The pair had a great buckle from the early yards with De Foxy Devil leading up before being headed by his rival as they hit the back straight.
There was very little between the pair into the third turn where Razldazl Edward moved on by two lengths but still De Foxy Devil dug deep. In a tremendous finish, Pat Flanagan and Stuart Kenny’s son of Broadstrand Bono and Kilgowan Honey rallied to get back up to win by a half length from Razldazl Edward in 29.72.
DAWN TAKES CHARGE ON THIRD TURN
Daniel O’Rahilly’s Knockeen Dawn produced a fine effort to win Heat 4.
Always close behind early pace-setter Max Wago, the daughter of Laughil Blake and Love Island made her move into the third turn. She drove to the front at this point and quickly put the result beyond doubt.
Killeshil Ranger would stay on for second but Knockeen Dawn hit the line a length and a half to the good in 29.88. Regimental ran on strongly to grab third, just a half-length adrift.
A SNOWY RETURN
Snowy April returned after a layoff to win Heat 5, posting the fastest time of the round in the process. Rory McConnell’s massive tracker is very popular at Shelbourne and when he powered his way to the front down the back straight there was no way he was going to surrender his advantage.
Razldazl Kamaria led the field into the back straight but Snowy April turned a close third before slipping up the inside of both the early leader and Ballinabola Bale. The latter would come through to take second but Snowy April would pull away to win by seven lengths in an impressive 29.65.
WIZARD PRODUCES SOME MAGIC
Nalin Monerawela was on the mark in the final heat as he sent out Aayamza Wizard to win from a kind draw on the fence.
Leahs Best went up fastest on the outside of the track but was immediately challenged by Phoenix Charlie.
As the pair battled it out, AAyamza Wizard stuck close to the fence, running a tremendous opening bend to slip up the inside of the front two as they hit the back straight. Edging on to halfway, the son of Pestana and Aayamza Breeze would go to beat Phoenix Charlie and Leahs Best by a length and a length and a half in 30.20.
TEJAY SETS THE MARATHON PACE
It came as no surprise to see the Ashgrove Trio owned Ballyhooly Tejay setting the standard in the semi-finals of the Shelbourne Marathon with the Tom O’Neill trained star emerging a facile winner of the second heat.
Sent off a long odds-on favourite, he was soon in a prominent position behind Crescent Emily.
Moving second halfway through the opening lap, the son of Ballymac Anton and Cats Belle gradually closed the gap on Crescent Emily to hit the front between bends five and six. It was all very easy for the brilliant stayer thereafter.
Cruising clear he would eventually see off the staying on Terrific Tonic by eleven lengths in 58.62. Mochonog Miss came through beaten rivals to grab third, a further twelve lengths back.
TALENT HOLDS THE DEFENDING CHAMP
The opening heat saw a good finish with Early Talent just getting the better of the defending champion Highjay Muzzy.
Typical Bono set a strong pace on the opening lap, clocking 28.47, but he ran out of steam in the second half of the contest and was headed by Early Talent.
Highjay Muzzy was soon in second and chasing hard but Early Talent kept finding out front to repel the challenge of her rival. Trained by Paul Cronin for Sean McNamara, the daughter of Good News and Early Rise would go on to beat Highjay Muzzy by a length and a half in 59.29. Typical Bono would hang on for third, some sixteen lengths further back.