RAMPANT ROSSA QUICKEST IN FONEZ GALWAY OAKS SEMIS

Peter Farrell

The first round heats of the BoyleSports Irish Derby may have dominated proceedings on Friday night, however, there was plenty of interest in the action at Galway as the semi finals of the Fonez Galway Oaks went down for decision.

Given what had materialised in the opening round with Murt Leahy accounting for three of the four heats on offer, the likes of Annie On Faya and Julies Gem were expected to build on two fine performances, however, they were both forced to play second fiddle as Drombeg Pearl and Westway Rossa proved that the decider will be a wide-open affair in seven days’ time.

On the night, it was the Damian McGinn-trained Westway Rossa that went quickest as the October pup showed that she took plenty from her first race at the Connacht venue seven days prior. Owned by Henry Scimia, she was installed as a 5/2 shot with Julies Gem occupying favouritism at even money and ‘Rossa’ came away racing to narrowly lead the jolly in the opening yards. Airfield Katie also trapped lively from her outside berth in six, however, the inside line proved decisive as Westway Rossa rounded the opening bend with a two length lead. Julies Gem was luckless at this point as she was forced to check when in a promising position and in turn, this allowed Brickhill Fayla to give chase entering the back straight. Setting a powerful gallop, the daughter of Good News and Ballydoyle Rossa was in a commanding position at this point, however, Julies Gem really began to motor midway down the back as she improved from fourth to second as a result of both Brickhill Fayla and Airfield Katie tangling out wide. The damage had already been done in terms of the outcome of the race, however. Westway Rossa was in no mood to be caught as she maintained a relentless gallop around the bottom two bends and although pressed, McGinn’s charge crossed the line one and a half lengths clear of Julies Gem in second. The final qualifying position went to Airfield Katie, who was a further four lengths back in third. The time was a swift 28.84 .10s.

DROMBEG WITH A PEARLER

In the second semi final, the locally owned Drombeg Pearl was another to make every inch of the running to advance into the decider in emphatic fashion.

Owned by Evan McAuliffe, who recorded a fine double on the night, Drombeg Pearl (Grangeview Ten - Blastoff Kat) went to traps as a 4/1 chance with Annie On Faya understandably installed as the even money favourite. An opening round winner in 29.03, ‘Pearl’ backed that particular performance up with another flawless display for connections. Running from trap three, Drombeg Pearly absolutely pinged the lids to immediately excel in the early yards and she developed a two length lead rounding the opening bend. Annie On Faya breezed around in second at this point, however, she had no answer to the pace set by ‘Pearl’ as she extended her lead to three and a half lengths at the midway point. The battle was well and truly on for the final qualifying position as Omey Mist and Now Were Talkin both battled hard, however, the bird had flown out in front as McAuliffe’s charge powered to a convincing three and a half length victory. Annie On Faya securing second for the Leahy kennel, it was Omey Mist that finished just a half length further back in third. The time was 28.96 .10s.

The draw for the final of the Fonez Galway Oaks took place shortly after and is as follows :

T1 - ANNIE ON FAYA

T2 - OMEY MIST

T3 - DROMBEG PEARL

T4 - WESTWAY ROSSA

T5 - JULIES GEM

T6 - AIRFIELD KATIE (w)

*****
RYLANE LANDS PAUL MCKENNA MEMORIAL FINAL

Elsewhere on the card, the final of the €1,500 to the winner Paul McKenna Memorial 525 also featured and this was landed in comfortable fashion by the 4/5 favourite, Rylane Master.

Kindly sponsored by Vincent McKenna, who incidentally had three runners in the final, luck deserted him on this particular race as Rylane Master emerged a facile winner for Donal Duggan. A winner of his semi final in convincing fashion, the September 22’ whelp was just an impressive on this occasion as he made every yard from a fine draw in trap one. Breaking well, the son of Burgess Bucks and Notimetotalk took a step right in the early yards but held his line well enough to get the better of Burnpark Taylor early on. Rounding the opener with daylight, ‘Master’ set a powerful gallop thereafter and he stayed on stoutly to see off Lisk Rapid by two and a half lengths. The time was a decent 29.48 .10s.

APOLLO QUICKEST IN STEPHEN MOLLOY SEMIS

On a night that was dominated by sweepstake action, the semi finals of the Stephen Molloy Memorial also went down for decision and, as mentioned, Drombeg Apollo, also landed victory for Evan McAuliffe.

Bidding for a fourth straight win on the night, Drombeg Apollo (Grangeview Ten - Grangeview Vicie) got off to the best possible start as he flashed from trap two to immediately shake off Glamorous Woohoo and go clear. In doing so, the even money chance opened a commanding lead down the back and he was some five lengths clear of Rinnwood Gem, who really caught the eye with a brilliant turn of speed to go second. However, in terms of the outcome of the contest, the damage was done early. Drombeg Apollo continued to set a blistering gallop around the bottom two bends and the striking fawn duly advanced into the decider in excellent fashion as he stayed on stoutly to see off the advancing Rinnwood Gem in second. The final qualifier was Glamorous Woohoo in third and the time was an impressive 29.11 .10s.

In the second semi, Springwell Eddy also maintained his purple patch as he made it four wins on the spin for Gerard O’Dowd. Known for his customary big finishes, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Springwell Mouse went to traps as the 6/4 favourite but he was out with the washing early on as Glynscross Ted held all the aces from trap five. However, Springwell Eddy edged closer midway down the back and there was a certain air of inevitability as he continued to improve around the bottom two bends. Glynnscross Ted was nothing if not game out in front, however, his efforts were not rewarded on this occasion as Springwell Eddy motored up the home straight to just edge out his rival by a head. The final qualifier was Lissatouk Dave and the time was 29.23 .10s.

JACOB A PROSPECT

The opening two races saw the semi finals of the Crafty Kennels ON2 525 go on offer and Annadown Jacob set the standard with a fine debut display for Gary Dillon.

Just a March 23’ son of Jacob Tashadelek and Headford Laura, Annadown Jacob endured a flawless qualifying campaign and as such, was installed as a 6/4 chance to make a winning start to his career. Indeed, it proved all one-way traffic for Dillon’s charge as although he showed his inexperience in running off the second turn, he was seriously impressive in drawing clear of the 4/5 favourite, Hollywell Cruise. A blistering seven length victory for this brilliant prospect, the time was a fast 29.20 .10s.

In the second semi, the Brendan Long-owned Mount Janet made every inch of the running to see off the persistent Bumblebee Diva. Taking a flyer from five, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Glory Razl, a 2/1 chance, turned with a smart lead over Bumblebee Diva entering the back straight. The lead was extended midway down the back, however, the latter was never disheartened and continued to give chase rounding the bottom two bends. Upping the ante at this point, ‘Diva’ looked a massive threat on the run for home but Mount Janet kicked on again in the closing yards to cross the line with one and a half lengths to spare. The time was 29.41 .10s.