MARTHA FASTEST AS OAKS GETS UNDERWAY

    MARTHA FASTEST AS OAKS GETS UNDERWAY

    Ian Fortune

    The Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks commenced at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and, as you would expect, there were a few superb displays from some of the finest females in training although none could match the run of Glengar Martha in the final heat. Getting loose early, she saw off some exceptional rivals in a stunning 28.12. 

    Below is a heat by heat guide to the action. 

    Heat 1 – BABE BOUNCES OUT

    The Paul Hennessy trained Youandme Babe was expected to need the outing in the opening heat but she looked very sprightly, popping out of trap two to hold a narrow advantage into the turn. 

    Racing debutante Voyage Eala displayed fine early dash to slip up her inner and the pair had a great tussle to the third turn but those that know Paul Hynes’ Youandme Babe were expecting her to kick on at any point. 

    That point came between the last two bends as she finally mastered the very promising Voyage Eala. Ballymac Marcia came from out of the pack to close on the pair and would come through for second but Youandme Babe would kick on to win by two and a half lengths in a quick 28.44. Voyage Eala ran a huge race on debut, a length and a half further back in third.  

    Heat 2 – NOTHING LUCKY ABOUT JULIE’S SUCCESS

    In what was her first run since the Derby final, 2024 Oaks champion A Lucky Julie looked as good as ever in Heat 2, cruising to the front into the third turn before emerging an easy winner in 28.29.

    Pic right:A Lucky Julie (T6) and Velvet Jenny (T2) approaching the finish line in Heat 2 Rd 1 of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks.      Pic: Imelda Grauer

    Omey Mist led around the corner but A Lucky Julie steered a wide path to round her rivals and enter the back straight in second. 

    Jerry Melia’s daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Julies Paradise quickly moved through the gears and was in control by the third turn before going on to see off Velvet Jenny by five lengths. Omey Mist was another three parts of a length adrift in third. 

    Heat 3 – LIFE IS A BEACH FOR BONDI 

    Crafty Bondi is as strong as any runner in the Oaks and she put her incredible strength to great use in Heat 3, running down long-time pace-setter Sadies Lucy. 

    Prominent from early, Crafty Bondi would enter the back straight in third but quickly set her sights on the leader. 

    Charging into the third turn to go second, Peter Divilly’s daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Coolavanny Bondi stayed wide off the final turn before powering up the straight to win by a length from Sadies Lucy in 28.41. There was a two length gap back to Coolavanny Shona. 

    Heat 4 – MINT TOO HOT TO HANDLE  

    There was a fine finish to Heat 4 with Ballymac Mint (Ballymac Best/ Ballymac Ariel) just getting the better of Annadown Ellie and the eye-catching Goodnitekathleen. 

    Brockagh Justine displayed fine early speed to set a strong pace but the chasing pack began to bridge the gap passing halfway. 

    Ballymac Mint was first to get a crack at the leader but she was forced to stay wide. Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Mint would wait for her chance but it came as she straightened up into the straight. By this point Annadown Ellie and Goodnitekathleen were also in full stride and they closed right to the line.

    Ballymac Mint would go on to hit the line a half length in front of Annadown Ellie in 28.63 with Goodnitekathleen the same margin away third.  

    Heat 5 – ORLA FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH 

    Lemon Orla was one of the more impressive winners on the card, coming from well of the pace with a big finishing charge to get up in the closing stages. 

    Trained by Tom O’Neill for TJ Lyons and Noel Crowley, the daughter of Jacob Tashadelek and Feora Inish was a only fifth into the turn before going fourth as they hit the back straight. 

    Mosey Lil set a strong gallop out front, chased by Coolavanny Ogie and Glory Lara, but Lemon Orla would prove too strong for each. Showing great track craft, she weaved her way through the pack before making her move up the fence on the run in. 

    Powering to the line, Lemon Orla would go on to beat Mosey Lil by three parts of a length in 28.45 with Coolavanny Ogie just a half length further back.    

    Heat 6 – KOURNIKOVA ON POINT 

    Kournikova has a really willing attitude and real ability to back it up. 

    That was evident in Heat 6 where the Pat Buckley trained daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Dunquin Anna had to ride a few bumps around to turn within striking distance. 

    Ballymac Ridle would emerge with a narrow advantage but Kournikova was always too close for comfort. Within a half length to the third turn, Kournikova made her move as they turned for home. Staying on powerfully, Tom Ahern’s star would go on to hit the line a length and a half to the good in 28.47. Blackeyed Turbo came through for second with Ballymac Riddle another length adrift in third. 

    Heat 7 – A FINE DISPLAY OF POWER FROM ANNIE 

    One of the best finishes of the evening was reserved for Heat 7 where Droopys Bundle was collared on the line by the strong running Clonfert Annie. 

