Ante post favourite Patchys Kerry (4-6f) was hugely impressive when winning the toughest of the three Ladbrokes Golden Jacket semi finals, as her main rivals exited the event.
Wearing white, Mark Wallis’ Champion Stakes winner clocked a stunning 22.94 for the 380 metre sectional (the 380m open was won in 23.67), after bombing clear. He great rival Droopys Tamera (5-4, T6) looked superbly placed to follow the leader but was side-swiped by Dashing Star (T5) at the first bend. It was left to third favourite Diesel Flo (T4) to reduce a 60 spot deficit to 38 on the final lap with Tamera running on for third. The winner’s time was 45.10.
Team Wallis had previously seen their first contender and favourite, Black Francis (T1), exit the competition. He had seemed well placed when disputing the early lead with Droopys Alberta (T3) but the two ruined each others chances after a series of collisions. It was left to 3-1 chance Clonmoyle Shane (T6), fourth win a lap to go, to get up on the run-in for a 46.08 victory. Alberta was a length and a half second with Black Francis a further three quarters of a length away.
The third semi final featured another front running display from Soviet Kenny (23.21 sect) , but as in the heats, John Mullins’ runner found the distance too taxing. It always looked a case of ‘when not if’ he would be picked up by Kevin Boon’s orange jacketed favourite Oneco Sky (23.42), and the inevitable overtake took place at the seventh bend. Sky was pursued by last year’s beaten favourite Racenight Jenny who finished three and a half adrift of the 45.53 winner.
Ladbrokes Golden Jacket final: 1 Patchys Kerry, 2 Diesel Flo, 3 Racenight Jenny, 4 Droopys Alberta, 5 Oneco Sky m, 6 Clonmoyle Shane w
