RANCH CAN PREVAIL IN LIMERICK 600 FEATURE

Peter Farrell

The final of the Limerick Stadium A3 600 serves as the feature on tonight’s card at the Dock Road circuit and Karacreek Ranch looks the one to beat after a thoroughly professional semi final performance.

Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for Dick Fitzgerald and John Frazier, Karacreek Ranch heads into the 1,000 decider as the most in-experienced runner in the field with just five starts but looks destined to grace open class company on a consistent basis after this stake.

A brilliant second in the opening round when posting a rapid estimate of 32.53, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Ranchers Rainbow franked that form with an emphatic seven length victory last time out and he has the draw to make-all once again. Housed in two, his main threat is Corporate Jack on his immediate inner, however, ‘Ranch’ gets the vote to get first run on his talented rival. The aforementioned ‘Jack’ will have plenty of support.

Declan Beary’s charge won his opening round assignment in a blistering 32.72 and recovered extremely well after crowding to book his place in the decider when seemingly on the verge of an exit. The son of Vic Vega is just an August puppy and is still open to much improvement, while he will also be very much at home from a plumb pitch in trap one.

The main question, however, is whether he can gain the edge on Karacreek Ranch on the run-up. Of the remaining finalists, Honest Endevour was a fine winner for Jack Foley in his latest start when posting 33.02 and he is a possible leader from trap four. Stonepark Bolger, Ready For Daisy and Ballyhooly Belle will also need to produce career-best efforts if they are to upset the apple cart, however, a podium finish is certainly within their grasp.