2014 Irish St Leger Final
2014
Kerry Agri-Business Irish St Leger…...the story so far!
Semi
shocks leave Limerick set for Classic Leger finale
Following two thrilling semi-finals on Saturday last, the
2014 Kerry Agri-Business Irish St Leger comes to a most anticipated conclusion
tonight with a mouth watering final line-up that will draw down the curtain on a
Classic renewal that has offered all that is good in the sport and maintains
this wonderful competition’s status as one of the most prestigious prizes in
Greyhound racing, very much intact!
In a truly remarkable performance twelve months ago, Irish
and Limerick Oaks winner, Locnamon Bridie ensured greyhound immortality with a
dominant final display. She made the bend in front from trap 3 and powered to a
commanding lead on the back-straight where even Tyrur Sugar Ray failed to make
inroads against the breath-taking bitch who registered a three and half length
victory in a brilliant 29.34. There was again a strong challenge by the fairer
sex this year in a bid to emulate the great bitch and tonight will see Borna
Central carry the flag as the last bitch standing.
Nidge led the way with record rd 1 win
This year’s event was sparked into life when in our opening
session of round one action Droopys Nidge set a blistering new standard for the
550 yard trip by dominating heat 8 in a new track record time of 29.29! He
would subsequently exit at quarter final stage but such has been the quality
throughout the competition that even his elimination could not detract from
what has been a sizzling month of Leger fireworks from the onset.
Others to leave an indelible mark on that opening night were
Pat Buckley’s Paradise Silva who scored a dominant heat 4 win in a slick 29.62
while Gerry Holian’s Emers Superstar looked at home now back at the Limerick
circuit when displaying devastating early pace before taking control of heat 6
off the second bend for a nine length win in 29.66. The concluding two heats of
night one action sent local patrons home with a smile as James Roche’s Ballyana
Foxtrot firstly scored an impressive early paced victory in heat 10 when
leading throughout for a two and a half length verdict over fellow finalist
Vulturi. Heat 11 then went to Tim Gilbourne’s powerful bitch Cloon Glory who
took up the running off the second bend to lead home Hannibal Rising by one and
half lengths in 29.97.
Big guns turn up the heat in round 2
With the luxury of a fourth qualifying place gone, three of
tonight’s finalists along with some of the competition’s main protagonists
signalled their respective intentions with brilliant round 2 performances that
threw the competition wide open as the new track record holder felt the classic
heat despite getting the better of Burgess Oscar in an epic heat 5 tussle. The
pair fought out a thrilling buckle all along the back-straight with Nidge just
getting on top approaching the line for a half length verdict in 29.62 over the
Cork raider who would influence the outright betting market following this game
display.
Another close affair on the night saw Liam Dowling’s
Vulturi, just mow down Metro Jack in the shadow of the post for his first heat
win by a shorthead in 29.84 before Ballyana Foxtrot went back to back in
another dominant display when one and a half lengths in advance of Big Bang in
29.75. Also remaining unbeaten was Emers Superstar with his early pace carrying
him to a seven length win over tonight’s finalist Castleivy Crash in a fast
29.58. General Wolf then took the penultimate heat, leaving a very good
impression when stretching to a twelve length verdict over Elevenerife in 29.74
despite not hitting the front until early in the back-straight. The fastest
performance of the night however was reserved for the concluding heat where
Paradise Silva made a fast start from trap 1 and this powerful runner galloped
relentlessly to a ten length verdict over Cloon Glory, again registering a
slick time of 29.52.
Silva and Emer remain unbeaten
Our quarter final heats saw two runners score hat-tricks of
Leger heat wins when firstly Paradise Silva again made a smart start for a
first bend lead in heat 2, recording a six length win over Castleivy Crash in
29.59 with Stone Boy King qualifying behind them and reaching his third big
Limerick semi-final having reached the same stage in 2013 in both the Leger and
Kirby Memorial. This immediately preceded another brilliant display of early
pace by Emers Superstar when he again led throughout heat 3 but not before
being forced to repel the eye-catching and sustained challenge of General Wolf
by just a head in 29.58 as the latter once again impressed with his
back-straight pace, Borna Helena followed these home, a further four and a half
lengths adrift.
 |
| Vulturi, a thorough professional |
The opening quarter final of the night went to Vulturi who
was now warming nicely to his Leger task and the strong stayer showed clever
track craft for a daring third bend run on the rails when overtaking early
pacesetter Cloon Glory, Burgess Oscar and the struggling track record holder
Droopys Nidge for the gamest of victories in a thrilling heat. Burgess Oscar
followed him home at a three length deficit in 29.82 with the same back to
Cloon Glory in third as she consigned Droopys Nidge to fourth and his Leger
exit to boot.
