Rural Hawaii kept his unbeaten record in the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake over 525 yards at Limerick on Saturday.
Graham Holland’s runner who has improved with every race in the stake went to traps the second favourite behind Droopys Braedon, who was bidding for an eight timer.
When the boxes opened the favourite never made his customary flying start but just led into the first bend on the inside rail. However Rural Hawaii swept into the lead around the outside and went on to score by five lengths in 28.22sec, the fastest time of the event.
The other main protagonist Boylesports Jet, who was in a qualifying position at the third turn checked up at that point and eventually finished fourth.
Country Legend was a shock winner of the opening qualifier for Maurice Heffernan.
The son of Head Bound flew out of the boxes and made the turn in front and went on to beat Beaming Boost by four lengths in 28.33sec.
The other fancied runner Cunning Barney was last after first bend trouble.
Draw for Saturday’s final:
1 Country Legend
2 Beaming Boost
3 Droopys Braedon
4 Cable Bay
5 Ivy Hill Bart
6 Rural Hawaii
