Chespitrito carries semi-final form to win KGOBA A5 525 final
SEMI-FINAL form can often be a bad guide, but not so in the case of the Liam Dowling-trained Chespirito (Vulturi – Coolavanny Angie) in the final of an A5 525 sweepstake sponsored by the Kerry GOBA (winner, €900) at Tralee Track on Friday night.
This fellow had strongly impressed the previous Friday night when overcoming trouble and a sizeable deficit to win by a length in 29.06 and, free of trouble this time, he powered to victory in a quite superb 28.59.
In the process, he was making it three wins from three starts and, clearly, a very bright future lies ahead for this March ’16 whelping, which is owned by Dowling’s Spanish patron, Javier Jarne.
The Patrick O’Connor-trained Slipalong Prince cut out the early running from trap 1, but the outcome was pretty predictable once Chespirito was second to him off the first bend.
Liam Dowling’s charge, which was 4/6 favourite, simply swept into the lead around the third bend and he went on to beat Slipalong Prince by seven lengths, with two lengths back to Steeple Rd Mol.
Liam Dowling had another finalist in Ballymac Notnow, which he owns himself, and she finished fourth, a length behind Steeple Rd Mol.
Friday night’s programme also featured four first-round heats of an A3 525 sweepstake sponsored by Paul Reidy Construction, Brosna (winner, €1,400) and three of the four winners got inside 29.00 secs. Jason Pal was fastest, marginally, on 28.87, while Cashen Jaguar clocked 28.89 and Oak Shadow 28.98. The remaining heat winner was Farran Buzz, on 29.06.
Jason Pal, owned by Noel Power, of Ballyduff, was running in the last of the four heats and, after being a length and a half behind the front-running Tromora Line rounding the third bend, he finished with such forcefulness that he had four lengths to spare at the line from Tromora Line, with a length back to Send It Reasons.
Could Noel Power follow up the sweepstake victory of Jasons Fifi a week previously with an even more valuable win? Very possible.
Cashen Jaguar won heat 2 for owner/ trainer, Chris Houlihan, of Ballyduff, and he did so by claiming the lead off the opening bend from Premier Express and firmly controlling matters all the way to the line where he had three and a half lengths to spare from Premier Express. Big trouble behind them meant that nothing else counted in the race, with a reserve, Charming Gorm, claiming the third qualifying spot eleven and a half lengths behind Premier Express.
Cashen Jaguar was completing a double on the night for Chris Houlihan, who won the opening sprint with Unleash the legend in 18.08.
Turning to the victory of Oak Shadow in the Paul Reidy Sweepstake (heat 1), this fellow motored sweetly on the back straight to be in control by the third bend and Peter Regan’s charge raced home a length in front of the strong-finishing Aughacasla Jet, with six lengths back to Slipalong Pearl.
The remaining heat winner, Jeremiah Hanafin’s Farran Buzz, was a very close third off the first bend behind Steeple Rd Jet and Ballads Forlife and, in front around the third bend, she went on to score by two lengths from Ballads Forlife, with three and a half lengths back to a reserve, Solo Rock.
The semi-finals take place this Friday night and the draw is (trap order): First semi-final: Cashen Jaguar, Tromora Line, Aughacasla Jet, Premier Express, Oak Shadow, Send It Seasons (W). Second semi-final: Solo Rock, Slipalong Pearl, Jason Pal, Ballads Forlife (M), Farran Buzz (W), Charming Gorm (W).
The supporting programme on Friday night saw a dead-heat in the second race (A8 525) between Bowline Cherokee and Patti Da (the time was 29.60), while the other winners were: Turra Gorm, 29.31; Send It Treron, 17.82; Mohane Joey, 28.74.