Saturday, June 12th
New stars emerged in the quarter finals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks at Shelbourne on Saturday night when Clearview Kelly and Dalcash Dvinsky were only separated by a spot as they led the qualifiers for next week’s semi-finals. However there was a major shock as the big ante-post fancy Tooquicktoocath made her exit from the classic.
Freedom Seacrest, owned by the Valencia Syndicate, had to call upon all her qualities to emerge triumphant in the opening quarter final. Victory seemed unlikely for the daughter of Ace Hi Rumble and Dalcash Diva after she suffered traffic problems on the turn before turning fourth.
In contrast Tyrgal Lola flashed from boxes to set a strong gallop, but the complexion of the race changed at the third turn as Freedom Seacrest forced her way through into second. Tyrgal Lola continued to lead, but Freedom Seacrest was now in full flight and she charged her way to the front in the dying yards to see off the long time leader by a half length in 28.78. There was a further length and a half gap to Casual Steps in third.
KIM FOR RAY
Ray Patterson’s Skywalker Kim opened her account in the competition in the second heat when taking charge at the third turn before holding the power-packed finish of Droopys Kina. Tracys
Skywalker then raced on to win by two lengths in 28.98. Droopys Kina, out the back for most of the journey, produced a devastating finish along the rail to snatch second by a short head from Mossley Folly.
FLYING PUPPY
Jack Meade’s Puppy Oaks winner Dalcash Dvinsky (Ace Hi Rumble/ Dalcash Diva) is coming of age fast in this classic. Unbeaten in the classic to date she was thought to face a massive task in a red hot third quarter final but she was more than ready for the task and charged up the betting lists with a stunning 28.59 run.
Tooquicktoocatch missed the kick and was always struggling as Dalcash broke smartly and led into the back from Mystique Rosa and Shelbourne Dawn. The latter was soon in second but then reigning champ Skywalker Queen flew into second place on the third bend and closed on the leader. However, Skywalker drifted very wide off the final bend and Dalcash Dvinsky held her run by three parts of a length while it was three and a half lengths to Shelbourne Dawn in third.
Mick Frayne’s Clearview Kelly (Hotshow Ben/ Bedtime) wouldn’t have been a very fancied contender coming into the Oaks but she has reached the semis with a sparkling unbeaten record.
She was truly brilliant in winning the fourth heat in a fastest of the night 28.58. She came away racing from the inside box and went clear to the bend where Cartiers Dazzle slipped into second spot and gave chase down the back.
Cartiers challenged strongly on the third bend and was almost upsides when forced to check. Clearview Kelly is a very strong runner and she dashed clear up the straight to win by three lengths from Cartiers in a flying time. Piercestown Pet ran a blinder to finish a four and a half length third.