Chief wins a thriller

WALLACE Chief, winner of the Slievenamon Cup at the Crohane and Killenaule meeting, won a thrilling final to the Hotel Minella Tipperary Cup when defeating Ballyheigue cup winner Party Cee Jay at Clonmel yesterday.

There was little between Brendan Matthews’ charge and Elaine Guiney’s Party Cee Jay leaving slips with the latter holding a very narrow advantage at halfway. However, Wallace Chief edged in front in the closing stages to take the only turn, and the €2,000 prize.

In the final of the All-Aged bitch stake, Doctor Morrissey, trained in Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny by Liam Corcoran, came from behind to get the better of Irishtown Magic by a length.

Both trial stakes provided impressive winners.

In the Derby Trial Stake a pup who could have a say in the Boylesport Derby next February is Caesar Music. Trained by Kevin Barry, the winner who was smartly away from slips in the decider, raced away from the Owen McKenna trained Call The Fixer to have four lengths in hand at the turn The most impressive winner of the meeting and one undoubtedly one for the the notebook was The Grenard Syndicate’s (Dublin) Rushing in the Oaks Trial Stake.

She left little doubt about her superiority in the final as she was very fast away against the Kevin Barry trained Valentia Popstar, a litter sister of the Derby Trial Stake winner, to have eight lengths in hand where it mattered.