Hee Haws Sheriff knocks nine spots off track record
The 6-4 chance, owned by Ciaran Burke, broke level with Outonalimb but displayed a stunning turn of pace to go clear into the opening bend.
Quietly missed the kick, showed pace to the bend, where he found trouble, but on this occasion there was only ever going to be one result as Hee Haws Sheriff, having just his third sprint outing, galloped relentlessly to the line to beat his mate by four and a half lengths, in a brilliant 17.24.
Winning owner Burke said: “I’m delighted with that performance and, at this stage, just to qualify because it’s still a very hot stake. If you put Quietly on the other side of him you wouldn’t be sure to get the same result, as they’re two very good dogs. It’s great they’ve managed to avoid each other in the semi-finals.”
Although the current focus is firmly on this competition, it’s inevitable a greyhound with his early speed and top-class winning form over four bends, will make some appeal in the ante-post market for the English Derby. That, however, is an unlikely target, his owner revealed:
“We probably won’t go to Wimbledon with him. The long run to the escape would take an awful lot out of him,” Burke added. “We may be better off staying here for the Laurels and, possibly, the Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk, although those two stakes come close together.”
All four favourites were successful in the heats and the improving Ballymac Sexton made light of his task in the second quarter-final. Trained by Leonard O’Hanlon, the 5-4 chance broke well, quickened up to lead Coolemore Jet into the first bend, and stayed strongly to beat that rival by three and a half lengths, in 17.46.
Trainer Robert Gleeson took the last two heats with Ballymac Bigmike and Toolmaker Scot. The former, sent off 1-2 favourite, was made to work hard to justify his odds, but ultimately did so quite well. Seeking an eleventh win in 12 outings, he broke well but Anfield Panther led around the bends. However, the favourite quickened off the home turn, and led late for a length-and-a-half victory, in 17.56.
In the last heat, Gleeson’s Toolmaker Scot broke better than ever but was trumped by the early dash of Darrig Lucky. The even-money favourite challenged on the bend, put his nose in front turning for home, and pulled clear late to win by two and a half lengths, in 17.60.
The feature on the undercard was the open 525 which closed the card, and Lurriga Gold, trained by James Roche, got up late to collar long-time leader Madra Deas, with three parts of a length to spare, in 28.42.
1. Toolmaker Scot, 2. Anfield Panther, 3. Darrig Lucky, 4. Nickys Assassin, 5. Hee Haws Sheriff, 6. Coolemore Jet (w).
1. Burley Babe, 2. Outonalimb, 3. Ballymac Sexton, 4. Quietly, 5. Halftime Show, 6. Ballymac Bigmike (m).
Meanwhile Slippery Fred, fresh from his victory in the Gold Cup, set the standard in the opening round of the Ladbrokes Easter Cup on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park. Larry Dunne’s dog finished runner-up in this stake in 2015, and the evidence of this run suggests he could go as far this time.
Sent off 5-2 second-favourite, behind odds-on shot Jaytee Jet, he broke in front, readily cleared the inside runners in the early yards, and raced some four clear down the back. The favourite stayed on well but never managed to lay a glove on the leader, who proved two lengths too good, in 29.37.
On a night when he recorded a seven-timer, trainer Graham Holland won four of the six heats, starting with Sidarian Vega in the first heat.
The Champion Stakes winner was bumped a couple of times but quickened away from the third bend to win in 29.61. Leger winner Skywalker Rory (29.53) quickened to take control of the second heat as the first bend approached, and duly proved too strong for his opponents, headed by Time To Share.
Rural Hawaii gave Holland a third heat victory when leading from halfway and pulling three lengths clear of Only For Life, in 29.73. Notorious Ben, owned by Mike Moloney and having his first run for Holland, completed the four-timer when making all in the fifth heat. The 3-1 chance didn’t enjoy a clear run early but turned in front and stayed stoutly to deny Ravenswood Gold by a length, in 29.97.
Rockburst Riva (28.67), Riverside Oscar (28.68) and Clares Queen (28.45) completed the remarkable 959-1 seven-timer for the Riverside Kennels.
Holland suffered a rare reverse on the night when 1-3 chance Ballydoyle Honey failed by a length to get to the strong-staying Country Legend, who recorded 29.53 in the third heat.
On Friday night in Tralee, the Pat Buckley-trained Lenson Rocky extended his unbeaten record to three when taking the first semi-final of the GMHD.ie Juvenile Classic.
It was never anything other than straight-forward for the 4-5 chance, which popped out of the inside box, and stayed on well to beat Turree Bolt by three lengths, in 28.35, with Tommys Lord earning his place in the final, two and a half lengths further back.
Escapism, trained by Owen McKenna for Eimear Coffey, proved too strong for his rivals in the second semi-final. Away well, he was marginally in front racing to the bend, but conceded the advantage to the tight-railing Tynwald Baz as they raced the opening bends.
Out of the strong-running Killacolla Glory, he challenged for the lead racing down the back, and pulled away late to beat Tynwald Baz by two lengths, in 28.64, with Mobile Tracker grabbing the last place in Friday night’s decider.
The draw would appear to favour to two semi-final winner, with Lenson Rocky’s early pace likely to prove decisive. Drawn in two, outside Escapism, he has the pace to clear that rival early and if he posts a clock as smart as any of the three he has already recorded. Escapism is progressing with racing, however, can slip around behind the winner, and won’t be easy to fend off.
Trap draw for Juvenile Classic final (Friday, March 4)
1. Escapism, 2. Lenson Rocky, 3. Mobile Tracker, 4. Turree Bolt, 5. Tommys Lord, 6. Tynwald Baz.
