Serene may not be ready to rumble
Every owner and trainer dreams of having a Derby contender but when you own one of the favourites and see him hobble off the track after maintaining an unbeaten record in the third round, the frustration must be extreme. The latest report from owner Ryan was that no final decision would be made until tomorrow but the voice did not ring of confidence.
The irony is that Serene Rumble is clearly struggling on the bends but is absolutely flying on the straights. He would have a relatively handy task in the opening heat on Saturday where he is likely to have the freedom of Shelbourne on the outside with a field of five wide seeds in opposition. All this makes the decision even more difficult.
Elsewhere there have no fresh injury doubts in the build-up to the fourth round. Last week Top General was a doubtful runner but Graham Calvert reports that this fellow is much better this week and a certain starter on Saturday. He is due to contest the same heat as Serene Rumble where Mustang Mega and First Charter will be the other main fancies.
Climate Control is reported in fine form by trainer Seamus Graham and he should overcome a potentially tricky draw in Heat 2. There could be trouble on the inside here between Droopys Oasis and Kings Cadet while Climate has to get around Drumsna College in the early yards on the outside.
One suspects that Heat 3 may be the one to provide a surprise. The draw has thrown up a minefield with Maryville Rumble sure to move wide from trap three and Goldmember certain to dive in from six. Between them are Jewel Nikita and Droopys Agassi. All this suggests that the inside runners Kanoute and Droopys Joel could have a mighty chance.
The final heat will see Borna Pilot attempting to get back on the winning trail. He is better drawn than last week and should be perfectly poised to challenge the likes of Bookie Burglar and Mobhi Gamble at the third bend. But with Simply Vintage, Killahara Dream and Chestnut Jet also in there, nothing can be taken for granted.
The Inter Track has worked a treat during the Derby thus far with most tracks generating decent betting into Dublin. Encouraging has been the performance of tracks not racing on Saturday nights, such as Youghal and Clonmel while the new Galway track bet big into Dublin last weekend.
Mention of Galway, a new management team has been put in place at the track. The new GM is Ciara O'Mahony who has extensive international experience in marketing with Tourism Ireland while the RM is Ollie Hester who has experience as assistant at both Shelbourne and, more recently, Mullingar. Hester actually took office on Tuesday and is currently working on the calendar for the remainder of the year.
It's another major week at Curraheen Park where tonight's card features the final of the 15,000 Bank Of Ireland 525 and the news is that Gerry Holian’s Indian Ruler will be an absentee, so there will be no runner from trap six. Saturday's card includes the finals of the Old Belle 525 and the John O'Riordan 525 plus heats of the valuable Willie Cummins Memorial 525 and the Rota Industries 525.
There is a big sponsored meeting at Curraheen next Thursday night in aid of Nazareth House, Mallow and there are two open races, a sprint and a 1,000 525. The other races are: 525y (29.90, 29.70, 28.70, non winners in five races or more); 550y (29.30); 575y (29.50) and 750y (39.50 or equivalent). Entries close on Monday.
Coming up is the Knockeevan King 29.30 Stake with a winner's prize of 2,500, the closing date is September 13th. Next week’s Getting Out Stakes is a 525 for dogs that haven't bettered 29.10. The usual reminder, the Co-Op SuperStores Irish Laurels will commence on Thursday, September 25th.
The valuable Red Mills Southern Champion Stakes gets underway at Youghal tomorrow night and there is a top class entry for the 15,000 to the winner event. Cashmans make Synone Starlight their 5-1 favourite ahead of St Leger winner Mountleader Rolf at 5-1 but Denis O’Driscoll’s Leeview Sandy is a mighty interesting runner, though Cashmans are taking no chances at 10-1. The draw is:
Heat 1: 1 Micra Miss; 2 Vigorous Rex; 3 Word Of God; 4 Vinnys The Best; 5 Air Force James; 6 Honchos Trix.
Heat 2: 1 We Three; 2 Baltimore Bay; 3 Sparta Cleo; 4 Mountleader Rolf; 5 Valentia Citrate (w); 6 Oasis Rumble (w).
Heat 3: 1 Deerfield Hill; 2 Magniers Flash; 3 Burgess Raiser; 4 Niamhs Old Forge; 5 Nod Mac; 6 Clune Pride.
Heat 4: 1 Southeast Prince; 2 Clodiagh Valley; 3 When You Like; 4 Toms Miller; 5 Miss Opulence; 6 Boherash Grove.
Heat 5:1 Sparta Titan; 2 Active Nikita; 3 Balscadden Boy; 4 Frosty Dan; 5 Leeview Sandy; 6 Daring Prince.
Heat 6: 1 Blazing Euro; 2 Rovers Estate; 3 Canary Captain; 4 Steamboat Rumble; 5 Synone Starlight; 6 McCarthy (w).
Cashman’s betting: 9-2 Synone Starlight; 5 Mountleader Rolf; 7 Air Force James; 8 Canary Captain; 10 Valentia Citrate, Nod Mac, Leeview Sandy; 12 Vigorous Rex, Deerfield Hill; 14 Vinnys The Best, Niamhs Old Forge, Southeast Prince, Miss Opulence, Active Nikita; 16 bar.
There is a prize of 7,500 on offer in the final of the Champion Professional Racer Winner of Three Stake at Harold’s Cross tomorrow with Jordans Elect a good value choice. The card also includes the semi-finals of the Baggot Racing Irish Puppy Oaks and the Ryan Cleaning Services Open Sprint.
Tonight’s Enniscorthy meeting features the final of the Reggie & Phil Turner Memorial Leger while at Mullingar there is the final of the Trapdoor Restaurant 525.
The 5,000 Kasco Derby gets underway at Kingdom Stadium tomorrow night and the final will be run as part of the five night festival in conjunction with Listowel.
Saturday's Waterford meeting is a benefit in aid of “Little Red Kettle” while Limerick the same night will have the final of the Imelda Phelan 29.00 Stake. Then on Monday it will be the turn of the semi-finals of the Irish Cambridgeshire Open 700 at Limerick. Tinas Girl set the pace with a 38.88 run in the opening round when she had only two rivals. Indeed it wasn't a good night at Limerick on Monday with a huge number of non-runners. Other heat winners of the six bend event were Corporate Giant in 39.07 and Group Venture in 39.47.
Clonmel’s meeting on Sunday next will feature the final of the Autumn Novice 750 where the Stephen Bourke trained Kellysan gets the call on the strength of a 42.47 run in the semi-final.
