The defeats of Derby winner Ballymac Matt and Oaks winner Ballydoyle Honey were the biggest shocks on the Night of Stars at a wet Shelboune Park on Saturday.
In the Boylesports Night Of Stars Open 550 Dundalk International winner Paradise Silva took a flyer from traps and was soon a couple of lengths clear of Ballymac Matt, the 4-5 favourite, and St Leger winner Skywalker Rory, who bumped slightly at the turn.
However 14-1 shot Paradise Silva never looked like getting caught and eventually beat Ballymac Matt by two lengths in 30.22sec on going conservatively estimated at 0.40sec slow.
Ballydoyle Honey, the 1-2 favourite for the Ballymac Stud Night of Stars 600, was always struggling after a slow start.
The race went to Tom O’Neill’s 8-1 shot Ballyhooley Henry, who made all to hold Cable Bay by two and a half lengths in 33.23sec (-50).
Pat Dalton’s out of season Tradition was an impressive winner of the Ted Hegarty Night of Stars 850.
The daughter of Flying Winner, a 9-4 chance, was soon clear and she went on to slam Ribble Atom by ten lengths in 48.12sec. TV Trophy winner Ballymac Bonnie was never a factor after early trouble.
Fair Warrior winner Catherines Drico (6-4f) looks nailed on for Ireland’s Sprinter of the Year title after landing the Banner Night of Stars Sprint over 350 yards (-20).
Ronnie McKeown’s runner flew out of the boxes and made every yard to beat Jumeirah Hope by three and a half lengths in 18.81sec (-20).
Shane O’Gorman’s Yahoo Perlena (5-1) was a trap to line winner of the Support Greyhound Racing at Wimbledon Bitch Stake over 525 yards when accounting for Skywalker Rossa by a length and a half in 28.85sec (-40).
Liam Dowling’s Vulturi (5-4f) was never headed in the Track Bookmakers Night Night Of Stars 750 when leading all the way to beat Priceless Lassie by two and a half lengths in 42.38sec (-60).
Brendan Mathews’ Leave At Dawn (9-2) got first run on the favourite Laughil Duke in the Droopys Nidge Night of Stars 575 to score by a length and a half in 31.51sec (-50).
Easter Cup runner-up Slippery Fred (5-2) landed a scrappy BIF Night of Stars 525 when coming through at the last turn to eventually beat Lenson Sanchez by three and a half lengths in 29.09sec (-40).
On the supporting card, Geoff Parnaby’s Skywalker Havana impressed in the Open 525 when making all to beat last year’s Derby Plate runner-up Laughil Bolt by a length and a half in 28.63sec (-40).
