Stopattheshop wins Saturday night feature race
THE feature event at Saturday night’s meeting at the Oakview venue was the final of the William Costello Construction Coursing Sweepstake and the winner’s purse of €1,255 was claimed by 5/2 shot, Stopattheshop, jointly owned by Dean Whyte and James Allen, of Ballyduff.
One of three unbeaten finalists, Stopattheshop got the kind of break that was required from trap 5 and he led around the opening bend from Chasing A Dream and Fire Height Dove. That was to settle the issue, especially the way the March ’16 son of Newinn Wonder and Fleetwood Belle was able to run on, and he hit the line four and a half lengths ahead of another unbeaten finalist, Classical Magic, in 17.86, with two lengths back to Onlinesearch.
The 4/5 favourite, Cianos Dream, completely missed the break from trap 1 and chased the field home.
It was a good meeting for Ballyduff overall and there was absolutely no mistaking the star performer of the night, which was Chris Houlihan’s Cashen Kuba.
This fellow was also running from trap 5 over the 325yds trip and he set the Oakview venue alight by producing a quite remarkable run of 17.41, which was only 24 spots outside the track record of 17.17 set in May of 2016 by Ballymac Sexton.
Cashen Kuba is by Chris Houlihan’s own stud dog, Cashen Legend (the dam is Jaylos Wish), and he had been beaten into fifth place in an estimated 29.50 on his competitive bow over 525yds in early February, but, by golly, he fairly demonstrated his true potential on Saturday night, showing jet-propelled pace on the run to the first bend and winning by no less than seven and a half lengths from Knockunder Brody.
Chris Houlihan’s wife, Katie, a great doggy woman herself, owns Cashen Kuba and he certainly has a nice price tag attached to him after Saturday night’s blistering run.
Other winners: Bridgets Jones, 17.81; Headleys Galaxy, 29.50; Salami Sam, 17.96; Hadtoberory, 29.52; Eidel Dacota, 17.73; Lissycasey Ruth, 29.04; Tailteann Delta, 29.22; Eagle Express, 29.02.
TUESDAY SIS MEETING
Doubles for Ballybunion owner, James McMahon, and Limerick trainer, Neilus O’Connell, were the highlights of racing at last week’s Tuesday SIS meeting at the Oakview venue.
The two McMahon winner, Fortfield Grace (29.26) and her litter sister, Fortfield Erin (29.06), were very strong 4/5 favourites, especially for an SIS meeting, whereas the two Neilus O’Connell winners, Rosies Rambler (30.14) and Prospect House (29.43), were far more generously priced at 9/2 and 7/4.
The run of 29.06 by Fortfield Erin was, in fact, the fastest of the night for the standard trip, while the locally-owned Mileheight Molly travelled sweetly to win over 325yds in 17.76.
Other winners: Millridge Champ, 29.47; Confident Petal, 29.28; Spirit Pio, 29.62; Enjoy The Moment, 29.10; Boxer Dinny, 27.47.
SATURDAY SIS MEETING
Winners were: Feohanagh Rodger, 29.44; Send It Cotton, 29.30; Mauras Wish, 29.33; Youngfellathanks, 28.70; Ballydoyle Dan, 29.52; Spirito, 29.15; Ballyard Kasper, 28.75; Gracias Wonder, 29.80.