It was Ballydoyle Honey’s worst performances of the competition but it was still good enough to see her land the Sporting Press Irish Oaks over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
Graham Holland’s bitch who had scored by an aggregate of 29 lengths in her four preliminary races and clocked a best time of 27.95sec went to traps a 1-5 favourite for the decider, which was reduced to five runners following the withdrawal of Jumeirah Dancer.
She trapped moderately from the inside box as the pace was set by her litter sister Hovex Princess who was a length clear around the turn from Awaywitdepixies and it was another length back to Ballydoyle Honey.
Kennelmate Hovex Princess stretched clear down the far side to go two lengths clear with Ballydoyle Honey four lengths off the pace. The favourite started to make a move from the third turn and went second off the last turn with two lengths to make up, but she flew home to get up and score by three quarters of a length in 28.47sec, giving Holland a 1-2.
Holland also took the Consolation Stake when his Rising Twirl made all the running to hold Honey’s litter mate Urban Gossip by a neck in 28.52sec.
2014 Easter Cup winner Skywalker Farloe came back to form in the Gain Dog Foods Open 600 on the undercard.
Pat Gordon’s runner flew out of the six box in the second semi-final and came home two lengths clear of Leave At Dawn in 32.36sec.
Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Matt went quicker in the opening qualifier when leading off the second turn to hold Droopys Bomber by two lengths in 32.33sec.
Final Draw:
1 Droopys Bomber
2 Ballymac Matt
3 Leave At Dawn
4 Greenwell Hulk
5 Deanridge Pennys
6 Skywalker Farloe
Owen McKenna’s Offshore Bound was a trap to line winner of the €5,000 ECC Timber Final over 525 yards when making all to slam Balline Bolt by four and a half lengths in 28.34sec.
There was a good performance in the Tony O’Mahony 750 when Pat Dalton’s Tradition made just about all to beat Ballymac Bonnie by two lengths in a fast 41.45sec.
