‘ANGEL’ FLIES AS ‘HARBOUR’ DEPARTS THE OAKS

THE favourites were turned over in the semi-finals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks at Shelbourne on Saturday when the major surprise was the failure of the John Linehan-trained Droopys Harbour to make the final.

Droopys Harbour led narrowly to the third bend in the second semi-final but Liam Dowling’s Coolavanny Pet got up her inside at this point and the favourite was bumped.

Coolavanny Pet then led for home and in a dramatic finish took the victory by half a length from Mrs Chippy in 28.58 with Ardrahan Zindi getting up in the final strides to be a head third and just half a length in front of Droopys Harbour.

The performance of the night was turned in by the Pat Guilfoyle-trained Cabra Angel in winning the opening heat in a flying 28.27. Owned by Paul Scally, Cabra Angel blasted out of the traps and led the favourite Forest Natalee, which had missed the start, and Tibet to the bend.

A terrific struggle ensued but Cabra Angel held the challenges to the third bend and then asserted on the run-in to win by two lengths from Tibet with Forest Natalee two and a half lengths third.

The second round of the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger was run at Limerick when the fastest winner was Graham Holland’s dual Classic-winning Clonbrien Hero as he posted a time of 29.72.

The shock of the event was the defeat of hot favourite Sonic by Gulleen Billy in 29.83 in Heat 6.