STUNNING DEBUT FROM ASSARULA ROCKY

Peter Farrell

There was an eight-race programme on offer at Clonmel on Friday night and it was the semi-finals of the Friends of Clonmel Track ON2/ON3 525 that stole the headlines, with Assarula Rocky producing a breathtaking display on debut.

Trained by Aaron O'Hanlon for Sean and John Fraher, Assarula Rocky was making his first competitive appearance in the second contest and could hardly have been more impressive, shaving over a second off his modest qualifying effort around Kilkenny. Drawn in trap three, the September whelp pinged the lids to post a superb 2.79 sectional and immediately assumed control. The son of Sober Glory - Assarula Runner quickly stretched clear down the back straight and reached the third bend in a rarely seen 15.91, leaving his rivals toiling in behind. Maintaining a relentless gallop throughout, the exciting youngster crossed the line with eight lengths in hand over Sergeant Murphy in second. The winning time of a blistering 28.41 was a remarkable effort from a debutant and expect to hear plenty from ‘Rocky’ in the weeks and months to follow.

The opening semi-final also went the way of the Aaron O'Hanlon kennel as Rural Area made every yard of the running for owners Helen and Michael O'Dwyer. Drawn in trap five, the powerful 85lb fawn was quickly into his stride and always looked in complete control after asserting in the opening exchanges. Never coming under serious pressure, the son of Grangeview Ten - Rural Aloha crossed the line with three and a half lengths to spare over Move Over Ellie in second, stopping the clock in 28.97.

FANCY BOOKS DERBY TICKET

Further down the card, the BOYLE Sports Irish Derby Trial Stake took centre stage and it was Kevinsfort Fancy (Ballymac Cashout - Kevinsfort Tiger) who booked his place in the Irish Derby for trainer Paraic Campion with a powerful finishing display.

In what looked a particularly competitive contest, Mustang Havoc showed the best of the early speed from trap six to take control approaching the opening bend, with Imagine If in close pursuit. Kevinsfort Fancy was content to race in third at that stage, but the writing was on the wall down the back straight as he began to close with every stride. Peadar Kinane's charge then produced a decisive move at the crown of the penultimate bend, shooting up the inside to seize the initiative. From there, he stayed on strongly to pull a length and a half clear of Imagine If at the line, stopping the clock in a smart 30.06.