PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT AS HUNT FOR GOLD CONTINUES
Ian Fortune
The second round of the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Gold Cup certainly provided plenty to talk about at a packed Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with a combination of tremendous performances, and shocks.
Galloping Sydney was again hugely impressive as he remained unbeaten in the competition, showing superb early dash to win the opening heat in a fastest of the round 28.26, while Rathdown Molly deserves her own headlines after lowering the colours of Derby champion Born Warrior. Bogger Hunter and Cheque For Sir were also mighty impressive as they claimed their place in next week’s semis.
SUPER SYDNEY GALLOPS TO VICTORY
The Graham Holland trained Galloping Sydney won the battle of the Sydneys in the opening heat. Although not the fastest into stride, the son of Droopys Sydney and Mags Image flew into the bend to assume control. Kilgraney Sydney turned second but could never land a blow.
Indeed, Stream Of Sydney ran on best of all to grab second in the closing yards but there was no catching Una Creed’s Galloping Sydney as he hit the line two lengths to the good in 28.26. Kilgraney Sydney was a half length adrift in third, while Killahan Sydney ran on to grab fourth, meaning the first four home were all progeny of Droopys Sydney with each carrying his name.
HUNTER TAKES DOWN RIVALS
After the withdrawal of both Clona Duke and Dogs Anonymous, Another Holiday was sent to traps the 1-4 favourite for victory in the opening heat but it wasn’t meant to be for the Michael O’Donovan trained speedster.
Despite recovering from a moderate start to challenge for the lead around the opening turns alongside Bogger Hunter, he was always vulnerable in what was just his second start of the season.
The Ian Reilly trained Bogger Hunter (Skywalker Farloe/ Bottle Of Banter) displayed his awesome back straight pace to move into a narrow advantage before the third turn and began to ease on between the last two bends. Another Holiday was now in trouble.
Predictably, Bogger Hunter stayed on strongly, once assuming control, to land the spoils, while Clona Blu stayed on strongly to take second. Bogger Hunter, owned by Brendan Keogh and Simon Senyk, hit the line a half-length to the good in 28.52. Cloneden Flash also stayed on well to take third, a further five and a half lengths adrift. Another Holiday crashed out of the competition.
MAGIC MOLLY SEES OF WARRIOR
Derby champion Born Warrior was the odds-on favourite for Heat 3 but he ran into a rampant Rathdown Molly.
The latter displayed great pace and determination to get the better of Born Warrior, although the latter certainly stepped up on his previous form which will come as encouragement to his connections.
Tullig Raven broke fastest from four but he was only third into the turn as Born Warrior and Rathdown Molly took over. Born Warrior held a narrow advantage as he attempted to cut the turn but the Marie Gilbert trained Rathdown Molly was in no mood to surrender her inside pitch.
The pair bumped and Bill Mulholland’s Rathdown Molly quickly moved to the front to lead Born Warrior by a length and a half into the back straight. Born Warrior came back at the new leader into the third turn and was virtually upsides but Rathdown Molly continued to move with real purpose.
With Born Warrior staying wide on the final bend, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Some Ginger increased her lead again before going on to cross the line a length to the good in 28.45. Born Warrior was second with Ballycowen Liam catching the eye again in third, just a further half lengths adrift.
AN IMPRESSIVE CHEQUE
The final heat was, on paper, the most open of the four heat but Cheque For Sir clearly hadn’t read any of the previews as he produced a thoroughly professional display to dominate from the early stages. Both Radical Hero and Crafty Bonanza came away racing to lead early but Cheque For Sir flew up between the pair to lead into the turn.
This was a decisive maneouvre. The Karol Ramsbottom trained son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Ava was never headed thereafter. Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, the Cash Back Syndicate owned star emerged a comfortable length and a half winner in 28.50. Crafty Bonanza ran a fine race in second, while Disco Pants stayed on strongly a length and half adrift in third to contain Toolmaker Wilde.
Undercard
SWEET DISPLAY FROM FLYING FUDGE
Barbara Lowndes’ Swords Fudge emerged a superb winner of the ninth race with the son of Lenson Bocko and Riverside Honey appreciating the step up to 575 yards.
Prominent from the outset behind Robbies Bear, the Graham Holland trained star was too strong in the second half of the contest.
Moving to the front between the last two bends, Swords Fudge flew home to emerge a superb two length scorer in 31.25. All About Annie also ran on well to take second.
LACEY A REAL PROSPECT
Blackstone Lacey has a big future.
The Michael O’Donovan trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Calzaghe Jan really caught the eye as she emerged an easy winner of the tenth race despite running into some traffic down the back straight.
Prominent from the start, she was forced to check her stride at halfway as Walk On Gaffer moved wide but recovered remarkably quickly to assert into the third turn. From there, Ray Patterson’s hugely exciting youngster flew home to run out a facile six length scorer over Romeo Jet in 29.80.
JETSTREAM LIVES UP TO HIS NAME
Jirano Jetstream repeated his Winter Racing Festival success in the finale, flashing from the inside box to dominate.
Trained by Liam O’Rourke for Pat Norton, the son of Droopys Jet and Ballymac Scala was always in splendid isolation.
Romeo Hanzo did stay on at the finish but Jirano Jetstream was not for catching and he hit the line with a length and a half to spare in 28.65.
FLYING WILLOW WINS AGAIN
Forest Willow continued her superb run of form for Richard Brown and Peter Cronin in the second race, making the most of an ideal draw on the fence to make virtually every inch.
Going up fast, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Elite held a comfortable lead throughout before eventually crossing the line a length and a half clear of Petersburg in 28.55.
GARFIO IS THE CAPITAN
Racing commenced with Capitan Garfio running out a good winner of the opener.
Kenneth Busteed’s well bred son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Petsy was always to the fore before getting the better of Glenmalure Flyer down the back straight. Once going to the front, the November ’20 whelp went on to contain Great Dale by a length in 28.68.
THE BRAKES ARE MOST CERTAINLY OFF
Brakes Are Off certainly lived up to his name in the third race despite taking a hefty bump on the turn when a close second.
He lost his place but came charging into the third turn to move second before storming home to lead on the line.
Trained by Gerry Barber for Brendan Duffy, the son of Droopys Sydney and Lady Midnight got up to win by a half-length from the long-time leader Droopys Battery in 28.96. On this evidence it’s only a matter of time before Brakes Are Off goes considerably faster.
CREGG DOMINANT
Coonough Cregg was at his professional best in the A1 fourth race, making all after a fast start to win for Georgy Roche.
The son of Eden The Kid and Coonough Dolly was never a long way clear but he moved with purpose throughout to hold the fast-finishing Walkinonsunshine by two lengths in 28.82.