    One has to feel sympathy for Westway Rossa. She missed the kick but flew into the turn to hold a narrow advantage. 

    It was at this point that she clashed with Droopy Fruity, losing all hope of qualifying. Droopys Bundle was fourth into the turn but, staying close to the fence, found herself in front before the second turn. In contrast, Clonfert Annie was third into the turn but was forced wide and found herself in fifth entering the back straight. 

    The set back didn’t end her chance, however. Improving per position into the third turn, she moved third before finishing with a real flourish. Droopys Bundle continued to lead Drumshanbo Susie around the last two bends but Clonfert Annie was now in full stride for John Young. 

    The daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Blundel Bridie charged up the run in to come between the front two, leading late to win by a neck from Droopys Bundle in 28.55 with Drumshanbo Susie the same distance away in third. 

    Heat 8 – TANGO READY TO DANCE 

    The penultimate heat was a competitive affair with Eugene Sheehan’s Satin Tango making a big impression in what was her first start at Dublin and her first outside Cork. 

    Only fourth in the opening exchanges, she drew closer around the opening bends as Fleadh Saraide, Clonmore Alice and Unanimous Roxy battled for the early advantage. 

    Satin Tango stayed close to the fence down the back straight and seemed to hit the turbo button at halfway. Charging into the third turn, she made her move on the inside of last year’s champion Fleadh Saraide to get to the front. 

    Unanimous Roxy and Clonmore Alice were forced to try and pass on the outside. This allowed Satin Tango to make a decisive move. Once going to the front, the daughter of Jacob Tashadelek and Satin Abbey ran hard to the line to eventually cross with two lengths in hand on Unanimous Roxy and Clonmore Alice in 28.75. In victory, Satin Tango was claiming a fourth win in a row. It was also clear that both the winner and the joint runners-up will go faster in the near future.   

    Heat 9 – GLENGAR SENDS OUT A WARNING

    Glengar Martha has long been a star but she seemed the need to remind her rivals in the final heat, showing all her many qualities to emerge a tremendous winner. 

    Coming away racing in the stripes, the Pat Buckley trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Glengarbadminton soon seized control. 

    Ballymac Danica turned second in her comeback run but couldn’t match the leader. Instead, brilliant Puppy Oaks champion Shebetheone displayed fine pace to go in chase from the third turn. Sahe stayed on strongly but Bill Wood’s Glengar Martha would go on to claim a twenty first career victory by two lengths in a stunning 28.12. Bowadis Raven was another five lengths back.  

    LUCKY LEAVES IT LATE IN A1 550 DECIDER

    The final of the Go Greyhound Racing A1 550 was the fifth race on the card.

    Town Lucky arrived late and fast to claim a fine success for Sean and AJ Dooley. Dellser Jack made much of the running, holding up the favourite Swithins Jim throughout and this allowed Town Lucky to close into the third turn. 

    Maintaining his momentum around the last two bends, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Town Mouse struck the front as they turned for home to emerge a very deserving two and a half length winner over Dellser Jack in 29.95. 

    DEVIL STRIKES AGAIN 

    Racing ended with De Foxy Devil producing his second paw-perfect display in a row. 

    Trained by Marie Gilbert for Pat Flanagan and Stuart Kenny, the talented son of Broadstrand Bono and Kilgowan Kiwi flashed from boxes, edging to the fence. 

    Hot Wood would give chase throughout but could never bridge the gap. De Foxy Devil would race right to the line to win by a length in 28.25. 

    SPORTING PRESS IRISH OAKS – SECOND ROUND DRAW 

    Heat 1

    1 Drumshanbo Susie

    2 Goodnitekathleen

    3 Ballymac Riddle

    4 Unanimous Roxy

    5 Blackeyed Turbo (m)

    6 Crafty Bondi (w)

    Heat 2

    1 Colavanny Shona

    2 Ballymac Danica

    3 Omey Mist

    4 Kournikova

    5 Carrigmore Freya (m)

    6 A Lucky Julie (w)

    Heat 3

    1 Droopys Bundle

    2 Ballinabola Emma

    3 Satin Tango

    4 Clonmore Alice

    5 Bowadis Raven (m)

    6 Ballymac Marcia (w)

    Heat 4

    1 Lemon Orla

    2 Sadies Lucy

    3 Marlhill Donnie

    4 Coolavanny Ogie

    5 Annadown Ellie (m)

    6 Ballymac Mint (w)

    Heat 5

    1 Shebetheone

    2 Glory Lara

    3 Velvet Jenny

    4 Brockagh Justine

    5 Glengar Martha (m)

    6 Droopys Glamour (w)

    Heat 6

    1 Hawkfield Abbie

    2 Voyage Eala

    3 Youandme Babe

    4 Mosey Lil (m)

    5 Kilwest Diva (m)

    6 Clonfert Annie (m)