THRILLING CLONBRIEN TREATY LIMERICK OAKS IN STORE

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by the Murphy Family, the final of the €4,000 to the winner Clonbrien Treaty Limerick Oaks will conclude later tonight and patrons are in for a real treat as six of the best all boast strong claims of landing the spoils.

It would have come as a shock to many when Ballymac Danica was turned over in relatively comfortable fashion last weekend by Short Grip, however, the Limerick track record holder remains the favourite and she is still very much seen as the one to beat. A 27.83 winner around the Dock Road circuit, the daughter of Ballymac Cooper was returning from a stint around Shelbourne, where she landed the Puppy Oaks in superb style, and can be forgiven for perhaps not producing her best form despite posting a rapid 28.48 in defeat. Liam Dowling’s superstar once again dons the white jacket in the decider and don’t be surprised if she pings out and adds the Limerick Oaks to her ever-growing CV.

GRIP A REAL DANGER

Much like last week, Short Grip is again the main danger. A deserved winner last time out for Patrick John Cocoman, the daughter of Grangeview Ten returned to the type of form that saw her get to within one length of the incredibly fast Droopys Flytline in the Juvenile Derby last year and that is a formidable line of form by anyone’s standard. A brilliant 28.13 clock last weekend suggests she is cherry-ripe for a fruitful campaign in 2024 and connections can hold real optimism ahead of this prestigious decider tonight. Housed in four, if she reproduces that 1.24 sectional from last week it will be lights out for her rivals and the signs are positive for another big effort from one of the fastest ladies in training.

TOUGH DRAW FOR ANNIE

Annie On Faya was another brilliant winner of her semi-final as the Murt Leahy-trained tracker held off Ballymac Wendy by one length in 28.21 and she too is a major player in this decider. Cian Mulrooney’ s daughter of Superior Panama showed her clear ability when posting a rapid 28.82 .20s in the opening round of the Thurles Champion Bitch Stake back in February and she has carried that form into the Oaks at Limerick. A trap-to-line winner last week from five, ‘Annie’ will have to negotiate a horrible draw in six and given this final is littered with early speed, she will need to be on her toes from the outset in order to prevail.

GINGE PERFECTLY HOUSED

Karol Ramsbottom enjoyed a fine success on Kirby final night as Castleivy Ginge raced to a blistering 28.24 success and she saw off some top-class individuals on that night. Installed as the even money favourite last time out, Michael and Noel Nash’s bitch has no answer to Rafas Friend, however, she can be forgiven for that performance after being forced a little wide by the eventual winner. This time, the daughter of Droopys Sydney is much better drawn in red, a jacket she boasts a 50% strike-rate from, and she could be the value bet in the showpiece.

WENDY A SEMI FINAL EYE-CATCHER

Indeed, while ‘Danica’ may well be Liam Dowling’s ace card, he will also be represented by the hugely fast Ballymac Wendy in trap two. The daughter of Ballymac Anton came into the event with some exceptional form around Tralee and she was a terrific runner-up behind Annie On Faya last Saturday night. On that occasion, ‘Wendy’ was some four lengths adrift at the halfway mark and given she only went down by a decreasing one length in 28.21, it really was a performance straight from the top drawer. Likely to sharpen up at boxes given it was her first race at Limerick, she will have all of rivals looking nervously over their shoulders from halfway.

RAFA THE LIVELY OUTSIDER

Despite winning her semi final task in 28.58, Rafas Friend is likely to go off as the outsider of the pack. That alone gives an insight into the calibre of the decider; however, it is simply a poor trap draw that has given Noreen O’Connor and Lorraine Keane’s bitch the ‘underdog’ tag. While the daughter of Droopys Sydney certainly moved off the fence from one last weekend, she would still have preferred an inside pitch as opposed to trap five and she has some big speedsters to contend with on either side. A career best performance is required.