Peacock ruffles Budgie’s feathers
Fat Budgie, undoubtedly the star of Hennessy's purple patch for the past few weeks, was a 1/2 chance to go in again. He was well enough away but showed none of his usual early zip and, after a rough passage to the bend, was last and in big trouble at the opening corner.
He made up some of the leeway down the back straight but the joint national record holder for the standard trip never really threatened to get into the shake-up (cause not helped by being carried wide at the third bend by the reserve Civil Rights) and in the end could only finish fourth and made his exit from the competition.
Victory went to Captain Peacock, who had chased home the jolly the previous week, and who comprehensively turned the form around here. He swept into the lead at the opening bend and, after a good tussle with Rambos Dream to the third bend, the Michael Hoy trained dog gained the upper hand at that point and ran on well in the closing stages for a two and a half length success over Rambos Dream in 28.62.
Chipp Lad's early pace proved decisive in heat 1. The John Kiely trained dog is consistently fast away and took a flyer here. He was a couple of lengths up going into the bend and had matters well in hand from early in the back straight.
The winner was chased for most of the trip by Kefcar Denny but he was shot for second close home by Historic Moment. The latter did well to finish where he did. Slowly away, he was then hampered at the opening bend but made rapid late headway to take second in the dying strides, three lengths in arrears of Chipp Lad who clocked a time of 28.31.
Paul Hennessy’s runners in the event rolled into action in heat 2 and things began well for him when the again impressive Longvalley Homer led home a 1-2 for the kennel.
Longvalley Homer was led early on by the fast starting Susie Be Good and Travara Rex. He was a shade lucky not to be hampered by Susie Be Good moving wide between bends but he showed terrific acceleration to shoot into the lead at the second bend from which point he was in complete control.
Kennelmate and litter brother, Barefoot Maestro, took up the chase from halfway without ever holding out any hope of getting to the winner who had six lengths in hand at the line in 28.22.
Il Capitano took advantage of a dream opening between the first two bends to take heat 3.
Hares Mile on the inside was best away and was marginally in front of the reserve, Darrigal Droopy, when that one was forced wide between bends.
In the confusion Il Capitano, who was in the pack on the rails, shot through to take up the chase at the second bend. Hares Mile led to the third bend but the Eddie Iddon trained Il Capitano swept past at this point and came clear in the straight for an easy five and a half lengths win over the running on Hennessy trained Farran Lady in 28.34.
Hennessy's other runner, the 2/1 favourite De Burglar, could only finish fourth after being baulked.
