A COUPLE OF FINE PERFORMANCES IN THE QUARTER FINALS OF THE DANNY CORKERY MEMORIAL

Barry Drake

The quarter-finals of the €5,000 to the winner Danny Corkery Memorial A3/A4 stake took centre stage at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

In the opening heat, it was all about Fagans Zippi (Head Bound-Fagans Newinn) for Larry Kearns. The 3-1 winner produced a flying start from trap two, and the big early pacer went on to make all the running. A 28.84 winning display, a length and a half clear of Kevinsfort Rusty.

Oakfront Ace (Malachi-Scallywag) ran out a most impressive winner of the second heat for trainer John Morrissey and owners the Oakfront Syndicate. Once the 3-1 shot led early from trap four, it was game over. Pulling right away up front, the talented performer came home seven lengths clear of Edencurra Lion, in 28.79.

Glencroft Avatar (Droopys Flytline-Droopys Avatar) made it back-to-back wins in the third heat. Trained by Aaron O'Hanlon for Mark Flood, the even-money winner wasn't the quickest away from trap two, but she really opened up on the back straight. Keeping on gamely up front, the in-form winner was three and a half lengths clear of Hangover Girl, in 28.89.

Burgess Speddy (Burgess Bucks-Burgess Senorita) was another to record two straight wins in the fourth and final heat, winning from trap five for JJ Fennelly. Last early doors, it was Mumhan Ri who was setting strong early fractions up front. The 6-4 winner had bundles of staying power, and he flew home to deny Mumhan Ri, by a length, in 28.87.

In the SS0 Sprint, it was Scooby Marquess (Grangeview Ten-Scooby Duchess) who proved a class apart for trainer Jennifer O'Donnell and owner Steve Noble. The 1-3 favourite clocked a rapid 17.51 from the inside of the track to win in great style. In front early, he got the better of Barnfield Jigger, by four and a half lengths.

O'Donnell doubled up in the closing race, an A0, as The Other Wild (Ballymac Wild-Whitings Gift) put on a classy front-running winning performance. The 5-4 favourite moved six or seven clear on the back straight, and he was all out to hold the fast-finishing Desert Flower, by a head, in 28.58.