MICK THE FUTURE CHAMP AS RAIN FAILS TO DAMPEN SPIRITS AT ENNISCORTHY
Ian Fortune
The rain may have been incessant at Enniscorthy on Monday evening but it failed to dampen the spirits as Fiery Mick produced a superb performance to hand his owner/ breeder Joe Devlin a second victory in the Future Champion & Michael Fortune Memorial Unraced Stake.
Back in 2021 Sons Of Sons handed Devlin his first victory in the valuable unraced stake and it’s safe to say it’s been a happy hunting ground for the shrewd handler. That same year he sold a young greyhound named No Ordinary Joe after the opening round. He would be renamed Thorn Falcon before going on to win the English Derby that same year.
An so it was fitting that Fiery Mick is out of Princess Delilah, a younger half-sister to litter brothers Sons Of Sons and Thorn Falcon.
A COMPETITIVE CONTEST
This was a competitive contest with the verdict in the balance for much of the way. Many eyes were on the exciting Ballymac Gizmo but a missed start from trap two would ultimately cost him his chance.
In contrast, Rapido Bob broke smartly before asserting into the turn from Annual Presto, Roanna Greeko and Fiery Mick. It was on the corner that the race really began to take shape with Fiery Mick forcing his way between Annual Presto and Roanna Greeko.
Rapido Bob hit the back straight with a little over two lengths in hand but Fiery Mick was now second and within striking distance. Rapido Bob maintained his lead to the thirds turn but Fiery Mick began to close at this point.
MICK MOVING WITH PURPOSE
By the home turn, Fiery Mick was within a length and moving with purpose. It was now just a case of when he would hit the front rather than if.
Going to the front inside the final fifty yards, Fiery Mick stayed on well to secure a superb and deserving half length victory over Rapido Bob in 29.28 (Rated .40 slow). Annual Presto also ran on well to finish just three parts of a length back in third.
PLATE SUCCESS FOR LIAM AND SHANKS
Liam Butler and Seamus ‘Shanks’ Whelan go back a long way and the pair combined well to win the final of the Whitewood Kennels & Future Champion Plate 525with Piercestown Dude.
This was basically a two-dog affair from the early yards with Coolpeach Ducks leading the field into the back straight before being joined and briefly headed by Piercestown Dude.
The pair were locked in battle to the third turn where Coolpeach Ducks was forced to check his stride, allowing Piercestown Dude to move on. Once doing so, the son of Pestana and Piercestown Moll kept going to the line to emerge a two length winner in 29.51 (.40 slow). Coolpeach Ducks was second with Corporal Jack staying on well to finish just a head away in third.