TWELVE TO BECOME SIX IN OAKS
Ian Fortune
Twelve of the fastest bitches on the planet will tonight do battle for a place in the final of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks and the result action should be near-unmissable.
On top of that, the remainder of the card offers up come superb action including the semis of the hugely valuable GRI Summer Open 525 and the €4,000 final of the RCETS A1 575.
The ladies will take centre stage, however. There have been some brilliant performances through the bitch classic but those with a runner tonight won’t be too concerned about winning but rather qualifying for next weekend’s €25,000 decider.
A WIDE OPEN CONTEST
The opening heat is without question the more open of the two.
Five of the six clocked within eleven spots of each other in the quarter finals with Burgess Rapid the exception. She missed this start and failed to threaten last week but could be the key to tonight’s contest given her early speed.
Droopys Timing seems to be coming to form at just the right time. She led early to see of some very talented rivals last week and needs a similar start this evening. Paul Cronin will be hoping she can again hold her pitch on the turn.
Beside her is Quivers Magic. One of the stars of the early rounds, she somewhat surprisingly finished only third after setting a strong gallop last week. Of course, she ran into a rampant Bobsleigh Dream last time and were she to strike the front in tonight’s contest, she would likely hold on.
Scooby Duchess was second in the Oaks last year and is another that seems to be returning to her best form. Se has tremendous pace down the back straight but needs to come through the bars from trap four. If failing to do so, she will find herself battling for room.
Easy Razzle is certainly finding her feet. She ran arguably her best race of the classic last week when not beaten far behind Droopys Timing. She too needs to be at her sharpest in the opening yards but Johnny Linehan knows how to win an Oaks and he will have high hopes for his daughter of Droopy Sydney.
Droopys Nice One completes the line up. One of the undoubted stars of 2022, the Derby finalist will be finishing at speed from an ideal draw in the stripes. She may throw away a little ground on the final turn but is also a big player.
And that brings us back to Burgess Rapid. A professional early pacer, much will depend on what she does in the early yards. If coming away racing, she could upset the chances of Scooby Duchess and Easy Razzle, while also making a bold bid herself.
It’s a fascinating contest but slight preference is for Quivers Magic. Prior to last week’s defeat she had been foot-perfect in the early rounds and has the pace and power to compete at the very highest level. She gets the nod ahead of Droopys Nice One.
BOBSLEIGH AND UNDISPUTED DOMINATE MARKET
Unlike the opening heat, the betting for the second semi is likely to be dominated by two bitches, Bobsleigh Dream and Undulation.
Both were so impressive in victory last week, albeit in very different fashion.
Undulation made the most of an ideal rails pitch to dominate from the early yards. She came home in a fastest of the round 28.49. She wears the orange jacket of trap five this evening and must hit the ground running with the likes of Boylesports Coco and Crafty Shivoo on her inner.
That is a major concern for Undisputed as one feels she may need to dictate early to come home in front. The aforementioned duo of Boylesports Coco and Crafty Shivoo will race prominently and both are capable of setting a strong pace.
Given the fact that Boylesports Coco is drawn on the right side of Crafty Shivoo, she is perhaps the more likely leader but there is also little doubt she will need to get loose of the front to score.
Glengar Martha races from four and only her very best form will suffice. Flanked by early speed, it’s difficult to see where she can get a run, although she did stay on very strongly last week. Paradise Nikibel ran a big race in defeat last week and is clearly in good form but she will be a big price tonight and may need plenty of luck to land a telling blow.
That leaves us with Bobsleigh Dream. A likely hot favourite, the dual classic winner ran an incredible race in her quarter final to come from well off the pace to score. She lines up on the inside of the track this evening and looks certain to have a huge say.
With Boylesports Coco, Crafty Shivoo, Undisputed and potentially Paradise Nikibel all likely to challenge for the early lead, Bobsleigh Dream should get a clear run up the inside of the track. That would be a real concern to all her rivals.
Expect Bobsleigh Dream to again show her immense pace and power to earn herself a place in yet another classic decider. Undisputed is seen as the main threat despite a tough draw, while the battle for third could go right down to the wire.
GLIDEAWAY TO COMPLETE RCETS STROLL
Music Glideaway has been a revelation since stepping up to 575yd with the long run to the turn really playing to his strengths.
The Pat Guilfoyle trained youngster will start favourite to land the €4,000 on offer in the RCETS A1 575, although he needs another professional display given the strength of the opposition.
Kilgraney Mac can go up well in five and could potentially offer the most resistance to the favourite in the early yards. Meanwhile, Ballymac Run is perfectly housed on the fence to take advantage of any crowding on her outside.
Pied Piper won his semi-final in good style but needs another career best effort, while Ranchers Master and Crossfield Auric need to step up on their latest efforts. The latter did go fast in the opening round but needs a fast start to repeat that form.
In short, Music Glideaway is seen as the one to beat and is selected to charge into the lead before the turn. If doing so, it would need something pretty extraordinary from one of his rivals to deny him. Ballymac Run is drawn to emerge as the main danger.
BLUE BIDS TO LIGHT UP SUMMER
With a whopping €10,000 on offer to the winner, there could be a quite a battle for a place in the decider in the semi finals of the GRI Summer Open 525.
Hawkfield Blue has been the real find of the competition and is perfectly drawn in the opening heat.
Should the Keeley McGee trained star come away on terms, he will again take some stopping but the presence of the flying starter Capitan Garfio on his right shoulder is a concern. Capitan Garfio is a big player himself after making every inch in his last two starts. His supporters will be hoping he can again catapult from trap two.
There is also real early speed on the outside of the track with Hawkfield Ava certain to go up fast, although she looks held on recent efforts. The same can’t be said for Millroad Bolger. A strong runner in superb form at present, he has the pace to make a bold bid although he needs to somehow turn close enough to the speed.
Bonkersinyonkers and Faypoint Blue are both seeking their first win in the stake and need plenty to fall their way to make an impression from traps four and five.
Hawkfield Blue may be facing his toughest test to date but seems ready to step up to the plate. With a fast start, he can contest the early lead before asserting down the back straight. Capitan Garfio can emerge as his greatest danger.
GRANDAD TO GIVE RIVALS THE SLIP
The second heat is no less intriguing.
There is a mis of early speed and strength on show but slight preference is or Angry Grandad from trap five. A steady improver with some fine runs on his card, he needs to go up fast but that seems likely.
He was picked up late last week but the make-up of this evening’ contest could work in his favour, especially if turning in front. Churchtown Syd may well emerge as his main danger but he is vulnerable in the early yards and may need to come through traffic.
Salmic Fitz is certain to go up strongly on the outside of the track but would need to head Angry Grandad into the turn which is far from easy. Barrio Ellie has a fine draw on the fence but needs to produce a career best effort to land a blow, while Urban View and Feelsawumble must be at their very best to worry the judge.