DARBYS DANCER POWERS TO OPEN 750 YARD SUCCESS

Barry Drake

DARBYS DANCER (Malachi-Love Island), trained by Patrick Devaney Snr for the Devaney Family Syndicate, delivered a powerful performance to win the €5,000 to the winner Curraheen Park Open 750 Stake Final on Saturday night.

The 2-1 winner turned third around the opening corners as Timmys Bucks was going along nicely up front. At the winning line for the first time, Timmys Bucks led Wellsreet Cath by five lengths with the classy winner just in behind.
Tracking well at the second last corner to move into second, Darbys Dancer still had a couple of lengths to find, however, Timmys Bucks isn't the strongest of stayers over this trip and he was coming back to the field.
Finishing strongly, Darbys Dancer was on top in the final strides and in the end, she got the better of the longtime leader, by a length, in 41.75.
Another magnificent performance from the winner who looks sure to be a big player in all the big staying races for the rest of the year. Timmys Bucks ran a superb race in second for his young handler Tim Cliffe. Wellstreet Cath was third, a length and a half behind the runner-up.

Darbys Dancer for the Devaney Family Syndicate & trained by Patrick Devaney. Also included is winning junior nominator Matthew Cahill.

Fahee Phantom (Fahee Storm-Warzone Lil) set the standard in the opening round of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced Stake. The even-money favourite took control after a couple of strides and the August puppy displayed massive speed throughout. A 28.23 winning run, three and a half lengths clear of Toolmaker King. Trained by Graham Holland for Kenny Glen, he's a super exciting young tracker.

Solo And Go (Ballymac Best-Ballymac Minton) impressed when winning the opening heat for The Kingdoms Palace Syndicate and trainer Liam Dowling. The August puppy, a 5-4 shot, produced a dream start and in truth, the outcome was never in any doubt. A 28.44 winning run, five lengths clear of Bouncing Monarch.

In the third heat, Turnthemagicon (Ballymac Cashout-Bugress Sarah) just did enough to fend off Ballycowen Daisy. Owned by Sandra and Patrick Guilfoyle, the September puppy, the 1-2 favourite powered down the back straight to lead before the second last corner. In a very exciting finish, the pacey winner just got the verdict, by a neck, in 28.60.

Ballymac Lake (Droopys Sydney-Ballymac Pete) ran out a comfortable winner of the closing heat for Liam Dowling. The November puppy drove a great opening corner to lead, pulling away on the back straight, the even money shot made the perfect start to his racing career, clocking 28.50, seven lengths clear of Droopys Sort.

In the second, an A1, Awful Harry (Coolavanny Hoffa-Another Blonde) caught the eye when winning for trainer Graham Holland and owners the R T And C Syndicate. It was all one-way traffic up front as the 5-4 winner won with plenty to spare, in 28.34.

The quickest run of the night came from Amarach Laoch (Crash-Toms Ariana) as the July youngster delivered a sensational 28.18 winning run. Owned by Nathan Brett and James Murphy, the 4-5 favourite got off the mark for the first time on outing number six. Once he broke in front, it was game over. Nicely clear at the opening corner, he displayed top-class early speed and pulled right away. Staying on strongly at the head of affairs, he came home alone, in 28.18.

Trainer Pat Kiely landed a double in the final two races, Da Tapper Flynn (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Lagoon) took the AA0 in 28.79, while Valleys Anger scored in the final race, an A0, in 28.55.