SYD FASTEST IN IRISH SPRINT CUP BUT CHALLENGERS EMERGING
Ian Fortune
The second round of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup dominated proceedings at Dundalk on Saturday night and it was no shock to see the defending champion Broadstrand Syd setting a strong standard, although he had to pull out all the stops with Lennies Tank again highlighting his immense ability when finishing a close second.
A total of three heat winners broke the 21 second barrier but the 20.70 return of Broadstrand Syd was the standout. He faced a tricky draw in five but the absence of Some Cashout from four aided his chances, as did a slick exit.
It soon became a two-dog affair with Lennies Tank going up fast on the outside of the field. The pair were side by side into the turn, clear of the remainder but the Johnny Linehan trained Broadstrand Syd ran a far tighter line.
With Lennies Tank running wide off the second bend, Broadstrand Syd, owned by the Ryan, Drake, Donovan Syndicate, took his chance to open up a decisive advantage. Lennies Tank ran really hard to the line but Broadstrand Syd took the verdict, just three parts of a length ahead of his rival.
Broadstrand Syd remains the one to beat in the classic but Lennies Tank is a worthy adversary. Eight lengths behind the pair, Stefans Frost qualified in third.
JADE TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Liam Dowling has his team purring at present and Ballymac Jade became the latest from his kennel of stars to impress. She would emerge a comfortable winner of Heat 3, showing fine alacrity in the opening yards to dominate from the outset.
The daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Mucky Harbour flashed from four and was soon in control. Maintaining a relentless gallop throughout, she would eventually see off Cushie The Best by two and three quarter lengths in 20.94. Exclusion order was the same distance away in third.
EPIC FINDING HIS FEET
Epic Ace was the other sub 21-second winner when running down Dear Sir in Heat 5. Representing Pat Guilfoyle and John Kennedy Junior, the son of Signet Ave and Free From Desire broke on level terms behind the fast-starting Dear Sir.
Moving second halfway to the bend, he had to wait for the right moment to make his move.
The gap opened up on the inside of the track as they swung for home and he powered up the straight top reel in and beat Dear Sir by three parts of a length in 20.97. Ballymac Kamala was a length and a half further back in third.
PATRIOT POWERS TO SUCCESS
After a massive run in the opening round, Droopys Patriot made the most of a rails pitch in the opening heat, showing fine dash into the turn to get the better of the fast-starting Ballymac Setanta.
The Robert Gleeson trained son of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Alyssa would go on to beat No More Fiftys by a length and a half in 21.01. Ballymac Setanta was just a short head away in third.
BRILLIANT BROWNE SHOWS HIS CLASS
Stonepark Browne had to show real determination into the turn to get the better of Sogna Ancora in the final heat. The latter flashed from trap three but the long run to the turn really did play to the strengths of the Michael O’Donovan trained Stonepark Browne.
The son of Malachi and Coolavanny Ella moved to the fence from four, behind Sogna Ancora, before pressing the turbo button. Joining his rival on the bend, Stonepark Browne was now in a winning position on the inside of the track. The pair bumped but Stonepark Browne came out on top. He stayed on well to secure a two and a half length verdict in 21.05. Sogna Ancora was second with a further two length gap to Ballymac Brandan in third.
SOUTHWIND RUNS WILD
Southwind Wild led home a 1-2-3 for Pat Buckley in Heat 4. Always to the fore on the outside of the track, he forced his way into a narrow advantage before the corner.
Cutting the opening bend, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Mucky Harbour who is a litter brother to Ballymac Jade moved on.
Raha Rua moved second with Glengar Martha third but Southwind Wild stayed on strongly to secure a two and a half length victory in 21.12. In turn, Raha Rua had a length and three quarters in hand on Glengar Martha.