TIME FOR YOUNGSTERS TO TANGO AT NEWBRIDGE
Ian Fortune
The final of the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525 is the highlight of tonight’s action in Ireland and a good crowd should be on hand at Newbridge to witness some exciting youngsters chase the €6,500 winner’s purse.
Liam Dowling has a particularly strong hand with two of the six representing his Ballymac operation and serious claims can be made for both Ballymac Allory and Ballymac Lix. Both have impressed through the stake with the former going fastest in the opening round with a 28.84 return, while Ballymac Lix displayed all manner of early speed to win her semi-final despite tying up in the closing yards.
Ballymac Allory has been handed the red jacket of one and will hope to avoid the early crowding that saw her finish third in the semis. If she does contain her kennel companion in the early yards, the daughter of King Sheeran and Derby finalist Maries Wedding seems certain to go close.
Ballymac Lix will not be easy to contain, however. She caught the eye on debut, showing plenty of dash between hitting traffic. A week on, she flew to the third turn on her way to an impressive 28.60 victory in her semi-final. Posting a sizzling 17.31 to the third turn, she was almost five lengths faster to that point than Droopys Crispy, who won the other heat in 28.59.
With that sort of early speed, she is the most likely pace-setter and if she has strengthened any, she could emerge as the one to beat.
CRISPY BIDDING TO COMPLETE A HAT TRICK
The aforementioned Droopys Crispy is unbeaten in the stake after making virtually every inch in her two outings to date.
Owned by Barry Clancy and Graham Ashe, it was notable that she improved considerably on the clock from round one to round two and it is conceivable she’ll do so again.
If that happens to be the case, she is certainly worthy of a great deal of respect. A trap five draw is not ideal but another fast start could see her quickly establish herself as a leading player.
EMMA BE HAS THE DRAW
Newline Emma Be chased home Ballymac Lix last week, coming home strongly to close the gap to a length on the line.
As the sole wide seed, the Robert Gleeson trained starlet has a favourable draw but she needs to be at her very sharpest in the early exchanges if she is to threaten.
CAN SUSIE OVERSHADOW RIVALS
Susie Shadow, as a daughter of Droopys Sydney and Oaks and Derby champion Susie Sapphire, is bred to be special.
She was second in her two assignments to date but has shown pace. If she finds a slick exit, it would be no surprise to see her also get involved in the shake up for recent Hall of Fame inductee Peter Comerford and Owen McKenna.
DAFFY CAN FLY
Dapper Daffy is perhaps the most intriguing runner in the field.
She flew in qualifying trials but has found traffic in both her starts to date. A sister to Ballymac Lix, it seems likely she can go up far faster than we have seen and is not ruled out lightly. Sam McQuade’s runner is drawn in three and could be the not-so-surprise package.
LIX GETS THE NOD
It’s a tremendous final.
While the clocks to date haven’t been overly quick, it seems safe to say a number of those on show will go on to have a good career. Ballymac Lix, given her exceptional early speed, is perhaps the most likely to go on to bigger and better things but it would be no surprise iof any of the six went onto become classic contenders.
Ballymac Lix just gets the vote as the likely leader but Ballymac Allory and Droopy Crispy are worthy adversaries, as are the three remaining females. The best of luck to all.