Five Dreams ‘win’ turns into a nightmare
Kilflynn meeting
THE 2018/19 coursing season got off to a flying - but controversial - start at Kilflynn last weekend. An excellent entry in the Cup, and high quality hares, made for fine sport but unfortunately the meeting will be remembered for a palpable judging error in the final of the Stephen Fuller Cup.
To all and sundry the Patrick O’Connor trained Five Dreams had pulled independently clear of Granard Bolt when the hare shifted path in the final, only for the flag to be pulled incorrectly in favour of his opponent.
Following the decision there were some choice opinions aired from a disgruntled gallery but the result stood.
It’s a tough blow for connections of Five Dreams who had their charge in fine fettle for his debut outing of the season. The son of Razor Ashmore and Breska Lantern was lightly raced during his puppy campaign, but on his weekend showing the Tarbert trained runner will no doubt be a major player this term.
Elsewhere, the ultra impressive Share The Dream (Adios Alonso/ Class Attraction) made no mistakes en route to collecting the points in the All Age Bitch Stake with a flawless display of running throughout the competition. The Con Guiney trained bitch was the even money favourite after the opening round and a fourlength success over Villa Maria at the quarter final stage saw the strapping fawn go ‘odds on’ for victory. A three-length success over Antonia in the penultimate round guaranteed the red colour for the final against the Paudie Lyons trained Count Belle. The latter was a big outsider going to slips in the final and she struggled from the off to match the terrific early foot of Share The Dream. The winner extended here advantage with every stride and held a clear five-length advantage when taking the opening score independently.
Guiney was denied a famous double when his charge Key Line was denied by the impressive Rub And Tug (Adios Alonso/ Lyrics) in a thrilling final of a competitive Oaks Trial Stake. Owned by the Eye Candy Syndicate Abbeyfeale, and trained by Liam Sweeney, the April whelp improved with every run over the opening two days of action and by the semi-final stage she was second favourite on the boards at odds of 6/4. She produced her best run of the meeting when defeating Grey Gold to win through to the final against long time fancy Key Line.
The winner took a flyer from slips off the red collar in the final and had her rival on the back foot as they raced to halfway. Key Line did reduce the deficit on the rising ground, and whilst she did get to within a half length of the winner at the opening turn, the end result was never in doubt. An April whelp, Rub And Tub enters the Classic market priced 20/1.
Boys Brigade (Vale View Flyer/ Southern Story) upset the odds when claiming the Reserve Derby Trial Stake for the DJKLPT Syndicate. The March puppy showed terrific resolve to repel a late challenge from Barrack Wonder in the penultimate round to book his place in the final courtesy of a ‘just up’ decision. His final opponent was Our Woody Man, who was installed the 1/2 favourite to land the spoils following an impressive 1 length victory at the semi-final stage over the fancied Ballinveala Toro. However the ‘jolly’ failed to sparkle in the decider and the early paced Boys Brigade dominated the course from the off and ran out a convincing three-length winner.
The Working Members Stake was claimed by Trending Now (Mafi Magic/ Pretty Stranger) following a four-length victory over Wave Dancer for owners Ian and Stephen Carroll. StopathteBoozer (Adios Alonso/Eggmealong) proved a popular winner of the One Course Duffer for Ballyduff handler, James Allen. In an exciting final against Wiseguy Ally, the winner came from off the pace to take the flag by half a length.
Finally, Pat Loughlin made the long trip from Kilkenny a profitable one when producing Freestone Hill (Bexhill Eoin/ Annual Time) to score in the Three Course Duffer courtesy of two-length victory over Sullane Flash in the final course.
The Desmond Cup meeting at the club grounds in Glin get underway on Friday next. Always a stand out fixture in the coursing calendar, this year’s renewal of the feature event will see Irish Cup Champion Watchman make his seasonal debut. Silent Whisper will be well fancied to score in the All Age Bitch Stake as she returns to the scene of her Trial Stake success last term. The action has an 11.30 start on Friday and Saturday, with a 12 noon start on finals day.