Gracies Prince get nod to win Hickson A6 final

TWO semi-finals of the Bobby Hickson A6 525 Memorial Sweepstake (winner, €900) headed up the programme at Tralee Track on Saturday night and Gracies Prince, owned by William Purtill, of Ballydonoghue, is sure to be favourite to win the final this Saturday night after impressively winning the second semi-final in 28.76 (.10 fast).

A wide seed, Gracies Prince was up against Spirit Enigma, which had beaten him by a neck in the first round, and these two dominated the betting (joint favourites at 5/4). They duly wound up filling the first two places, only this time Gracies Prince fairly decisively reversed the first-round placings.

William Purtill’s dog ran the first bend really well on the outside of Spirit Enigma and he then took control on the back straight on his way to a two-length victory over Spirit Enigma, with four lengths back to Divine Presence.

The first semi-final was won in the much slower time of 29.35 by Took The Bucket, but this 5/4 favourite, which ran from trap 1, acquitted himself with plenty of distinction in coming from a sizeable distance off the pace and winning the tightest of finishes by a head from Akila, with a neck back to Lakota Saturn.

Took The Rocket, which is jointly owned locally by James O’Donnell and Michael Costello, had only one behind him, Russmur Alice, rounding the third bend and, in fact, a litter sister to Spirit Enigma, Spirit Sonia, looked the likely winner until badly checking behind the front-running Lakota Saturn, at that third bend.

It was virtually impossible to call it turning for home, but Took The Rocket was now motoring better than anything else and he hit the line a head in front of Akila, with a neck back to Lakota Saturn.

The draw for the final has been kind to Akila, which will be in trap 1, and Took The Rocket has to come into the equation from trap 4, but, all things considered, it is very, very difficult to look beyond Gracies Prince and he is taken to win from trap 6.

The draw is (trap order): Akila, Lakota Saturn, Divine Presence, Took The Rocket, Spirit Enigma (M), Gracies Prince (W).

Other winners on Saturday night: Looster Lolly, 18.09; La Troinne, 29.84; Pinerra Ranger, 17.64; Clorane Jet, 29.09; Oak River, 17.79; Boherbee Lass, 30.98 (570yds) Confident Puma, 29.07.