Raffa rules in Laurels
By Kinloch Brae, out of Rafa Baby, who was a litter sister to Rossa Baby and a half-sister to former Cork Oaks winner Maireads Fantasy, he was an easy-to-back 2-1 favourite but there was never uneasiness in his performance.
In execution it was straightforward: drawn in trap two, he broke well enough to prevent any potential infringement from habitual fast starter Knocktoo Garry and, in doing so, ensured a clear path to the first bend.
And then, with a tremendous turn of pace, which filled the eye, he opened up an advantage of some four lengths on his rivals. And that, in effect, was that.
Showing the class which had brought him the Laurels Consolation in 2014 and second-place finish behind Greyhound of the Year Boylesports Hero in the Produce Stakes, he ran powerfully to secure a five-and-a-half-length victory in 28.31.
Local runners filled the next three places. Burgess Rumble and Mimis Ace had a real tussle for second place. Both ran their heart out, but it was the former who shaded the verdict, by a short head, with Drive On Royal, in fourth.
“It’s a dream to win a third Laurels,” said O’Connor. “You’d be going back years, to when I was coming here as a young man and you’d be thinking ‘would that ever happen to me?’, and for it to happen three times is unbelievable.
“The Laurels is a great competition and, for me, when you have a pup, it’s the one you want to win.
“I’ve had a lot of good luck at this track, and at the old track as well - Cork is a lucky hunting ground,” added the Scartaglen handler.
“The dog came here with a decent reputation – he was favourite from the start, and we knew he was in good form. He has great early pace and he got away well on the right night. We are delighted with him.”
The English Derby is not on the agenda as “it would be too much of a rush at this stage”, but the Irish Derby is a distinct possibility.
Racing opened with a trap-to-line victory for the well-backed Mums Pearl, trained by Liam Curtin, Ballinhassig. The bitch raced clear early, and stuck to her task well to deny Satin Hugo and Not Exile by a neck and the same in 28.76.
Sprint king Jerry O’Sullivan, Carrigaline, took the second race with Kilmoney Nipper. The 6-1 chance flew from boxes to go clear early, and held the attention of Dan The Man by a length, in 17.68.
Fair Price got up late to win the hurdle for Paddy and Breda Barrett, Kilmallock. Rockybay Thomas made most of the running, but the winner turned handy, jumped to the front at the last, and prevailed by half a length, in 28.79.
Dermo Napper also produced a strong-running performance in the 96fm & C03 A2 525 final. Trained by Jim McAllister for Dermot Bracken, he turned close behind Whatasetup and forged ahead from the third bend to win by two lengths, in 28.55.
In the A1 525 Rockybay Thomas posted a career-best effort, for trainer Kieran Lynch and owner John Slyne, Minane Bridge. The January ’13 whelp missed the kick but showed pace to lead into the turn. He then galloped clear to win by a wide margin, in 28.43.
Ballymac Jarlath made most of the running to take the 750 for trainer Jerry Griffin. In front at the first turn, he quickened up well passing the judge, and stayed on strongly to beat the fast-finishing Fire Height Amy by three and a half lengths, in 41.87.
The Jerry Hennerty Memorial Unraced Stake produced another potentially very smart winner as Glenanore Ace dominated from start to finish for Tom and Breda O’Neill, Castletownroche. The June pup showed really smart early pace to build an advantage over Droopys Essex, and beat that rival by three and a half lengths, in 28.64.
Burgess Four took race eight in great style. The 5-4 favourite, owned by Sheila Spillane and JJ Fennelly, Killeagh, flew from trap five, and dominated throughout as he posted a 28.32 victory.
Bernard McCarthy, Clonakilty, took the Two Wheel Training A1 525 final with Obvious. He turned in front of the strong-running Bartlemy King and saw out the trip well to beat that rival by a length and a half, in 28.83.
Ardfert Tee Jay, trained by Frances O’Donnell for Noel and Adrian Clifford, Ardfert, showed tremendous pace when coming from off the speed to take the Vimmerby at Stud Open 550. The 7-4 favourite caught the eye making progress to the third turn and, after swinging wide around the leaders as they turned for home, got up late to win by a length, from Joyful Dribbler, in 29.84.
The Ian Reilly-trained Quietly wrapped up a fine night of racing by posting the fastest time of the night. The Puppy Derby winner found his stride quickly and was some six clear as he approached the third turn. Ballybough Mike produced a power-packed finish but the leader held on by a length, in 28.22.
Meanwhile the rematch between Droopys Streak and Ballydoyle Honey, in the semi-finals of the Healthcare & Transport Services Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne Park, turned out to be a real thriller, with the former coming out on top for the second time – but only just.
Droopys Streak, trained by Fraser Black, led around the opening bend, where his chief rivals was forced to ease. The leader maintained a strong gallop and when she cut across at the third turn, forcing Ballydoyle Honey to check quite badly, it looked to be the winning of the race.
To her credit, Ballydoyle Honey never stopped trying and, in a pulsating finish, Droopy Streak held on by the minimum margin, in 28.33.
Skywalker Pearl went quicker when making all the running in the other semi-final. The even-money favourite, trained by Graham Holland, raced some six clear down the back, and withstood the late charge of the fast-finishing Urban Gossip, in 28.22.
Elsewhere on the card there was a notable performance from July pup Ballymac Matt, in the closing 550.
Winner of his first-round heat of the Laurels in 28.28, the Liam Dowling-trained son of Tyrur Big Mike and Ballymac Scarlett had his favoured inside box, and he popped out, made all the running, and raced powerfully to beat 2014 Cox Cup winner Redwood Mick by seven lengths, in a flying 29.36.
In Limerick, Priceless Lassie justified odds of 1-2 in the first semi-final of the Holmes O’Malley Sexton Solicitors Oaks. A class act, who could be a lively outsider for the Irish Derby, she was last to the first turn but tracked particularly well to challenge early in the backstraight. In front before halfway, she stretched six clear of Hitachi Grace, in 28.41.
Madams Babe recorded the same time when edging out odds-on favourite Slippery Hanna in the second semi-final. The two had the race between them from the outset, but Brenda Peters’ bitch used her inside line to edge ahead for a half-length victory.
Cloon Glory, who was a finalist last year, made all the running to take the third semi-final for Tim Gilbourne. Earning in 28.55.
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