Ella leads Hutton monopoly as Irish stars enjoy summer bonanza
10/08 - Oxford: BGBF British Bred Oaks - Coppice Ella
COPPICE ELLA produced a superb performance as trainer Kevin Hutton duly completed the formalities of landing Oxford's £3,000 BGBF British Bred Oaks final over 450m.
Ultimately Hutton had all five finalists not all six following the withdrawal of in-season Ivys Showgirl and the race went to script with fastest heat winner Southfield Poppy (10-11F) pacing up well to lead the field.
However, the powerful Tony Brealey-owned Coppice Ella (6-4) turned ominously close to the action, swept into second at halfway and immediately set about eating into Southfield Poppy's advantage.
The writing was on the wall at three-quarters and Coppice Ella duly hit the front off the final bend, pulling away for a near two lengths victory over the pacesetter in 26.60sec (normal) with Coppice Lottie a length and a half away in third.
10/08 - Tralee: MCP Group 750 final - Tuono Charlie
TUONO CHARLIE recorded wins 11,12 and 13 in his unbeaten sequence when completely outclassing his rivals throughout in the inaugural €7,000 MCP Group 750 at Tralee.
Sharon Hunt's charge, who is owned by Paul Dyer, set a new track record of 40.76sec in the heats, was just a couple of lengths slower in the semis then equalled his own mark in the final.
Barely seeing another rival throughout, he won by an aggregate of 22 lengths and was landing his fourth title of the year.
15/08 - Dundalk: Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup - Broadstrand Syd
BROADSTRAND SYD, who had set a brilliant track record of 20.57sec in the opening round, battled hard to see off Elite Kursk in landing the €20,000 Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup over 400 yards at Dundalk.
Trained by John Linehan for owners Vincent O’Donovan, Kieran Ryan and Billy Drake, Broadstrand Syd only suffered defeat once during the event when second to 2023 champion Carrick Aldo in round three.
And, in landing the classic, he boasted now just that track record but now has the three fastest-ever times over the famous two-bend trip.
Elite Kursk gave him a real race in the decider as he sped away but Broadstrand Syd passed Carrick Aldo for second by the opening turn and railed well inside the initial leader to assert before the home straight and went on to score by just over a length in 20.67sec.
17/08 - Limerick: WillWeGo.com Irish St Leger - Clonbrien Treaty
CLONBRIEN TREATY added further lustre to his stellar career by becoming the first greyhound in more than 50 years to retain the Irish St Leger title with victory in the €30,000 WillWeGo.com-sponsored final over 550 yards at Limerick.
In doing so, Graham Holland's dog became only the third greyhound - and first in over 50 years - to land back-to-back Irish Leger titles while it was an incredible fourth Classic in all for him having won last year's Kirby Memorial at the track plus the Easter Cup at Shelbourne earlier this year.
Owned by James and Muireann Murphy, the 5-4 favourite did not break well but was able to clear fast starting Miami King and Barefoot On Fire by the opening turn and swept into the lead.
He always looked in control from that point and came home one and a half lengths and one length clear of that duo in clocking the second fastest time of the year, 29.28sec, which is the best-ever in a comparable Irish Leger final.
31/08 - Shelbourne: Time Juvenile Derby - Callaway Knegare
CALLAWAY KNEGARE completed a ruthless demolition of his Time Juvenile Derby rivals with victory in the €25,000 final over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park.
Led early by second favourite Ballymac Briar and wide-running Hello Diego, Owen McKenna's star turned third and the writing was on the wall for his rivals from that point.
The 1-2 market leader duly came through to lead between the last two bends, passing Ballymac Briar on the outside and going on to beat staying-on outsider Innfield Destiny by three and a half lengths in 27.96sec.
It meant a four-from-four record in the Classic for Callaway Knegare by an aggregate of more than 31 lengths and he has been promoted to 7-1 Irish Derby favourite by sponsor BoyleSports.