WONDERFUL OAKS DECIDER THE FEATURE OF A SPECIAL CARD IN DUBLIN
Ian Fortune
Sporting Press will mark 35 years of sponsorship of the Irish Oaks this evening with a special final to what has been a special renewal of the bitch classic.
In truth, the entire card is a spectacular with the final of the Shelbourne Summer Cup and opening round of both the Maiden Derby and the stayers classic, the Donal Beaty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn also set to provide some of the best action imaginable.
But the Oaks decider is very much the feature and it boasts a brilliant line-up chasing the €25,000 prize. Liam Dowling was denied in last weekend’s English Derby, sending out the second, third and fourth and he again has a very strong hand in tonight’s classic final.
KAMALA A WORTHY FAVOURITE
Ballymac Kamala is the clear favourite.
She went unbeaten through the prelims and is actually on a run of five straight wins. A switch to the middle of the track from the inside will certainly work in her favour also with the daughter of Droopys Sydney expected to go up faster than in most recent outings.
She will need to, however. In a race packed with early speed, so much will depend on the opening exchanges but Ballymac Kamala is capable of unlocking the door to classic glory of starting on terms.
She has massive speed into the bend and can really fly down the back straight. She strengthened up over the winter and looks a far more complete performer. For that reason, she is a worthy favourite and is expected to mount a bold challenge, potentially from the front.
GWENNIE HAS THE STRENGTH TO FIGURE
Her kennel companion Ballymac Gwennie is drawn in the stripes.
She has a massive engine and an ideal draw and won’t by shy of support. With the potential for a bit of traffic on her inner, she would put herself in the mix if making one of her better starts.
Certainly, if turning on or close to the pace, she will have a big say in the finish. Clearing Highview Carol in five to the turn is imperative but she is capable of doing so.
SAPPHIRE DRAWN TO GO CLOSE
Clan Sapphire is perhaps the best drawn runner in the contest for Hall of Fame handler Francie Murray.
She was picked up in the latter stages by Ballymac Kamala in the semi-finals but has been rewarded for that effort with an ideal draw on the fence.
Blessed with superb early speed, she is certain to contest the early lead and many believe she can turn in front. That is the place to be in any classic decider, but especially the Oaks. Her possible path to victory if obvious and it will almost certainly come on the back of a flying start.
CAN IVY GET LOOSE?
Rapido Ivy has always been very talented but she has really announced her arrival through the Oaks, showing terrific early speed in the prelims and winning her semi-final in typically professional manner. Peter Cronin will be hoping she can produce another flying start from three.
If doing so, she seems certain to be amongst the front runners into the bend. Clearing Clan Sapphire is essential, while she must also contain Ballymac Kamala on her right shoulder. Both ae possible but a flying start is needed to do so. Have no doubt, there is a scenario in which Rapido Ivy makes every inch but she must catapult from traps.
CONSISTENT CAROL RESPECTED
Highview Carol has been a model of consistency throughout her short career making the frame in each of her twelve previous starts.
In five of her last six starts she has managed to dip under 28.50, yet only once has she gone faster than 28.40, further highlighting her consistency.
Gerry Merriman has his star purring at present, yet she will be the rank outsider of the field when they go to traps. A decent starter, she is best known for her pace and power from halfway. If look through her form in the prelims, she won her second round assignment in comfortable fashion and was narrowly beaten into second in each of the other three.
Much like Ballymac Gwennie, any traffic on the inside of the track could really play to her strengths and it would be very unwise to dismiss her prospects. Certainly, if close at halfway, she won’t be far away at the finish.
ASH TO COMPLETE A FAMOUS DOUBLE?
That leaves us with Lennies Ash.
She aims to give her handler Paul Hennessy and one of her three joint owners Lee Craze a second classic in seven days after Lennies Eddie raced to a famous victory in the English Derby last weekend.
Much like Lennies Eddie, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout will go to traps a big price but she is due a little luck. There is no doubting her class, ability and obvious potential. Of the six finalists, she is perhaps the most open to improvement with the lightly raced youngster still quite green.
Paul Hennessy knows how to win the Oaks, however. Since first capturing the classic in 1998 with April Surprise, he has added two more titles with Locnamon Bridie in 2013 and Jaytee Jordan in 2018. How he would love to claim a fourth success with Lennies Ash.
A STELLAR LINE-UP
It’s a stellar line-up for the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks decider and so much will come down to the opening exchanges but Ballymac Kamala is unbeaten through the competition for a reason.
With the possibility of her making a better start now that she is back in the middle traps, she can race prominently into the bend before asserting into the back straight.
Clan Sapphire is best housed to provide the challenge but needs to get loose into the back straight, while Rapido Ivy is also expected to race prominently. Lennies Ash will look to turn close to the pace on the inside of the tracker, while Ballymac Gwennie and Highview Carol will need to start on terms and hope for a little crowding on the inside of the track.
It’s a fascinating contest but Ballymac Kamala is the obvious choice. She is chosen to get the better of Clan Sapphire and Ballymac Gwennie. The best of luck to all involved.
Shelbourne Summer Cup
BECKS AIMING TO DOUBLE UP FOR GLEESON AND GLYNN IN SUMMER CUP
There is a brilliant €10,000 on the line in the final of the Shelbourne Summer Cup and Robert Gleeson and Thomas Glynn will be hoping to claim the valuable prize for the second year running with the hugely exciting Carrick Becks set to start favourite.
