Sheila’s Machine storms to victory

THE 2019 season got under way on Thursday night as scheduled with an all graded card and there was a decent turn out on what was a chilly and windy night.

There were some nice performances on the night and it was the Brendon Frayne owned Sheila’s Machine who put in the performance of the night in race seven.

Fresh from her coursing exploits, she was very quick away from her trap five draw and was always in command to go on to score an easy win in a fast 28.89; a career best.

Local trainer John Kavanagh enjoyed a nice double on the night when his own Uisce Vim got off the mark at the sixth attempt when leading in race six and ran out an easy winner in the end from the luckless Mulrankin Moll in a time of 29.67 before Falcon Blitz showed good early pace to lead in race eight and he just had enough in hand to hold Bugatti Petite by a head in a time of 29.30.

Race nine saw a very good run from the Joseph Anglim owned Tullycanna Dot who went to the bend best followed by Flying Lola and that is the way it remained all the way to the line with Tullycanna having three lengths to spare at the line in a time of 28.95.

Race three saw a good finish between traps three and four as Spaceem Sand showed the better early from his trap three draw to lead by several lengths down the back, but Sandeal Racer tracked well up the inside off the last bend and put down a strong run for the line that just failed as Spaceem had done enough to grab the money by a head for trainer David Morris and the Howya-Buddy-Syndicate Enniscorthy in a time of 29.26.

Barntown trainer Nick Turner had a good Thursday morning in Waterford when he recorded a treble. Starting in race three when the Mark Jeffers owned Callums Girl ran out a two-length winner in 29.59, followed by Liltuc Sucre in race four who got home by a length for owners Tanya Gardiner and Brendon O’Brien, New Ross, time 29.32.

Shakespeare made good use of his good early pace in race seven and the better ground conditions helped him race to a clear cut win by three and a half lengths in a good time of 29.15 for owner Eoghan Ruttledge, Wexford.

Turner continued his winning ways on Saturday night at the same venue when Kacys Nemo took race three in a time of 29.04 for his 11th career win for owner Denise Whelan.

The Martin Stafford, Ballymitty, Co. Wexford, owned Bitoftear won race two when his early pace took him to the lead off the second bend to score in 29.49.

Race 11 saw the Mathew Fanning owned Harristown Star wear down fellow Co. Wexford runner Blue Cheese to beat him half a length in a good time of 28.78; a career best.

Racing continues on Thursday night only at Enniscorthy for February with the first Monday night in March running the first round heats of the Spring Unraced stake. Results for Enniscorthy:

Race 1 - The Welcome to The Show Grounds Stakes (Grade: A3) - 1st: (Trap 6) TULLIG GOLD, owner: Caroline Hutton, Oxfordshire; Trainer: Sean Dooley, Co. Carlow. 29.56, 5/2.

Race 2 - The Racing Every Thursday for February Stakes (Grade: A6/7) - 1st: (Trap 1) GROVESHILL DUBH, owner: Brian Finn, Co. Wexford; Trainer: Owen Doyle, Gorey. 29.99, 3/1.

Race 3 - The We’re Back Again 525 Stakes (Grade : A5)

1. Trap 3 SPACEEM SAND owners Howya-Buddy-Syndicate ,Enniscorthy . Trainer David Morris ,Enniscorthy. 29.56 -.30 Slow 29.26 6/4 A3 FAw,HldOn

Race 4 - The Hot Food @ TrackSide Diner Stakes (Grade: A6) Flat 525 - 1st: (Trap 4 ) RATHBALLY CHASE, owner: James Flynn, Enniscorthy. 30.16, 3/1.

Race 5 - The Ross Road Five-Two-Five Stakes (Grade: A4) - 1st: (Trap 1) CACTUS SEACREST, owner: Ian Tierney, Kilmore. 29.72, 6/4.

Race 6 - The Hot Whiskey’s in our Track Bar Stakes (Grade: A5) Flat 525 - 1st: (Trap 2) UISCE VIM, owner: John Kavanagh, Enniscorthy. 29.97, 2/1.

Race 7 - The Loch Garman Five-2-Five Stakes (Grade: A3) - 1st: (Trap 5) SHEILAS MACHINE, owner: Brendon Frayne, Wexford Town. 29.19, 6/4.

Race 8 - The Unofficial Trials Every Wed & Sat Stakes (Grade: A3) Flat 525 - 1st: (Trap 3) FALCON BLITZ, owners: The Murts Minions Syndicate, Tinahely. Trainer: John Kavanagh, Enniscorthy. 29.60, 4/1.

Race 9 - The Slan Abhaile Five-2-Five Stakes (Grade: A1) - 1st: (Trap 5) TULLYCANNA DOT, owner: Joseph Anglim ,Ballymitty ,co wexford .29.25 -.30 Slow 28.95 4/1 A2 FAw,FinWl