FIVE AND SHADOW LIGHT UP KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

Callaway Five and Montana Shadow secured their spot in the final of the Kilkenny Track Champion Open Unraced on Friday night with both showing real promise and ability yet again. 

Denis Murphy’s Callaway Five went fastest, posting a brilliant 28.62 in the second semi. Carrick Scholsey was a hot favourite from two but again found early traffic and struggled to get involved thereafter. In contrast, Callaway Five charged into the turn from five to hold a narrow advantage on the bend. 

The son of Ballymac Cashout and Clondoty Amy drove the corner to ease on. Droopys Melon slipped around in second but could never worry the pace-setter. Instead, Lookandlep came through to take second but the Owen McKenna trained Callaway Five would run out a ready four length scorer. There was a further two length gap to Droopys Melon in third. 

SHADOW SHOWS HIS CLASS 

The opening heat quickly developed into a two-dog affair with Unanimous Leo flaying from trap four to set the pace into the opening bend. 

Montana Shadow was soon in chase, however. Closing on the leader into the turn, he would enter the back straight less than a length off the pace.

Showing superb speed to halfway, Montana Shadow would join the leader before halfway before forcing his way to the front into the third turn. The son of Droopys Flytline and Droopys Meteor would go on to score by a length and a half in 28.82. Unanimous Leo was second with Burgess Mystery another four and a half lengths further adrift in third. 

Champion Open Unraced 

Final draw

1 Unanimous Leo

2 Lookandlep

3 Burgess Mystery

4 Callaway Five (m)

5 Droopys Melon (w)

6 Montana Shadow (w)