Barefoot Jenny makes no mistake in Oaks opening salvo
The Paul Hennessy trained winner was the 5/4 joint favourite with Vesuvius and the pair dominated the race as well with Barefoot Jenny making all but only just holding on by the minimum margin as her rival mounted a strong late challenge, the pair well clear of the other four.
The opening heat was also dominated by the market principals - Graysland Flo and Graigues Echo.
Graysland Flo was the business in the ring and went off a 5/4 chance ahead of Graigues Echo (7/4).
For 524 yards punters looked to have got it right as Graysland Flo showed the way after taking it up on the run to the bend.
But the Jim Morrissey trained Graigues Echo, third in last year's Irish Oaks, finished with a wet sail to collar the pacemaker in the last stride for a short head success in 28.36.
The prolific winning Legal Moment made a winning return to action in heat 3.
Winner of last year's Oaks classic at Shelbourne (which was largely responsible for her winning the Bitch of The Year Award at the National Greyhound Awards Gala last night) the Pat Buckley trained bitch was a 4/7 chance to make a winning return (she hadn't run since finishing last in a five dog race at Longford last October) and duly obliged.
Slowly away, she was last early on in the five dog heat but, after cutting into the rails, she led out of the second bend and was always comfortably holding the running on Noelles Magico in the closing stages for a two and a half length success in 28.77.
The Paul Hennessy trained Tyrur Marita was a significant non runner in heat 2 and in her absence the Joe Graham owned and trained Step Lightly easily saw off Money Go Lucky by six lengths in 28.63. The winner led into the bend and was clear by halfway.
Cabib Rose made every post a winning one when bolting in six lengths ahead of her rivals in 28.57 in heat 4 while Lady Serena finished strongly to grab the pacemaker Unknown Sheba in the closing stages for a length success in 28.79 in heat 5.
The trap draw for the semi-finals of the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Oaks is:
: - 1. Barefoot Jenny; 2. Grayslands Flo; 3. Money Go Lucky; 4. Noelles Amarillo; 5. Unknown Sheeba; 6. Graigues Echo.
: 1. Noelles Magico; 2. Cabin Rose; 3. Honchos Trix; 4. Vesuvius; 5. Step Lightly; 6. Lifes Lovely (w).
: 1. Blaclaun Flight; 2. Legal Moment; 3. Idaho Girl; 4. Jennys All Black; 5. Lady Serena; 6. Granard Goose (w).
