LUKA STARS AS BAR 1 BETTING IRISH SPRINT CUP COMMENCES
Ian Fortune
There were many superb opening round displays in the opening round of the Bar 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup but ante-post favourite Magical Luka stood out as he posted a sizzling 20.88 despite giving one of his rivals a headstart at boxes.
Magical Luka wasn’t the only star name to dip under the 21 second barrier as both The Other Aari and Tiermana Dream both posted 20.96 on their way to an impressive victory in their respective assignments.
LUKA SHOWS HIS CLASS
Magical Luka took the headlines, however.
The brilliant son of King Sheeran and Magical Mary put his recent woes behind him with a display of pure speed. Yurty Magurty flashed from traps to hold a good lead after a few strides but Magical Luka was on a different planet into the turn.
Showing outstanding early speed, he slipped up the inside of his rival to lead before the corner. Maintaining a relentless gallop to the line, Magical Luka emerged a facile five and a half length winner over Yurty Magurty. Aayamza Dazzeler was another length and a quarter away in third.
AARI IMPRESSES IN OPENER
The Other Aari, owned by the Born Wild Syndicate, was every bit as impressive in the opening heat, showing similar pace to Magical Luka into the bend.
Montana Secret was soon in front but The Other Aari put the foot down into the bend to shoot around the early leader.
Once hitting the corner in front, it was all one-way traffic. The Jennifer O’Donnell trained son of Grangeview Ten and Scooby Duchess powered up the straight to hit the line two and a half lengths clear of Montana Secret in a rapid 20.96. Crafty Coolio was just three parts of a length back in third.
WILD COMPLETES A DOUBLE FOR O’DONNELL
The Other Wild would later complete a double for Jennifer O’Donnell and the Born Wild Syndicate when coming home in front in Heat 8.
Early Payout went up fastest to lead into the turn but he steered a middle path, leaving room for the advancing The Other Wild to shoot through.
The son of Ballymac Wild and Whitings Gift went on to see off the staying on Buddy Bruno by a length and a half in 21.18. Early Payout was just a length adrift in third.
DREAM DASHES CLEAR
Tiermana Dream was electric in Heat 4, showing his trademark early speed to get the better of the fast-starting Ballymac Zak into the bend.
Trained by Colm Fitzgerald for the Zero Zero Syndicate, the son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Tiermana Jetty again confirmed his standing as one of the very best in training with a straightforward victory.
In complete control by the second turn, Tiermana Dream powered up the straight to emerge a three and three quarter length winner over Rallying Billy in 20.96. Looking Splendid again displayed plenty of pace to sit just a half length further back in third.
FLYER LIVES UP TO HIS NAME
Shea Campbell’s Robbies Flyer continued his rise up the ranks in Heat 5.
A well bred son of Dromana Bucko and Ballymac Sanjose, Robbies Flyer was prominent from the outset, holding Shadow Oftherock to the turn and up the home straight. Robbies Flyer went on to score by a length and a quarter in 21.18. Shadow Oftherock was second with a further two and a half length gap to Whinney Hill Boy third.
A FANTASTIC RUN FROM ADAM
Fantasy Adam emerged a superb winner to bring the curtain down on proceedings.
Trained by Adam Dunford for Leslie Coveney, the son of Jacktavern Gem and Newinn Madam flew from five and made every inch to beat Gizmo Mysterio and Away Bono by two and three quarter lengths and a half length in 21.24.
A NICE CUP OF TEA
Promising youngster Anothercupoftea made a winning two-bend debut to score for Alan Byrne and owners Rebecca Porter and Wayne Greenaway.
Breaking on terms, the son of Mcinerney and Ballymac Ariel displayed fine early dash into the turn to assert. Once doing so, the October ’24 whelp eased on to beat Charming Charlie by four lengths in 21.31. Woodcliff Duke was a length and a half away in third.
BUCKO A COMFORTABLE SCORER
Jason Whyte sent out Marlfield Bucko to win Heat 2.
The son of Dromana Bucko and Tip Top Taylor shot from the outside box to lead from the opening strides. By the turn, he had things well in hand and proceeded to hold off Tiermana Hunter by a length in 21.34. Born Ranger was another length back in third.
SAMBA TAKES HIS CHANCE
Sean Melly’s Velvet Samba had a little luck in Heat 3 but took full advantage.
Only fourth into the turn, the son of Glengar Bale and Velvet Spring edged towards the fence from an outside draw before finding a gap as Ridemount Sky moved off the rail. Shooting through the gap, Velvet Samba went on to contain Hackney Dino by a length in 21.37. Bomber Nina was a length and three quarters back in third.