Coolavanny Brian earns his stripes with trap-to-line success

The semi-finals of the Two Wheel Training A2 525 featured on a graded card on Saturday night at Curraheen, and there was a minor upset in the first heat as Coolavanny Brian earned his stripes with a trap-to-line victory.

A semi-finalist in the Juvenile Classic at Tralee, and now with trainer Pat Norris, the July pup had the favourite, Razldazl Oisin, in chase as they raced down the back. But the 4-1 chance held his line well and stayed on strongly to score by two and a half lengths, form Dims Boy, in 28.81, with the favourite the same distance back in third place.

The second semi-final went to Joy McCotter’s Gifted Belle, who made full use of her inside line. The 3-1 shot broke well, and slipped around in front. The strong-running sort was never likely to be caught, and duly stayed on strongly to beat Test Me by three lengths, in 29.08, with Wideawakejohn also claiming a place in the decider.

The Barry’s Tea is not that far away and with that and other six-bend stakes in mind, a couple of performances on Thursday night caught the eye.

Coolykereen Lamp, who is out of a half-sister to 2012 Derby fourth Coolykereen Imp, was having just the third start of her career and the May pup raced right away from some seasoned rivals in the closing stages of her 750 to record 42.34.

Her previous outing, when she got up on the line to win an A3 525 in 29.00, showed her to be pretty smart over the standard trip, but it is as a staying prospect she makes most appeal.

On the same night, Fireblast Penske, a half-sister to Vulturi, also looked a fine staying prospect when drawing right away from her rivals to post a wide-margin victory in 42.48. She and Coolykereen Lamp are two to keep on the right side for the remainder of the year.

Two Wheel Training final trap draw:

1. Coolavanny Brian, 2. Dims Boy, 3. Gifted Belle, 4. Test Me, 5. Wideawakejohn, 6. Razldazl Oisin (w).