Opinion springs surprise in 600, Trilogy produces when it matters
02/05 - Shelbourne: Open 600 - Mydras Opinion
MYDRAS OPINION, the 10/1 outsider of the field, pounced late to claim the €15,000 final of the Shelbourne Open 600.
Market leader Grouchos Gregor led early from Easter Cup winner Lemon Orla but Mydras Opinion was ominously close in third.
Grouchos Gregor had a clear advantage entering the back straight but both Lemon Orla and Mydras Opinion closed into the third.
Lemon Orla edged to the front off the final bend as Grouchos Gregor faltered but Mydras Opinion was flying now and the stage was set for a grandstand finish.
Sure enough, the Owen McKenna-trained dog, owned by Moira Costigan, got up in the final strides to prevail by half a length from Lemon Orla in 32.39sec with Grouchos Gregor just a length away in third.
19/05 - Thurles: Track Champion Bitch Stake - Droopys Bundle
DROOPYS BUNDLE took time off from her Irish Oaks aspirations at Shelbourne Park to land the €3,000 final of the Thurles Track Champion Bitch Stake over 525 yards at at the Townspark venue.
One of three finalists to have qualified for the Oaks second round, all of whom stood their ground, Droopys Bundle was led early by Singalong Cherry but tracked cleverly to lead off the second bend.
The early pacesetter stuck to the task well but Droopys Bundle was always in control afterwards and scored by a length and a half in posting a brilliant 28.64sec, five spots inside her own previous best-of-year recorded in the semis.
The winner is trained by Robert Gleeson for Matthew Derrick, Ian Fortune talks through the final below:
22/05 - Shelbourne: Islandbridge Open Sprint - Droopys Scampi
DROOPYS SCAMPI shaded Portrush Ben in a thrilling finish to the €5,000 final of the 1XBET Islandbridge Open Sprint over 350 yards at Shelbourne Park.
Favourite Stonepark Browne missed the break to lose his chance whereas Portrush Ben flashed from the inside box to dictate to the bend.
However, Droopys Scampi was soon in hot pursuit and was ready to pounce as they turned for home.
Switching to the outside, the Johnny Linehan-trained, Sean Dunphy-owned Droopys Scampi headed Portrush Ben in the dying strides for a neck victory in 18.54sec with four lengths back to Stonepark Browne in third.
24/05 - Clonmel: National Produce Stakes - Berlin Trilogy
BERLIN TRILOGY (13/2) used his brilliant early pace to fully capitalise on a perfect trap one draw in landing the €20,000 National Produce Stakes final over 525 yards at Clonmel.
Trained by Michael O'Donovan, who also owns the February 2024 son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Petsy in partnership with son Mark, Berlin Trilogy broke well and sped to the bend while favourite Swords Diamond, who had also made a smart exit, immediately turned right from three and into trouble.
Bunching in behind saw Berlin Trilogy with a lead of some four lengths entering the back straight and, although closest pursuer Droopys Winsome gradually eroded it, the leader was never seriously threatened.
At the line, Berlin Trilogy was one and a half lengths to the good of Droopys Winsome in clocking a superb 28.20sec with Oriental Prince third as O'Donovan tasted victory in the Classic for the first time to continue a brilliant run having sent out Bouncing Monarch to land the Kirby Memorial a Limerick in April.
Market principals Swords Diamond and Scooby Marquess were never factors after their troubled early runs and dead-heated for fifth.
29/05 - Tralee: 2026 Lee Strand 550 - Music Inthe Air
MUSIC INTHE AIR was dominant throughout the Lee Strand 550 at Tralee's Kingdom Stadium as he took his career record to six wins in seven starts.
Trained by Patrick Guilfoyle for the Pension-Plan-Syndicate, the December 2023 whelp was two from three in sprints before stepping up to 550 yards for the A3 event which has a habit of throwing up future stars.
He took everything in his stride over the much stiffer trip, however, going unbeaten through the four-round €10,000 event and barely seeing another rival.
In the final, he made all for a one length victory over Ballymac Scheff in recording 29.57sec.
