The week’s big event was the Lee Strand 550, for so many years, one of the highlights of the Kerry racing year. The 2018 final went to the remarkable Packing Heat.
The winning time of 30.02 was a little back on semi final form as the 72lb black showed his versatility to come from off the pace and complete a career unbeaten sequence of seven races.
Meanwhile at Shelbourne Park, the remarkable Ballinakil Clare qualified as the fastest Oaks semi final winner. Now almost four and with a litter of pups in the paddocks, her winning time is the fastest of the year and only eight spots slower than her best ever performance over course and distance. Meanwhile, despite the absence of Clonbrien Prince, kennelmate Blue East went quickest in the Produce Stakes at Clonmel.
Meanwhile at Cork, another mature lady of quality, Ballymac Sarahjo went quickest in the Barrys Tea 750 heats. Looking to the younger brigade, pup Cushie Jet beat his own previous time for fastest of the year at Kilkenny with a new personal best. The more experienced Lingrawn Joe did something similar at Galway.
| CLONMEL | 28.44 | BLUE EAST | (Droopys Jet-Lemon Bolt, Feb 16) |
| CURRAHEEN PARK | 41.30 | BALLYMAC SARAHJO | (Ballymac Vic-Starwood Bound, Jul 14) |
| DERRY | 16.68 | ISERE | (Quail Hollow-Call Midge, Sep 15) |
| DRUMBO PARK | 28.67 | VICS PEARL | (Ballymac Vic-Mays Pearl, Sep 16) |
| DUNDALK | 30.42 | STAR PUMA | (Skywalker Puma-Good Away, Jun 16) |
| ENNISCORTHY | 28.96 | JAYTEE GERONIMO | (Ballymac Vic-Wee Bassitt, Mar 16) |
| GALWAY | 28.79 | LINGRAWN JOE | (Kinloch Brae-Lingrawn Cracker, Apr 15) |
| KILKENNY | 28.73 | CUSHIE JET | (Droopys Jet-Except Change, Sep 16) |
| LIFFORD | 19.00 | FINAL ELAINE | (Droopys Jet-Final Gem, Nov 16) |
| LIMERICK | 29.91 | GOOD NEWS | (Definate Opinion-Pippy, Nov 14) |
| LONGFORD | 28.95 | AULTON CHIFTER | (Makeshift-Heathlawn Gold, Jun 16) |
| MULLINGAR | 29.58 | PRIDE OF LUCK | (Paradise Madison-Shelbourne Lola, May 16) |
| NEWBRIDGE | 17.67 | VINTAGE CALL | (Taylors Sky-Vintage Kewell, Apr 16) |
| SHELBOURNE PARK | 28.14 | BALLINAKIL CLARE | (Kinloch Brae-Cabra Smokey, Jun 14) |
| 18.58 | CHURCHTOWN VIC | (Ballymac Vic-Dower Bud, Apr 16) | |
| THURLES PARK | 17.71 | BANGLA ROAD | (Droopys Jet-Cruel Intentions, Nov 15) |
| TRALEE | 30.02 | PACKING HEAT | (Skywalker Puma-Superstar Pearl, Jul 16) |
| WATERFORD | 29.95 | SIR JIM | (Droopys Cain-You Little Rose, Oct 15) |
| YOUGHAL | 29.24 | SLANEYSIDE KERRI | (David Bale-Slaneyside Mandy, Apr 16) |
