Stormy Amie looks a banker for KGOBA A6 Stakes final

THE semi-finals of the K.G.O.B.A A6 Stakes were the feature of Saturday evening’s nine-race card. Torrential rain caused races 1 to 6 being rated .40 slow for the 525 yd trip while the sprint distance was -.20. The going was adjusted for the final 3 races, -.20 for the 525 yd trip and -.15 for the sprint.

The opening semi-final was the third race on the card. Stormy Amie (Droopys Jet/ Stormy Annie) in the white jacket and Sleepy Doireann on the outside went to traps the joint even money favourites. As it transpired the pair would dominate the race. The wide running Sleepy Doireann was smartly away from traps and swept to the lead off the opening bend. Indeed, she had opened a considerable advantage by halfway with Knocknaseed Lucy in trap two her nearest challenger four lengths in arrears.

In stark contrast, Stormy Amie found herself held up in traffic on the run to the first and was further impeded as she looked for racing room between bends. When she did buy a break she literally took flight. Showing terrific acceleration down the back straight, the Dermot Fitzgerald owned novice reduced the deficit with every stride and by the third bend loomed large just behind the early pace setter.

Stormy Amie swept to the front off the closing bend and stayed on well up the home straight to earn a two-length victory in 29.30. Sleepy Doireann was six lengths clear of Knocknaseed Suzy who completed the qualifying positions.

The remaining semi-final was won in dominant fashion by the Billy Keogh owned Devon Flash (Droopys Jet/ Selection Box). The 5/2 shot broke smartly and showed good early foot to stamp his authority on the race. The Feb ’17 whelp had the field well strung out down the back straight and by the mid-point held a clear fourlength advantage over Gallarus Driocht in second.

Killahan Azza was holding the rest at bay back in third but qualification was his main concern at this juncture of the race. The early leader saw his lead reduced slightly between the closing bends, but he had all the hard work done and nursed a two-length advantage through to the winning post in a 29.41. Gallarus Driocht was all out to hold off the fast finishing Killahan Azza for second with the distance between the pair being just a ‘neck’.

The final looks a decent contest, but if Stormy Amie shows any improvement from trap rise she looks a banker.

There were two flashy performances late on in the card. Sign On Aki (Superior Product/ Sandals Oz) made it back to back victories when scoring in the penultimate race of the night in 28.63 for local handler Anthony Slattery. Racing from trap 6, the winner showed terrific early gears and raced 2 lengths clear of Lanody Mike down the back stretch. The latter battled hard off the final bends however Sign On Aki just held on for victory at the line by a neck.

Misty Nidge (Droopys Cain/ Misty Survivor) produced a 28.73 run to land the final race of the night for Ballyduff owner William Costello. The winner pinged the lids from trap 6 and raced clear of his rivals through the opening bend. The result never looked in doubt and he extended his advantage with every stride to score a five-length success over Abbey Storm.

Other winners on the night were Oak Sharp 18.15, Send It Geopelia 29.53, Steady Dasher 29.55, Thunder Mac 17.86 and Droumragh Olive 29.03.