The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Mad About Eva wins Rose final as Dowling enjoys a double
THE Sunday afternoon Rose of Tralee meeting at Tralee Track has proved to be very popular since its inception and, once again, there was a great family flavour to it. The weather wasn’t exactly the best, but the roses were there in all their finery and, racing-wise, a programme made up of eight sweepstake finals provided entertainment of a high order.
The most important race by far was the final of the Rose Of Tralee A4 525 Sweepstake, which carried a winner’s purse of €2,250 thanks to generous sponsorship by the Track Supporters’ Club, and, as expected, the Johnny O’Sullivan-trained Mad About Eva emerged as a decisive winner.
This brilliant September ’14 daughter of Kinloch Brae and Ardavagga Dazl was sold for sizeable money after the second round and she was actually running in the name of English trainer, Paul Young, who bought her on behalf of the Champagne Club syndicate.
She had clocked 28.45 at the semi-final stage, which was a long way ahead of any of her rivals, and, as it turned out, she clocked 28.45 again in racing to the most decisive of victories in the final.
She was well nigh unbackable at odds of 2/7 and, once the traps went up, she was gone like a rocket from trap 3 – to the extent that she was a good five lengths clear off the first bend.
The only thing to be decided after that was her margin of victory and that proved to be four and a half lengths over Rathronan Global, which acquitted herself with plenty of distinction behind her. Third, two and a half lengths behind Rathronan Global was Black Ranger.
Trainer Johnny O’Sullivan was also joint owner of Mad About Eva (with Joe Dolan, of Claregalway) before she was sold to the Champagne Club syndicate and he was thrilled to see her win again in such masterly fashion.
“She is pretty exceptional,” said Johnny. “Every time she runs, she is improving and she is so consistent. The plan at this stage is that she will stay on here for the puppy derby at Harolds Cross or else be aimed for the English Oaks.”
The other side of the coin, sorry to say, was seen in the misfortune that befell another of the finalists, Hollies Rainbow, which was very badly injured and had to be put down.
Altogether, prizemoney on the day amounted to well over €10,000 and two of the winning pots were claimed by Ardfert trainer, Sean Dowling.
He won the final of the Ballymac Kennels N1 525 Sweepstake (winner, €450) with Bearhaven Panther, which is owned by Dan Harrington, of Beara, and won by three lengths from Sputnik Gavin in 28.85, and Dowling immediately followed up by winning the final of the CEF Electrical and Bolger Fabrication A6 525 Sweepstake (winner, €425) with Killeacle Wayne, a litter brother to Bearhaven Panther which he owns himself and which won by no less than nine and a half lengths from Lisahane Jayfkay in 28.74.
Very good money was bet on the Tote, with €1,600 alone wagered on Mad About Eva in the win pool, and two units were standing in the last leg of the €800 Pick Six, which was the final of the Advanced Cleaning and Sword Security A3 550 Sweepstake. Those units were on Send It Treron and Lone Stripe, but victory belonged to the Padraig Regantrained Confident Puma, which engaged in a terrific duel up front with Send It Treron before going on to score by a length and a half from Lone Stripe in 30.56. The surprise was that Confident Puma, the even-money favourite, was not covered in the last leg.
The winners of the other sweepstake finals were: Kellihers Hardware and EF Signs S5 Sweepstake – Christopher O’Riordan’s (Rockchapel) An Cúl Báire, 17.81; Droopys Stud A1 525 Sweepstake – Gerard Dowling’s (Listowel) Halloa Towney, 28.84; Kerry Group A4 500 Sweepstake – Denis Mulvihill’s (Listowel) Blanemore Romeo, 27.37; Kasko A5 525 Sweepstake – Pat O’Connor and Margaret O’Meara’s (Tarbert) Saleen Bullet, 29.32. WINNERS on Tuesday of last week: Ufigureitout (6/1), 17.65; Leaha Maestro (3/1), 29.70; Oak Spice (5/1), 17.84; Cashen Hunter (2/1), 28.62; Lone Royal (5/2), 28.95; Bawns Lady (5/2), 29.09; Helenas Master (5/2), 17.71; Millridge Bruce (3/1), 28.76; Foxhollow Ollie (4/1), 28.79; Ciaras Kona (6/1), 29.37.