A WEEKEND OF TOP CLASS PERFORMANCES AT CURRAHEEN PARK
Barry Drake
Darbys Dancer went quickest on the clock in the opening round of the Curraheen Park Open 750 on Saturday night.
Trained by Patrick Devaney for the Devaney Family Syndicate, the 5-4 favoutire was following up on a recent victory around Shelbourne Park with another top-class performance here. Daleroad Mya came away racing, and she set strong early fractions up front. The classy winner had three lengths to make up at the winning line for the first time, and he always looked dangerous. Hitting the front between the final corners, the strong-running tracker pulled three and a half lengths clear of Daleroad Mya, in 42.07.
In the opening heat, it was all about Daleroad Poppy as the 4-5 favourite made every yard of the running for trainer Patrick Guilfoyle and owners Thomas and John O'Keeffe. In control throughout, it was a fine front-running display, however, she was all out late on, and at the winning line, she was three-quarters of a length ahead of the fast finishing Wellstreet Cath.
In the second heat, Rosy Cross powered to victory for Thomas O'Donovan. The 9-4 winner benefited for the step up in trip, and after sitting in midfield for most of the journey, the eye was always drawn to him on the back straight. Wreck It Willow and Labana Cody were the early leaders, but the winner had too much firepower late on, and the talented performer ran out a smart winner. A 42.18 winning performance, three and a half lengths clear of the running on Valhalla Vision.
FRIDAY NIGHT:
A great crowd turned up to celebrate 25 years of racing at Curraheen Park on Friday night.
It was a fantastic night of entertainment and racing action, and on the track, the headlines went to Broadstrand Syd, who is trained by Johnny Linehan for owners the Ryan Drake Donovan Syndicate.
Last year's Irish Sprint Cup winner bounced back to his very best as he displayed explosive early pace to make every yard of the running and beat a top-class line-up. Clocking sensational early sectionals, the 2-1 winner came home with two and a half lengths to spare over Seven Beach.
25 years on from having a winner at the opening night at the new Curraheen Park, Jerome Crowley was once again on the scoresheet. Aherla Rocco delivered a magnificent performance to win the €1,000 to the winner A1 575. Once he slipped around in front, it was game over. Always in total control up front, the 6-4 favourite ran out a most impressive winner, clocking 31.08, five and a half lengths clear of Danzig Rebel.
Local trainers Kieran Lynch and Pat Kiely both enjoyed great doubles on the night. The Lynch winners came in the closing races as Peronys Zero clocked 28.79 in the A2 and the rapidly improving Cuile Line Best posted 28.57 in the closing AA0.
The Pat Kiely double came courtesy of Valley Angel, who returned to winning ways in the A1 when winning in 28.68, and Keplar Khufu, who had earlier scored in 28.69 when landing the A2.
Gilti Bluebell, for Martin Giltinan, made all the running to win the A3 Bitch Stake Final, in 28.90, at odds of 6-4, winning the €1,000 first prize.
A recent second in the Supersprint, Satin Milo ran out a great winner of the Open 330 for Eugene Sheehan. The well-backed 2-1 winner led early, strong throughout, the classy performer clocked 17.41, two and a half lengths clear of Sirius Alpha.
In the Open 550, Magical Sapphire made the most of a great opportunity when recording back-to-back wins for Patrick Guilfoyle. Oll The Doll cut out the early running, but the 4-5 favourite kicked into top gear from halfway and the well-fancied winner pulled away to win, by three and a half lengths, in 29.93.