ZENITH WIZARD CASTS EARLY SPELL ON SHAY ROONEY MEMORIAL

Peter Farrell

The opening-round heats of the Shay Rooney Memorial took centre stage on a strong card at Lifford Stadium on Saturday night and it was Zenith Wizard who set the early benchmark with a commanding display in the €4,000-to-the-winner opener.

Trained by Michael Taggart for Birol Nadir, Zenith Wizard, a half-brother to the high-class Droopys Clue, arrived at Lifford relatively unexposed but wasted little time in advertising his credentials. Drawn in trap three, the son of Out Of Range – Droopys Natalia flew from traps with an electric 2.58 sectional to manufacture a decisive lead into the back straight from Aidhe Eileen in second. From there it was effectively a solo as Taggart’s April pup stayed on powerfully up the hill to score by four lengths, stopping the clock in a red-hot 28.98 .20s.

HEAT WATCH

Heat two saw the well-supported Kitty The Boss (Glengar Bale – Burgess Maxi) show plenty of resolve to deny Rolo Genie late on. Quickly into stride from trap five, John McMonagle’s charge posted a sharp 2.56 sectional to lead the fancied Hollywell Merlin in six. The latter, making his Lifford debut, closed steadily down the back and loomed as a major threat approaching the final bends. Despite some crowding off the last turn involving Hollywell Merlin, ‘Kitty’ recovered well and showed good determination to fend off a late inside challenge from Rolo Genie, crossing the line a length and a quarter clear in 29.27.

Barry Clancy continued his good recent support of the northwest venue in heat three as Innfield Trinity delivered a trap-to-line success. Sent off the even-money favourite following a series of solid runs at HQ, the daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa – Oi Oi Upenalty, and a half-sister to Trinity Junior, pinged from trap five to take immediate control. Never under pressure thereafter, the blue brindle pulled clear to score by two and a half lengths from Avenue Queen in second, with the clock reading 29.25.

Track specialist Beebees Princess took centre stage in heat four as the Niall McGhee-trained black recorded a remarkable fifteenth career success. Jointly owned by Martin Lafferty and Oisin Orr, she was paw-perfect once again at traprise, pinging from trap two to lead comfortably into the opener. Pharis Syd gave chase and briefly threatened approaching the three-quarter mark, but ‘Beebees’ showed the superior stamina on the demanding Lifford hill to seal a length victory. The time, on a rain-soaked surface, was 29.44.

Early pace again proved decisive in heat five as the Kurtis Bain-trained Klassy Shoe (Grangeview Ten – Catunda Ebony) showcased his trademark early zip to land the eleventh win of his career. Owned by The Liquorice Allsorts Syndicate, the consistent black was narrowly headed by Max Wago at traprise but quickly asserted to build a three-length advantage down the back. Although Max Wago rallied strongly in the closing stages, Klassy Shoe dug deep to hold on by a neck in 29.25.

The final heat of the night saw Eimears Lady emerge a convincing winner for Gerald Quinn and Brian Robinson. Seeking a third career victory, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat – Drumcove Roxy broke well from trap three but was forced to play second fiddle early as Diegos Manna led from the inside. Showing superior power down the back, ‘Eimears’ took charge entering the penultimate bend and continued to strengthen thereafter, pulling clear up the hill to score by three and a quarter lengths from Diegos Manna in second. The time was 29.49.