FINE DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
On one of the rare lowkey Saturday meetings at Shelbourne Park, there was still some outstanding performances.
There were two finals up for decision and both produced superb winners, while a few impressed in open races on the undercard.
MIAMI WINS WITH SWAGGER
Miami Hyland continued the unbeaten start to his career with a flawless display in the final of the Tote Betting A1 525, landing the €1,750 prize with consummate ease and real swagger.
The well bred son of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Sahara was never under any pressure once coming away racing to dictate into the turn. Town Kitten would eventually emerge as the closest rival but this was little more than a solo for the Garry Dempsey trained winner.
Owned by Dave Lawrence and Seamus Taaffe, Miami Hyland will now be aimed at bigger prizes and rightly so. He eventually crossed the line three and a half lengths clear of Town Kitten in a rapid 28.38.
BLUE TOO POWERFUL
The second final on the card was that of the grireland.ie mini open 525 and Boylesports Blue went a full one hundreth of a second faster than Miami Hyland to post the fastest time for the standard trip on the card.
Gallant Prince got loose on the front end to give his supporters hope but it was quickly erased when Boylesports Blue turned a clear second. Representing the John Boyle/ Paul Hennessy alliance, the powerful son of Ballymac Cashout and Hugh Dream was always going to be hard to contain.
Predictably, he closed into the third turn but had to wait for a gap. Boylesports Blue eventually decided to challenge on the outside of his rival off the final turn and outstayed Gallant Prince to win by a length in a superb 28.37.
NUA IMPRESSES IN FINALE
Racing ended with Droichead Nua producing yet another superb display for Shaun Conway and the Newbridge Racing Syndicate.
A 6-1 chance ahead of the off, he was prominent from the outset. Bombay Pat on his comeback run broke smartly to lead into the turn but he steered a middle to wide path, leaving room for Droichead Nua to slip through on the fence.
It would ultimately prove a decisive maneouvre. Bombay Pat pushed hard into the third turn but sadly seemed to lose his action at this point. Callaway Knegare then began to close but Droichead Nua wasn’t going o be denied. Staying on well, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Limini stayed on to secure a two length victory over Callaway Knegare in 29.50.
PHANTOM GETS LOOSE
After an encouraging run in defeat seven days earlier, Kenny Glen’s Fahee Phantom produced a superb display to win the penultimate race on the card, a competitive AA0 525.
Microchip broke fastest from four but Fahee Phantom was soon on his inner and advancing.
Going to the front into the bend, the Graham Holland trained son of Fahee Storm and Warzone Lil increased his advantage to almost two lengths by the time they entered the back straight. Microchip remained in second but was put under pressure by Priceless Romeo and Crossfield Roman to the third turn.
It was the last named that came through in the latter stages for second but Fahee Phantom held firm out front to win by three parts of a length in 28.41.
A GAY TIME FOR JOACHIM
Gaytime Joachim impressed in the A0 sixth race over 550yds, making the most of an ideal draw on the fence to come home in front in 29.71.
Prominent from the outset, he asserted on the bend and was never under any real pressure thereafter.
Representing the team reponsible for Gaytime Nemo’s English Derby success, Graham Holland and Brendan O’Connell, the son of Roaming Turbo and Gaytime Derval eased on to secure an easy four length verdict over Sure Exile.
A GALLANT EFFORT FROM CAPTAIN
Gallant Captain certainly lived up to his name in the A1 opener over 550yds, staying on with real grit and determination to reel in the long-time pace-setter Maireads Prince.
The latter seemed destined to come home in front once entering the back straight with in excess of three lengths in hand but Gallant Captain had other ideas.
Representing Jamie Magee and Gerry Connors, the talented son of Ballymac Cashout and Slippery Diva drpet closer into the third turn and was ready to pounce when Maireads Prince stayed wide on the turn for home. Gallant Captain powered home to get the better of Maireads Prince by three parts of a length in 29.93.
MADGE’S WINNING DUBLIN RETURN
The Paul Hennessy trained Lennies Madge returned to Dublin in the A1 fourth race, coming in as a reserve before taking her opportunity in fine style.
Off the pace for much of the way, things started to get tight into the third turn as the pace-setter Kristofferson began to come back to the field.
Lennies Madge continued to run her preferred wide path and flew around the pack to go to the front. Zenith Pasha did stay on well to press the new leader on the run in but Lee Craze’s daughter of Justice Minister and Cherish Me hit the line a length to the good in a very quick 28.45.
GENIE WITH SOME MAGIC IN A3 SEMIS
There were two fine runs in the semi-finals of the Sporting Press A3 525 with Rolo Genie particularly impressive in the second heat.
John Schofield’s son of Malachi and Distant Sal displayed superb early speed to race into a four length lead by the second turn but he had to dig deep on the run in to contain the late charge of Saraghs Sadie.
Rolo Genie was up to the task, however, with the Barry Clancy trained speedster holding off his rival by a length in a very useful 28.64.
HOFFA FINALLY DOUBLES TALLY
Town Hoffa finally doubled her career tally in the opening semi final.
Sean Dooley’s daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa and Town Curly slipped around second behind the early speedster Darbys Chance and was in the perfect position to strike.
She had to wait for a gap to open around the last two bends but, once doing so, she quickly seized her opportunity. Staying on well, Town Hoffa eased on to win by three lengths from the long-time leader in 28.92.