The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry dogs stay the course at Clonmel
THE Liam Dowling trained Boylesports Magic stole the show at the National Coursing meeting in Powerstown Park last weekend when defying the odds in a thrilling final of the Kevin Smith Champion Stakes.
Owned by Derby sponsor John Boyle, the winner was the outsider going to slips for the deciding course against Netflexandchill; mainly due to the Ballymacelligott runner receiving a rough ride through to the opening rounds when defeated Return Ticket and the Tom O’ Connor trained Cryuff.
Netflexandchill showed all the early pace in finale and it appeared that the layers had once again got it right as Boylesports Magic found himself three lengths off the pace and struggling to make an impression passing halfway. However, the son of Mafi Magic and Ballymac Adelpha showed true grit and resolve to reduce the deficit in the final yards and to the roars of the packed stands, the winner hit the front in the dying strides to maintain his unbeaten run for the season in dramatic circumstances.
The Boylesports Derby came to an equally thrilling climax as Athenry handler Gerry Holian again claimed the Classic with his star performer, Upper Hand. Owned by Part Of A Dream Syndicate, which is headed up by renowned UK based handler Seamus Cahill, Upper Hand defeated the last remaining Kerry challenger in the event, the Patrick O’Connor trained Snap Streak, at the semi-final stage by two lengths to book the white collar for the final against Gingerbread Man.
Upper Hand drew first blood when edging clear of his rival over the opening yards, but Gingerbread Man was quickly back on terms and led passing the midpoint. The famous Powerstown hill was again to play a deciding factor as the leader’s stride began to shorten and Upper Hand lived up to his name to strike the front late on and took the honours by three parts of a length.
Kerry owned bitches featured prominently throughout the Horse And Jockey Hotel Oaks and it was no surprise to see two local runners, Lets Get Started and Safe Date, reach the last four of the Classic. Lets Get Started, owned by Kathleen Casey O’Connell from Abbeydorney, had thrilled the crowds over the opening two days of action, but she failed to produce her trademark kick on the hill in the opening semi-final against the early paced Foxhollow Queen and exited the competition by 2 ½ lengths.
Safe Date produced some scintillating runs through the opening rounds and was the clear 2/1f by the quarter-final stage. Owned, bred and trained by Willie O’Shea from Listry, Safe Date’s third round performance when beating Ballymac Amber will live long in the memory. However, her campaign was ended by Castleisland qualifier Please Abbie in a tense semi-final.
Please Abbie would go on to led briefly in the deciding buckle against Foxhollow Queen, but the latter came storming through to take up the running on the hill and stayed on well to land the spoils for Newry handler Brendan Matthews and Nora Raleigh from Adare. It was a second Oaks win in three seasons for the pair who also scored in 2018 with Foxhollow Lady. The winner, a daughter of Adios Alonso and Somelittlething, was bred in Tarbert by John Flynn.
Crafty Perfecto was a deserving winner of the Grace & Matt Bruton
Champion Bitch Stakes. She held all the aces in the final against Seaside Lucy having showed tremendous early foot, and extended her advantage with every stride en route to a six-length success. The winner, a home bred by Crafty Gonzalo and Drumcrow Adele, is owned and trained by the Divilly Family Syndicate from Oranmore.
Drogheda handler James ‘Maxi’ Collins landed the TA Morris Stakes with the impressive Blueview Lucky who led for the entirety of the deciding course against Boherlode Paddy to take the flag by two lengths.
Buggies Rose, owned by Stephan Noonan from Roscrea, finished well to deny Rockanes Beauty in the final of the Kitty Butler Stakes by a length.
The action switches to Greenmount Racecourse, Patrickswell this weekend for the Irish Cup which brings the curtain down on the current season. The blue riband event gets underway on Friday morning with the opening round of the feature. The action gets underway at 11.30 on all three days of the meeting.