PLENTY OF NOVICE ACTION ON OFFER AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

With the news that Kasko have come on-board to sponsor the prestigious National Produce Stakes at Clonmel in the coming weeks, it’s not surprising to see the Suirside venue host a number of Unraced stakes on tonight’s card and talent is sure to emerge ahead of the €20,000 to the winner Classic.

On the eleven race program, there are no fewer than three unraced stakes on offer, the feature of which is the ‘Kasko Open Unraced 525’. There are some fine prospects amongst the twelve bidding to kick-start their careers in style and in the first semi Silverhill Ben in particular stands out. Trained by Graham Holland for Eugene Buckley, the son of Ballymac Bolger posted 29.03 around Newbridge before stopping the clock in a blistering 16.38 around Kilkenny and based on that, he is sure to go well from trap three. Empress Inflight has a lovely 28.84 spin to her name around Clonmel, while Vigorous Fozzy is another to keep an eye on for Ronny Wuyts in six.

In the second semi, Ballymac Tamara represents the kennel of Owen McKenna and she is fresh from a rapid 17.84 sprint trial around the tough Thurles circuit. Just an October puppy, the daughter of Ballymac Cooper, owned by John Boyle, is a strapping 72-pounder and she looks the one to beat in trap two. That said, Only Live Once, who is trained by Adam Dunford for Michael O’Dwyer is choicely bred and hasn’t seen another tail in qualifying in amassing an aggregate winning margin of twenty-seven lengths. The son of Droopys Sydney looks destined for the top and he is another to keep an eye on later tonight from trap three.

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The first unraced stake on offer is the ‘Home Of the Produce Stakes N2/N3 Bitch Stake’. Born Magic may have failed to get her head in front in qualifying, however, it would be unwise to rule out this grand-daughter of Mountaylor Queen. Trained by back-to-back Derby handler Jennifer O’Donnell for John Mitchell, the September whelp has a respectable 29.68 around Kilkenny and will be expected to go well from trap two. In the second semi, the vote goes to the Mary Lynch-owned Bright Morgan based sole on trial form. The strapping daughter of Broadstrand Bono has won both trials in comfortable fashion and has a prime draw in red to go well.

Sandwiched between the Open Unraced and the N2/N3 Bitch Unraced is the ‘Upcoming Kasko Produce Stakes N2/N3 525’. Again, it’s hard to look past Scooby Camaro for Jennifer O’Donnell and Steve Noble. A son of Ballymac Anton and Whitings Gift, who is responsible for the likes of Seven Beach, Scooby Duchess and Scooby Prince, he has moved well in qualifying when posting a 29.46 estimate around Kilkenny and it's worth noting that litter brother, Born Racer won his debut assignment in 28.87 around Kilkenny. The second semi is a difficult one to size up on qualifying form, however, Clipper looks one to watch in trap two. A half-brother to multiple Classic winner Clonbrien Treaty, the son of Droopys Sydney hasn’t set the world alight in qualifying, however, you can be certain better is to come.