The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Snazzy Jazzy gets the better break to beat Saleen Princess in Unraced final
TIME and again on this page we highlight the value of a good break from whatever trap and it was certainly fundamental to the brilliant run of 28.55 by Saleen Princess in the opening round of the Red Mills Unraced Bitch Sweepstake (winner, €1,750) at Tralee Track.
Well, Saleen Princess didn’t get that good break in the first semi-final of the event at the Oakview venue last Friday night and it meant that she didn’t deliver for those who supported her as an odds-on favourite.
Mind you, her returned odds of 4/5 did appear to represent good value, considering that none of the five bitches opposing her had managed to get inside 29.00 seconds in the first round, but there was a very strong second favourite in the Patrick Norris-trained Snazzy Jazzy (2/1), which hadn’t enjoyed much luck in running in the first round when second to Ballymac Jackie in an estimated 29.04.
Moreover, Patrick Norris never brings a bad one to Tralee from his base in Mitchelstown and, on top of that, Snazzy Jazzy was very nicely housed in trap 1, with Saleen Princess immediately outside her in trap 2.
Crucially, Patrick Norris’s charge got first run on Saleen Princess, very decisively so, and she led off the first bend from Coolavanny Ella and Crossfield Amber. Saleen Princess, which was in fourth place at this stage, did run on well to be second to Snazzy Jazzy, but six lengths separated the pair at the line in 29.00 (.10 slow), with a length and a half back to Coolavanny Ella.
No prizes for predicting that either Snazzy Jazzy or Saleen Princess will win Friday night’s final, but Snazzy Jazzy doesn’t have a trap 1 draw this time (she will be in trap 5) and preference is for Saleen Princess.
In finals, though, long experience has shown that you can never rule out anything, with the break from traps so vitally important, and one of those in opposition has the distinction of being the only unbeaten finalist. That is Crossfield Robin, owned by Brendan O’Shea, of Millstreet.
This lady won her first round heat in29.32 and she followed up by winning the second semi-final on Friday night in 29.34 (.10 slow). She set the pace from trap 3, was overtaken rounding the third bend by a reserve, Clounbrane Kerry, and, very much to her credit, she fought back to win a great battle to the line with Clounbrane Kerry by a short head, with two and a half lengths back to none other than her litter sister, Crossfield Liz.
Fair play to Brendan O’Shea for being double-handed in the final, but, in the belief that Saleen Princess will start much better from trap 3 than she did from trap 2 last Friday night, confidence is affirmed in her to come good when it matters most.
The draw for the final is (trap order): Crossfield Liz, Coolavanny Ella, Saleen Princess, Crossfield Robin, Snazzy Jazzy, Clounbrane Kerry.
Fastest over the standard distance on the night was the Patrick O’Connor-trained Saleen Brax, which pulled back the fast-starting Ballymac Fidora in a race for A1 class and beat him by two lengths in 28.91.
Another race for A1 class, over 570yds, was won in 31.34 by a reserve, Enchanted Puma, which bombed out of trap 2 and also enjoyed a two-length winning margin (over even-money favourite, Patricks Castle) in 31.34.
Other winners: Oak Forest, 18.26; Potumunder, 29.5; Dannys Friend, 29.57; Pennylane Rocky, 17.74; Parason Mario, 29.35; Knockunder Brody, 17.83; Silver Charm, 29.32.
The going for all 525yds races and the 570yds race was .10 slow, while it was .05 slow for 325yds.