FINE FRIDAY NIGHT DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

There were some superb displays at Shelbourne Park on Friday night.

The two feature races were won by Annadown Kisses and Yurty Magurty with both displaying superb early speed, while Liam Dowling unleashed a couple of potential Puppy Oaks and Irish Oaks challengers with Ballymac Allory and Ballymac Lix showing real ability. 

RED HOT KISSES

As she had been seven days earlier on debut, Annadown Kisses was a real professional in the final of the Upcoming Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks ON2 525.

Gerry Dillon’s daughter of Grangeview Ten and Annadown Cutie was understandably sent off a warm favourite at 5-4 and it was soon evident she was over-priced.

Shooting from trap three, she was already clear by the turn and never left her rivals with any chance of getting back on terms. Borna Lasie and Sheer heaven had a great battle for second with the verdict going to the former but Annadown Kisses hit the line three and a half lengths to the good in 28.62.

MAGURTY TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Much like Annadown Kisses, William Hodge’s Yurty Magurty also displayed fine early dash to win the other final on the card, that of the A2 525.

His main market rival Kristofferson flashed from four but Yurty Magurty meant business, flying up the fence to comfortably lead by the turn. 

It was a decisive move from the Eddie Hurson trained son of Deerjet Sydney and Millabbey Mandy. Ballybun Ranger took up the chase in second but was never really close enough to threaten and he was eventually picked up on the line by Kristofferson but Yurty Magurty emerged a comfortable three and a half-length scorer in a quick 28.59.

ALLORY SHINES AS LIAM RECORDS NOTABLE DOUBLE

Liam Dowling was again showing off his kennel strength, recording a brilliant double as both Ballymac Allory and Ballymac Lix greatly impressed on their Shelbourne debut.

Ballymac Allory was first into action, looking every inch a future star as she emerged the easiest winner of the night. Simply too good for her rivals in an A2 contest, Shane Dowling’s daughter of King Sheeran and former Derby finalist Maries Wedding charged to the front in the early yards and went further and further clear.

By halfway she was in a commanding lead and still she poured it on. Posting a rapid 15.89 to the third turn, she went on to see off the always second Hazelhill Marty by an ever-increasing eleven lengths in a sizzling 28.05.

LIX GOING SOME LICK

Ballymac Lix also displayed fine early speed, breaking well from four before quickening into a decisive lead.

She had to work considerably harder than her kennel mate but held on from the strong challenging Avenue Queen.

Indeed, the runner-up ran a fine race to lose out by only a length but the winner has a bit of x-factor about her. The daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Pete stopped the clock in a quick 28.36, while also hinting there was much better to come.