The Bresbet Easter Cup kicks off this Saturday February 19 over 503m at Shelbourne Park and the lineup is brimming with talent. The ladies lead the ante-post market with current Derby/Oaks champion Susie Sapphire leading the market at $5.50 followed by Skywalker Cilla at $11. Next is Limerick 503m record holder Part Blake, All About Ted derby runner-up, last week’s stunning winner Romeo Magio and Sprint Cup winner Good Cody. His even higher prizes are for classic winners Ballymac Wild and Priceless Jet. First eight innings kick off this Saturday, let’s look at the innings.
Heat 1: Part Blake will split the favoritism with Knight Tornado in the first set with Swords Maestro drawn red, winning machine Auxerre in five and precocious performer Russmur Pat drawn in two. Swords Maestro is exceptionally fast when wearing his scavenging boots, but as we’ve seen on more than one occasion he can creep away slowly, similar comments apply to his kennel mate Knight Tornado, so a provisional selection is given to Russmur Pat in trap two. for James O’Regan and Jeremiah Murphy at a high price to take the first run. The son of Pat C Sabbath is very capable in his day and the longer run to the corner should suit him.
Heat 2: Romeo Magico clocked the fastest time of the year last week at Shelbourne Park on the standard 480m course doing the whole thing in 28:11, he also has great form on the Easter Cup course in 503m, in fact his best run over the distance came from box three where he finds himself drawn this weekend. It is not such a simple task as it seems at first glance, Benalmadena Roxy is a female dog with enormous abilities and if the level of trapping she could give the favorite much to think about, we have seen her winning at the winter racing festival on this trip when scoring in 29:40 and as we know Romeo Magico is much better when able to dictate alone in front. Scarty Yank makes his Shelbourne debut after a few flashy tries and should improve for the outing.
Heat 3: Derby runner-up Jackslittlething is yet to regain last year’s form and hasn’t won a race since September 2021, he will need to step up his recent efforts. The Irish Laurels One Time Only winner leads the Sentimental Lad market. Sentimental Lad finished ahead of Jackslittlething last week and can go into the corner better than last time. Race favorite One Time Only is yet to win around Shelbourne after three starts and is worth taking at the price. Spinosaurus has a bright future and could have a great run in the race from the second box. It should not be ignored.
Heat 4: Heat four looks the most open of the night where currently Ballymac Merlin and Coolavanny Duke are vying for patronage. Ballymac Merlin won the St Leger in Limerick last November and finally scored at Shelbourne Park after ten attempts by comfortably winning the 480m course at the end of last month. Coolavanny Duke, meanwhile, has won seven of his eight career starts and has a record five of six wins around Shelbourne. The long run to the corner will do, and if his stamina holds up, he’s the only one to rally around that. He finds himself stuck between early Crokers Spirit and Vanderbilt speedsters and will need to be on his toes early, but he has plenty of room for improvement.
Heat 5: Susie Sapphire returns to the 503m course for the first time since her thrilling victory at last year’s Derby. She won her last six starts on the trip and saw no other rivals in any of those six starts. Last week’s comeback race was more than fun when she was third behind Romeo Magico and she will likely be tough to beat in moto five. Catchmeflying is a dog of enormous ability, but often gets into trouble and always looks unlucky. For all his skill, a record of two wins out of eighteen starts on the trip does not inspire confidence and I would certainly rather be on Beach Avenue giving Susie Sapphire the most to think about, he might end up with a bit of space to work out with early and there are few workouts that end faster than Beach Avenue.
Heat 6: Jacob Tashadelek and SkywalkerCilla lead the market for this with English Derby runner-up Ballymac Fairone and six-corner classic winner Priceless Jet available at higher prices. Skywalker Cilla won the Consolation Derby last year and was a beaten favorite in the Arena Racing Company Oaks at Perry Barr in the UK last October. She hasn’t raced since, but her comeback tries were impressive. For me, she faces a pretty tricky draw in five and will need to be fast to ensure a clear run. Jacob Tashadelek beat a useful field here last week and has racing fitness on his side while Ballymac Fairone will have his first start of the year. Priceless Jet is blazingly fast, but its best form is further afield and a record three out of twenty-two on the trip would have you looking elsewhere.
Round 7: The good Cody intensifies on the trip but if ahead I don’t see the extra distance causing problems. Barefoot Supremo, Storys Direct, Ballymac Wild and Hello Hammond are all better. I don’t see anything troubling Good Cody if he comes back level and if he leads I’m sure he’ll get the new longer trip. The legend that is Ballymac Wild will no doubt run its usual honest run, but Good Cody is the best bet of the night for me, currently at $2.10.
Heat 8: Another derby runner-up lines up in round eight in the form of All About Ted, last seen winning the 526m here at the winter running festival, he returned this year with a few tries of flight. Although drawn in his favorite box of six, he faces fierce opposition in the form of Coom Leo, high finisher Darbys Delight and undefeated Bockos Vieira. Coom Leo is another with a poor one-from-nine record around Shelbourne while Bockos Vieria is unbeaten with two-from-two. I will side with the gifted Bockos Vieria to prevail in the final round of what should be another action-packed night at Shelbourne Park.
Freedom Alibi catches kennel mate Trojan in thriller Puppy Derby
Freedom Alibi caused a shock when he rose to beat his kennel mate Innfield Trojan by a short header in the final of the Arena Racing Company (ARC) Northern Puppy Derby to win the top prize of AU$19,000. It was a tremendous achievement for local trainer Tom Helibron whose two runners went to the $9 and $21 boxes respectively. Market leaders Havana Bale Out and Mickys Barrett were uncharacteristically slow and were both crowned at the first corner, losing any chance. Innfield Trojan took a flyer from the red and headed a few lengths to the other side where it was apparent his only real danger was his kennel mate Freedom Alibi, as they turned towards home the pair stayed at three from the rest, Freedom Alibi just got his head in front where it mattered and took the verdict by a short header from Innfield Trojan who was back in the front yards past the line. Havana Bale Out ran well to finish back and remains a young female dog with real potential.
Tom in the area to take Golden Jacket
Warzone Tom will be a short-term favorite to claim the Premier Racing Gold Jacket this Saturday morning at Crayford after another flawless display by winning his semi-final in style. Although he will have to find a little on the clock on the market’s main rival, Bellmore Sally, who went five lengths faster in winning his semi-final in 45:07. Warzone Tom is drawn inside Bellmore Sally and his superior early pace could prove decisive. Crayford is a tight track and the lead is crucial. Hopefully Tom can trap the level and build up a sizable winning lead. Warzone Tom was our $8 ante-post pick.
This weekend’s best bets
Shelbourne Park Saturday
- Good Cody 3 units earn @ $2.10 (9:42 p.m. PT)
- Jacob Tashadelek 1 unit won at $2.87 (21:27)
- Bockos Vieira 1 unit won at $3.25 (21:57)
Outpost of the Bresbet Easter Cup
- Good Cody 1 unit won at $15
- Bockos Vieira 1 unit won @ $21