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| Michael Dwan with Borna Central |
The concluding quarter final was a heat to savour where Michael
Dwan’s Borna Central produced one of the most memorable moments of this years’
event when recovering from significant first bend bumping to scythe through a
high class field from last position off the second bend before mowing down
Hawaii Kinsale on the line in 30.12. This exhilarating success meant we would
have three bitches in the semi-finals but the heat also saw a gutsy display by
Ballyana Foxtrot who failed to lead for the first time in the competition but
managed to negotiate his way into a battling third qualifying place, an effort
that could prove crucial in the final script of this Leger!
Favourites fall victim to Crash in semi shock
So often the semi-finals of major events can prove a
stumbling block for big outright fancies, for classics are rigorous tests of resilience
and the ability to safely negotiate early rounds whilst retaining top form in
readiness to produce your racing best when the chance comes your way can be a
potent weapon. So it proved for Denis O`Malley’s 12/1 shot Castleivy Crash in
last weeks’ opening semi-final when he found his best split of the competition from
trap 4 and tracked early leader Cloon Glory to the opening turn. He showed good
pace to overhaul the lead entering the third bend as 2/5 favourite Vulturi
began to close on the heels of the leading duo but was inconvenienced by a
tiring Cloon Glory at the corner, leaving Castleivy Crash to record an
impressive one and a half length win in 29.78, the best run of the youngster’s
career to date. Three bitches went to traps for this heat and following the
heroics of Locnamon Bridie in 2013, it was only fitting that at least one of
these would advance to attempt to emulate her great feat. It was Borna Central
who claimed the third final place and will have added yet more admirers when
again overcoming a poor draw in trap 6 to recover from fifth place at the
second bend to be only a half a length behind Vulturi at the line.
Foxtrot dances back to best as Silva sneaks through
 |
| Ballyana Foxtrot |
The second semi-final was an eventful affair where Emers
Superstar just shaded favouritism at 7/4 with his trap 1 draw over fellow
unbeaten runner, Paradise Silva who had a treacherous draw in trap 5. The
former missed his break and his Leger aspirations were tenuous in the opening
strides as both Burgess Oscar and Ballyana Foxtrot made fast starts from traps
4 and 6 respectively. They led at the first bend with James Roche’s local
favourite negotiating the turns much more smoothly for a back-straight lead
that would see him safely advance in 30.03. The story in behind was much more
complicated but Burgess Oscar held his second position entering the
back-straight with Emers Superstar using his early pace to challenge for third
ahead of the menacing General Wolf who was flying on his outer. However, with
Burgess Oscar occupying the rails position at this point, Emers Superstar
switched for a run on his outer and a bump between him and the advancing
General Wolf shuffled both backwards into a veritable dog fight for the third
qualifying place. This duo were still in advance of a closing Hawaii Kinsale
and Paradise Silva entering the closing bends but despite suffering all the
predicted traffic problems from his trap 5 draw the game Pat Buckley charge
crucially found a rails run and denied General Wolf a final berth by a half a
length, in a cracker!
The Finalists
Trap 1
Vulturi The Liam
Dowling trained Vulturi has developed into one of Ireland’s most formidable
competition trackers since blasting onto the open scene over 575 yards at
Shelbourne Park as a pup before recording a blistering 28.25 at Limerick in the
Con & Annie Kirby back in March. Fourth in this years Derby he has
maintained an admirably high level of form over the past months and whatever
beats him tonight will need an absolute clear run for his staying power will
see him flying on the rails off the final bend but for victory, he must keep
very close touch with Paradise Silva on his immediate outside for a
back-straight challenge as that rival will not surrender the inside graciously.
15/8
Trap 2
Paradise Silva
Pat Buckley’s Paradise Silva, always capable of blistering times, found a level
of consistency in the early rounds of this event that saw him lead at the
opening bend for a hat-trick of heat wins. He suffered first bend bumping in
his semi-final from a predictably tricky draw but always a strong runner he
gamely stayed well to claim his place in the final and holds big claims of
victory now as he can lead Vulturi in the early strides for a rails run. Having
recorded 29.62 or better on three occasions a likely clear run just about earns
him the winning vote. 15/8
Trap 3
Castleivy Crash
Denis O`Malley’s locally trained youngster Castleivy Crash has charted his way
through this event with admirable track craft at the tender age of twenty-six
months and this Puppy Derby heat winner continues to improve with his fastest
semi-final win over Vulturi being the best of his career thus far. He can
conceivably go even faster now but he will need a repeat of his recent fast
start, for his win claims will hinge on leading Paradise Silva to the opening
turn. Ignore him at your peril however and should he lead at any point, brace
yourself for deafening cheers that may well carry him to victory. 9/1
Trap 4
Borna Central
Michael Dwan’s wonderfully game bitch, Borna Central had passed two years of
age before recording her first open time and had been campaigned solely at 525
yards before tackling this event without a race or trial at Limerick before her
opening heat in the Leger. Despite poor draws throughout, this inside seed has
negotiated her way to the final when never beaten more than two lengths in any
heat, even when faced with seemingly impossible tasks. Her quarter-final win
when coming from last to first means that she must be respected and should
there be any traffic problems for the early pacers, she will scare any on the
home-straight if within striking distance off the second bend. 14/1
Trap 5
Burgess Oscar
Sheila Spillane & J.J Fennelly’s Burgess Oscar is the only finalist without
a heat win in the competition but do not let that detract from the high class
performances he has produced throughout. He has registered 29.65 in a round 2
defeat and should he produce that level of form he will hold claims of victory as
he can both start well and he fully sees out the trip at the highest level. He
matched the early paced Ballyana Foxtrot to the opening bend last week but
surrendered his chance when not galloping the bends smoothly which does temper
confidence now but should he remedy that the youngest finalist at just
twenty-five months old, Oscar, has a chance! 9/1
Trap 6
Ballyana Foxtrot Another
locally trained runner that will inspire rapturous cheers, James Roche’s
Ballyana Foxtrot has won three of his four Leger heats and finally gets his
crack at a big classic final after the early pacer bounced back to form in a
quality semi-final win. Usually eliminated when failing to lead in similar
situations, he gamely found a way to qualify from his quarter-final and holds big
claims now as this race has a very similar set up to that which saw him defeat
Burgess Oscar last week. He must lead to win but he can and with 29.65 to his
name, those looking to come from behind will need a clear passage to mow him
down….catch me if you can! 11/4
2014
Kerry Agri-Business Irish St Leger Final……the verdict?!
