Sporting Press Irish Oaks at Shelbourne Park
KILLMACDONAGH OUTSTANDING IN OAKS DECIDER
Jerry Meehan President ICC presents the trophy to William Hennessy and DJ Histon presents the Breeders trophy to Thomas Leahy after Kilmacdonagh won the final of the 2019 Sporting Press Oaks. Also included are Patrick Flynn Sales, Marketing and Operations Manager Shelbourne Park, Mattie Murphy IGB, Glen Healy ICC, Derek Frehill Racing Manager Shelbourne Park, Aidan Supple and trainer Kieran Lynch. Pic: Imelda Grauer
Writes Michael Fortune
Killmacdonagh was crowned the 2019 Sporting Press Irish Oaks champion after a brilliant performance in the €25,000 decider at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
Of course, Ballymac Arminta was favorite to win the classic after a sensational run through the stake, but could never shake off her rivals despite making a slick exit from trap three. In contrast, Killmacdonagh had an ideal draw on the fence and, after making her best start of the competition, was in the perfect pitch going into the turn.
There was less than a length separating the first five on the bend with William Hennessy’s Killmacdonagh sitting pretty on the fence. Clona Dream was on her shoulder, as was Ballymac Arminta and No Recollection. Then came the decisive moment in the contest.
Killmacdonagh maintained a tight line on the rail to turn in front, while No Recollection drove the turn, cutting off Ballymac Arminta in the process. Suddenly it was a straight shootout between Killmacdonagh and No Recollection.
Carrying plenty of momentum into the second bend, No Recollection headed Killmacdonagh briefly, but once straightening Killmacdonagh unleashed a surge of pace that quickly put the race to bed.
Passing halfway, the daughter of Zero Ten and Deercrest Lady had a lead of just over a length on No Recollection and the closing Clona Dream, but that was as close as they were to get. Once she hit the third turn, the Kieran Lynch trained Killmacdonagh turned on the afterburners.
Pulling right away from that point, Killmacdonagh raced on to a superb five-length success over No Recollection in a brilliant 28.17. There was a tremendous battle for third with two short heads separating Clona Dream, Ballymac Arminta and Priceless Verona.
FIRMINO STRIKES IN SOME STYLE
There were some exceptional youngsters in action in the semi-finals of the Des Whyte Open Puppy 525 and Cabra Firmino added to his already lofty reputation with a sensational trap to line performance in the opening heat.
Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for Paul Scally, the impressive son of Kinloch Brae and Cabra Smokey flew from trap two to dominate throughout. Oran Don displayed fine pace to take up the chase down the far side, but there was no catching Cabra Firmino. Staying on right to the line, Cabra Firmino took the verdict by four lengths from Oran Don in a brilliant 28.02.
MIGHTY MOSS
Ballybeg Moss, owned by John Byrne and Sarah Stevenson, made every yard in the second heat, but had to really dig in to repel the challenge of Miss Sahara.
The latter charged down the far side to get within a half length of the leader, but she couldn’t quite get through on the fence and Ballybeg Moss (Tullymurry Act/ Shale Sally) closed the door.
This forced Miss Sahara to check her stride. Cantuna Logan then moved second, but it was up to Miss Sahara to keep the leader honest on the run in. Ballybeg Moss was in no mood to give up his lead, however, and he dug in to repel a renewed effort from Miss Sahara by a length in a rapid 28.33.
HAPPY STARS IN BUCKLEY DOUBLE
Pat Buckley record a superb double with Run Happy and Jumeriah Sprite.
Both greyhounds on in tremendous fashion, but the display of Tom Quinn and Ned Morrissey’s Run Happy was particularly impressive as he destroyed a useful field in the ninth race.
The son of Tullymurry Act and Marlfield Taylor came away running and took the lead in the early stages before putting the opposition to the sword down the far side. Displayed fine pace he raced right away from the chasing pack to eventually cross the line eight and a half lengths to the good over Bartlemy Mags in sizzling 28.07.
Jumeirah Sprite completed the Buckley double in the penultimate race over 550yds when dictating from the early yards. Owned by Pat’s brother Jimmy Buckley, the talented young son of Droopys Roddick and Jumeriah Dancer quickened into a clear advantage by the third turn and while he did tie up a little on the run in he held on for an impressive three parts of a length victory over Town Curly in 29.59.
VETERAN LANE STILL GOING STRONG
Bakery Lane may have gone four years of age in March, but June McGuire’s son of Hondo Black and Montblanc is clearly loving life if his display in the final of the Mini Open 525 is anything to go by. The Ollie Bray trained star came away racing from trap three to dictate the pace and he was always going to be hard to pass once making the turn in front.
Liberty Gale and Jambo Joy both tried hard to close, but Bakery Lane raced all the way to the line to claim a twentieth career victory by five and a half lengths from Liberty Gale in 28.34.
COMMENDO LEADS LATE
There was a tremendous finish to the final of the A2 525 with Margaret Walsh’s El Commendo leading in the final strides to deny long-time leader Burgess Timmy.
From an early stage, this was a two-dog affair with Burgess Timmy leading the Peter Cronin trained El Commendo around the bend.
The former seemed to have a big enough advantage, but El Commendo is strong and he closed with each stride from halfway and he got up late to win by a head in 28.41.
GRACIE IS A BABE
The Michael English trained Hello Graciebabe continued her rise up the ranks with a tremendous front running effort in the final of the A2 525.
Owned by Billy Molloy and Kevin Doran, the daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Jaytee Grace was at her very sharpest and after a flying start she led from the outset. Jazz Beat did show fine dash to go second down the far side, but was never getting to the pace-setter. Hello Graciebabe took the verdict by a length in 28.47.
There was a superb display from Slippery Jade in the opening race over 575yds as she returned from a layoff to clock a magnificent 30.92. Trained by Graham Holland for Larry Dunne, the daughter of Slippery Fred and Kildallon Maid slipped around the turn in front and, while her rivals were never too far away, she stayed on well to contain Vaguely Noble two lengths.
The final of the Joe Dolan/ ICC Coursing Open 350 saw Marshals Cross make the most of an ideal draw on the fence. Emma Mai Roche’s son of Newinn Wonder and Crossbound was headed into the turn by Rocket Hero, but he forced his way through on the fence to take up the lead as they turned for home. Piercestown Lord did finish well to grab second, but Marshals Cross held on for a deserving victory by a neck in 19.05.
There was a tremendous finish to the final race of the night with Ravenswood Hugo holding the late charge of Boynepark King. In a race packed with early speed it was Janine Barbers Ravenswood Hugo that got first run on his rivals to lead the field into the back straight.
That seemed certain to be enough, but as he began to tire and drift off the final turn, Boynepark King started to close. The Gerry Barber trained Ravenswood Hugo (Laughil Blake/ Ravenswood May) held on by the minimum margin in 28.36.
Holycross Idaho returned to winning ways for Owen McKenna and the Cashpoint Syndicate in the eleventh race on the card. The son of Shaneboy Lee and Good Sarah was too sharp for his rivals to the turn and quickly opened up a race-winning advantage. Ballymac Berry gave chase throughout, but Holycross Idaho was always keeping her at arm’s length and he went on to score by a length and a half in a fast 28.35.
Sean Dunphy’s Droopys Honey had to show determination to hold on for a deserving victory in the A1 sixth race. The Ian Reilly trained daughter of Quietly and Droopys Cyclone wasn’t the fastest into stride but rushed into the turn to take up the running. Seldom Wrong made a moved into second down the far side and looked likely to pick up the leader on the run in, but she dug deep to take the honors by a half-length in 28.73.
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