College Causeway grabs dramatic last-gasp win
Following his record breaking run in the first round of the Paddypower.com Irish Derby at Shelbourne, he gave his supporters an almighty fright before getting up in virtually the last stride in the second round last night.
He was only fourth down the back as Broadacres Turbo and Cashen Legend battled it out ahead of Wise Thought. But the Mike McKenna owned College Causeway really wound it up off the final bend and got up to win by a head from Cashen Legend in 29.71 with Broadacres Turbo a short head third.
Southern hopes in the Derby are very much alive and in St Louis Spirit owner Emma Browne and trainer Jerry Griffin have a very serious contender.
He had been mighty impressive in the opening round when winning in 29.52 and he was even better this time as he scorched around the circuit in a sizzling 29.38, winning by six lengths from Mecano with Fatboyz Nodrog less than a length back in third.
The Limerick dog Shaneboy Lee again turned on the style when winning Heat 5 but he had to dig really deep to snatch victory in the final strides in 29.64.
The brilliant puppy Scolari Me Daddy produced a performance belying his experience when flashing from traps and leading Shaneboy and Tip And Tip to the run-in. His stride shortened close home and Denis and Eoghan Kiely’s Shaneboy just shaded it by a neck with Tip And Tin a length back in third. The fancied UK challenger Thurlesbeg Joker went out in fourth.
Golden based trainer Graham Holland enjoyed a 1-2 in Heat 6 as the the Darren Lovey owned Riverside King took it up before the bend from his fast starting kennel companion Ardera Power. Riverside King skipped clear down the far side and then held the rallying Ardera Power by a length and a half in 29.79, with Group Skater finishing fast to be a two length third.
The session had commenced with the David and Janice Jordan owned Archaton Pine (Pinewood Blue/Archaton Lass) running out an impressive winner of Heat 1 in 29.77. From a level start, Archaton displayed the best early to take the bend and he raced away for a three length margin over Ballycanal Chief with Kerrydale Celt a length and a half third.
There was a real turn-up in the second heat where the Peter Cronin trained Global Hope (Droopys Maldini/ Jethart Baby) came with a flying late run to beat the favourite Ballymac Ruso in 29.84. Ruso looked home and hosed when he cleared the bend but he couldn’t shake off his rivals and was caught on the run-in by Global Hope which won by a length and a half. Fane Basher was two and a half lengths further back in third.
There was another dramatic finish to Heat 3 where this time the favourite held on for a short head success. Skip One, trained by Frances O’Donnell for Tom Smyth and Maurice Jackson, just led up from Cashen Zig but was clear into the back as the pursuers were involved in trouble. But Gunner emerged with a huge late run that only failed by the minimum in 30.09. Droopys Lee finished hard to be less than a length back in third.
It was a superb night for the southern runners and it ended up with the Mick O’Donovan trained Lady Glenard taking the final heat for West Cork owner Jenny O’Driscoll. Carib King led for most of the journey but Lady Glenard collared him close home for a three parts of a length margin in 29.84, with Magna Venturer also qualifying in third.