The Champion Open Unraced winner has handled the move into all-aged company with minimum fuss and he comes into tonight’s contest on the back of a superb 28.12 return. The draw hasn’t been overly kind with the son of Doolin Duke housed in three with the fast starting Newinn Spot on his immediate inner.
Shanahee Boomer is also a massive player and his presence in four is also not ideal for Carrick Becks. Certainly, the race to the bend will be very competitive. Shanahee Boomer won last year’s Maiden Derby and has gone from strength to strength since. He has developed quite a love affair with Shelbourne and is a major contender for Kieran Lynch.
The aforementioned Newinn Spot has shown signs of a return to his best early season form but he will almost certainly need to dictate the pace into the back straight to emerge on top. The same can be said for Beautiful Paul on the fence, while Coolemount Spy and Kilcolgan Eddie are both big prices to come from off the pace and land the valuable prize.
It’s a tremendous contest but on suspects the winner will come from the duo in the middle of the track, Carrick Becks and Shanahee Boomer. It’s a really tight call but Carrick Becks just gets the nod. If starting on terms, he could hold his rival into the bend and slip around in front.
Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn
A great doggy man will be remembered as the Corn Cuchulainn gets underway.
Run as the Donal Beatty Memorial, the six-bend classic has attracted some very talented stayers but the headlines could go to the newer recruits to the six-bend trip.
SILENT AN INTRIGUIING RUNNER
There are three heats with four to qualify from each and it should make for fascinating viewing.
Perhaps the most intriguing runner in the classic is Glengar Silent. A Derby finalist as a youngster last September, he was heavily backed for English Derby glory ahead of the classic only to make an early exit but since reached the final of the Race of Champions at Tralee.
There is no doubt, he could make a special stayer of he sees out the trip and is the obvious choice in Heat 2 where he will don the orange jacket of five. Of his rivals, Priceless On Ice and Darbys Dancer boast the best six bend form on offer but the exciting Barntick Bucko must also be respected from an ideal draw on his debut over the extended trip.
KUDOS WORTH A CHANCE
Kishlawn Kudos was desperately unlucky not to make the Oaks decider, finishing bad traffic on the turn when close to the pace in the semis.
She has looked certain to appreciate a step up in trip and makes her six-bend debut in the opening heat where she takes some hugely talented trackers including recent Two Wheel Training Open 750 winner Lennies Desire.
In terms of proven form over the trip, the latter is the standout but he will need to come away racing from four to turn close to the pace. Deerjet Matilda ran a fine race on her debut over six bends last week and is also greatly respected from an inside draw but there is something about Kishlawn Kudos that leaves the impression she could make a very talented stayer. She is chosen to pop out of trap two to make every inch at the expense of Lennies Desire.
CHANTRY LOOKS THE PART
Ballymac Chantry is the one to bat in the last of the three heats from an ideal draw in the stripes.
She had just one previous start over six bends in last year’s Winter Racing Festival but missed the kick and found traffic on that occasion.
She left the impression she would make a brilliant stayer in the future and will now get her chance to prove it. Expect Liam Dowling’s star to race prominently before asserting in the second half of the contest.
Of her rivals, Singalong Polly has obvious claims from an inside draw in two. She has won over the trip in the past and looks a real threat to Ballymac Chantry. Highview Air and Jaypees Cooper are also respected but, ultimately, the overall pace of Ballymac Chantry can prove too much for her rivals to handle.
Shelbourne Maiden Derby
EXPECT MAGIC FROM MALINAS
There are some very talented trackers on show in the opening round of the Shelbourne Maiden Derby.
These include the ante-pot favourite Ballymac Malinas. He has always had a big reputation but is a maiden in the truest sense of the word, failing to win any of his previous six outings.
Of course, each of his starts came in red-hot company and the step up to 550yds this evening could make a real difference to the powerful son of Ballymac Cooper. Drawn in three in the opening heat, he can turn close to the pace before going into overdrive down the back.
A 27.86 trial last weekend highlights his undoubted ability and he is long overdue a first victory. That can come in some style this evening at the expense of Uncle Keith and Slick Sabre.
THOMAS TO TOPPLE AIR
The best clash in the opening round comes in Heat 3 where the hugely talented duo of Brother Thomas and Music Inthe Air go head-to-head.
The former looked a superstar of the future in the early rounds of the Juvenile Classic at Tralee, but has suffered four straight losses since. He has a massive engine and will appreciate the test offered by the 550yd trip.
He is drawn on the inside of Lee Strand winner Music Inthe Air, which could prove decisive. As good as the latter is, Brother Thomas would be almost impossible to reel in if turning in front. Of the remainder, Callaway Ryder is open to much improvement and is also respected.
HAND JUST GETS THE NOD
Heat 2 is a wide-open affair but slight preference is for the strong running Sleight Of Hand.
Laurence Jones’ son of Ballymac Cashout has three wins around Shelbourne Park and comes into tonight’s contest on the back of an impressive win over the 550yd trip. he is just selected ahead of Magical Jet, Jacktavern Bull, Outlaw Oscar and Hackney Pub.
HYLAND WITH THE DRAW
The final heat is also hugely competitive although the draw could make the difference for Miami Hyland.
A recent 29.55 spin for the 550yd trip highlights his well-being, while he can concentrate on going up as fast as he can from an inside draw. Of his rivals, Gallant Captain, Harvard Square and Old Alaska can provide the greatest threat.