Sporting Press Irish Oaks

Before another big attendance at Shelbourne Park bank holiday weekend Saturday meeting Ballydoyle Honey again set the standard in the Sporting Press Irish Oaks on Saturday night when coming home clear in her second round heat. She had to display all her power to record a brilliant 28.31 despite having to come from off the pace.

Heat 1 – SWIFT TAKES FLIGHT

Roy Williams’ Lislevane Swift was simply too sharp for the opposition in the opening heat.
The Fechin Mullen trained daughter of Makeshift and Stunning Tina came away racing from trap five and soon headed the fast starting Sopringwell Watsy. Once doing so the order never changed. Down the back Lislevane Swift consolidated her lead and she had enough in the tank to contain the late charge of Springwell Watsy by a length in a superb 28.41. Hitachi Grace took third a further two and a half lengths adrift in third.

Heat 2 – SWEET AS HONEY

Alison Coxon’s Ballydoyle Honey (Brett Lee/ Killdalon Maid) was understandably a red-hot favourite for the second heat, but she did have to work for her victory.
The Graham Holland trained superstar was reasonably well away from the inside trap, but was headed to the turn by her kennel companion Rising Twirl and Garryglass Lulu.

At the turn Ballydoyle Honey edged off the fence to bump Jumeriah Dancer, but it failed to halt her momentum. Importantly the front two bumped on the turn and entering the back straight Ballydoyle Honey stayed wide to challenge the leaders.
Down the back straight Rising Twirl ran well to contain Ballydoyle Honey, but the favourite drove the third turn to move on. This caused the rapidly improving Tyrur Dickie to check up, but she recovered well before coming home strongly to grab second. Ballydoyle Honey had flow, however and she went on to score by four lengths in a brilliant 28.31.

Heat 3 – GOSSIP ARRIVES LATE

Urban Gossip, a litter sister to Ballydoyle Honey, again displayed her raw power to win the third heat at the expense of long time leader Camacca.
The latter flew into the turn to take up the running from the fast starting Shady Ash, but Urban Gossip was always too close when turning third.
Urban Gossip shot past Shady Ash on the third turn and then set her sights on the leader. Switching wide off the final turn to launch her challenge, Reggie Roberts’ powerful lady forced her way to the front in the dying yards to win by a length in a fast 28.54.

Heat 4 – BOUND WINS MODEL BATTLE

There was an all-Wexford finish to Heat 4 with Kingsmill Bound (Head Bound/ Lunar Vacation) holding the late charge of Piercestown Lucy in a thriller.
Aidan and John Roche’s Kingsmill Bound came away well, but had to really motor into the corner to slip inside the fast starting Warrior Gwen.
Once doing so she left room up the rail for Piercestown Lucy to slip through into second. This set up a thrilling finish. Piercestown Lucy was never far back in second, but she couldn’t get to the leader down the back straight. It wasn’t until they turned for home that Piercestown Lucy really started to close.
Kingsmill Bound is nothing if not game, however, and she really battled on repel her challenger. At the line Kingsmill Bound had a half length to spare in a slick 28.56. Slipery Hanna stayed on well in third, a further two and a half lengths adrift.

Heat 5 – SKYMAS CAUSES A SHOCK

An A3 winner two nights before the Oaks kicked off, Tony and Brian Walsh’s Skymas (Black Shaw/ Gurrane Bess) caused quite a shock in Heat 5 when landing the spoils at odds of 12-1.
Skywalker Pearl and Beechers Brook were the big two in the betting after superb opening round displays, but both mistimed the start and found early traffic problems.
In contrast Skymas shot from trap two to lead the field into the back straight. Ravenswood Emily emerged as her main threat at the third turn and seemed likely to outstay Skymas, but the early leader is nothing if not game and she stuck her neck out to win by head in 28.76.


Heat 6 – HELENA IN A HEARTBREAKER

Borna Helena came out on top in the final heat for Roger Dwan, but the real talking point was the unfortunate injury of Cashen Maureen breaking down when going clear down the back straight.
Cashen Maureen was a red-hot favourite after a brilliant opening round effort and all was going to plan when she drove to the front into the turn.

She was just opening up when she completely lost her stride before halfway. It was immediately evident something was seriously amiss. Kilara Diva was sitting in second at the time, but got tangled up with the stricken Cashen Maureen as she went backwards.

That left Tauriel in front, but she failed to contain Borna Helena into the third turn. Slipping through on the fence, Borna Helena (Had Bound/ Borna Talent) stayed on well to beat Tauriel by a length and a half in 28.75. Awaywithdepixies stayed on to take third a further two lengths back.

THE QUARTER FINAL DRAW
Heat 1
1 Jumeirah Star
2 Borna Helena
3 Rising Twirl
4 Ravenswood Emily
5 Tyrur Mairead (w)
6 Issys May (w)

Heat 2
1 Camacca
2 Jumeirah Dancer
3 Hitachi Grace
4 Shes A Dream
5 Tyrur Dickie
6 Piercestown Lucy

Heat 3
1 Sausalito May
2 Urban Gossip
3 Kingsmill Bound
4 Tauriel
5 Hovex Princess
6 Lislevane Swift

Heat 4
1 Ballydoyle Honey
2 Slippery Hanna
3 Shady Ash
4 Skymas
5 Springwell Watsy
6 Awatwithdepixies (m)

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