Attempting to predict the outcome of this mouthwatering
final has proved a difficult problem to decipher and is greatly complicated by
the attractive prices available with some firms about those labeled outsiders.
Despite housing five inside seeds, the trap draw appears to offer a plausible
chance for a clean run race with the sole middle seed Ballyana Foxtrot clearly
comfortable in the stripes.
Outsiders have plausible claims
Trap 5 for Burgess Oscar on his inner may not read as
acceptable being widest of the inside runners but he made his best start of the
competition from trap 4 last week and has a brace of trap 6 wins to his name so
with a slower starter on his inner, this draw may be very suitable as he should
have room to drift inward on the run to the bend. He is the youngest runner in
the field at twenty five months and should he run the opening bends smoother
than he did when upsides Ballyana Foxtrot in the semi-final he may find the
very slight improvement needed to score and a pillar to post victory is not a
forlorn hope at the final’s most attractive odds of 9/1.
The big fly in the ointment tonight is Castleivy Crash
following his brilliant semi-final display which on the face of things would
give him a much greater chance than his 9/1 quote would suggest. At twenty-six
months of age that run can not be readily dismissed as a one off performance,
as further progression is clearly possible given his youth. He however must
lead on the inside because although fending off Vulturi last week, that rival
was closing with menace on the back-straight until slightly crowded at the
third bend. Further complication for his chances is the presence of Paradise
Silva on his immediate inside who will be more comfortable tonight now back
close to the rails.
An inside seed, Borna Central has hardly caught sight of the
white paint throughout the Leger but to her credit runs a straight line,
whatever trap she exits. She will not lead to the first turn tonight but she
continually finds a way to get competitive and will again fly from halfway. For
win claims, one would much prefer to see her drawn on the inside of Vulturi in
particular, as attempting a late swoop against a similar style of runner with a
better draw will prove difficult. She will need help from somewhere to be close
enough for a winning bid at the closing bends but the powerful bitch must be
respected after an admirable Leger campaign.
Silva service can resume now back near the rails
So to the short priced runners, Vulturi and Paradise Silva
have vied for favouritism all week at prices close to 15/8 and at those odds
the clear choice between the pair must be Paradise Silva. He came through a
horror draw last week when gamely recovering from first bend bumping to reach
this final and gets the vote to gain his reward for those exertions with his
much more favourable now. He has two wins from trap 3 and another from trap 1
in the opening heats and again showed smart early pace compared to Burgess
Oscar and Ballyana Foxtrot after a slow start from trap 5 last week. He can
outpace Vulturi to the bend now and the rails pitch offers more ways for him to
win than any else in the final. Even if led to the opening bend, the manner in
which Burgess Oscar moved off the inside at the corner last time could offer an
inviting gap for Silva and he also possesses powerful back-straight pace that
may mow down Ballyana Foxtrot even if that rival produces his best form on the
outer. His win times from the early heats are impossible to ignore and with no
value in tipping bigger priced losers, Silva is the percentage call.
Although both feared and respected in equal measure, it
seems clear that Vulturi will need Paradise Silva to miss a beat at some stage
if he is to claim victory. He has not bettered 29.82 thus far and although trap
1 offers a chance for clear racing room, a similar run for his market rival
makes this a tough proposition and the likely odds are not so attractive. The
11/4 available about Ballyana Foxtrot does seem more on the mark however. His
chance of victory is a simple one, he must lead around the opening bend and try
to hang on which is a plausible prospect. With 29.65 to his credit he merits
plenty of respect with a likely clear run on the outer. Prediction: 2-1-6
