2021 Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks Final Virtual Programme

Celebrating Our

30th

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RACE PROGRAMME

Saturday 19th June 2021

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www.GoGreyhoundRacing.ie Curraheen Park, Cork Shelbourne Park, Dublin Galway Greyhound Stadium Limerick Greyhound Stadium Mullingar Greyhound Stadium Newbridge Greyhound Stadium Kilcohan Park, Waterford Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, Tralee Youghal Greyhound Stadium MAXIMUM 100 CUSTOMERS PER NIGHT. PRE-BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL CUSTOMERS MUST PRE-BOOK AND PRE-PAY. Outdoor general admission only with a maximum of 100 spaces available each race night.

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D. J. Histon Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book

Fáilte

The Executive Committee of the ICC welcome all competitors to the final of the 30th Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks competition, and as sponsors we are thrilled with the event to date. The Sporting Press newspaper, as part of the Irish Coursing Club, is proud to be associated with this female classic and Shelbourne Park for the last 30 years. This year’s event coincides with the launch of the Sporting Press online edition which is available every Tuesday evening at 8pm.

This year, once again, everyone had to continuously adapt to the new way of racing as Covid-19 measures continues to be a feature to ensure our safety. Thankfully, greyhound racing has continued throughout the various levels and this is due to the stringent GRI protocols in place and the compliance of all greyhound participants.

Once again, we have seen the best of the crop entered in the event with fine performances from the best bitches in training from the four provinces. The magical 28 second barrier was breached for the fourth time ever by a female when Front Amani clocked a breathtaking 27.94 and this was nearly matched by Billys Diva with a sensational 28.14. Both of these ladies will head the betting but each finalist has earned their spot and the classic will be a hotly contested finale.

This competition is dedicated to the female sector and is a strong indicator of how well paced our breeding future is with such a line-up of talent. Thanks to all stud dog owners that are operating in equally challenging times but continue to serve our industry so well.

We thank Joe Dolan, President of the Classics Club for his continued generous sponsorship of the Joe Dolan/ICC Open 350 coursing stake.

A big thank you to Declan O’Donoghue, who did a wonderful job in keeping everyone informed with his weekly reports. We also thank Ian Fortune and Barry Drake of Oaks Talk, together with the various contributing panelists: Declan O’Donoghue, Mark Sullivan, George McDonagh, Frank Kieran and Jason Craddock. We thank Orla Strumble, Dawn Quinn, Thomas Ryan of GRI for their support and professionalism during the event and their social media content over the last number of weeks.

Another big thank you to Imelda Grauer our stalwart photographer together with Adolf, for capturing those special moments and no doubt any one of tonight’s finalists would like to be facing the camera one more time.

The ICC supports this event annually because the Executive recognise that the foundation of the breeding industry is dependent on the quality of the brood bitch and this makes it necessary to acknowledge the very important role played by the breeder to ensure a vibrant breeding industry.

Finally, thanks to Michael Dempsey and all the team at Shelbourne Park for making this another memorable Sporting Press Online Edition Oaks competition.

Wishing each finalist, the best of luck in running tonight and let’s hope their progeny will represent them well into the future.

D.J. Histon, Chief Executive/Secretary

30

Celebrating years of IRISH GREYHOUND OAKS sponsorship in 2021 We would like to thank all our readers and advertisers.

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Race 1

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Milestone Oaks Winners Marinas Tina superb Irish Oaks double

by Anne Marie O’Brien Of all the great bitches who have run in, and won, the Irish Oaks, only two have won the bitch classic twice and one of them completed the double 20 years ago, in 2001 – the great Marinas Tina.

She won the Sporting Press Irish Oaks for the CAC Syndicate and trainer Seamus Graham in 2000 and came back the following year to succeed again, following in the footsteps of Peaceful Lady, who was the champion in 1952 and 1953 for Tom Lynch, trainer of the legendary Spanish Battleship who also happened to land one of his Derbys in 1953, sealing the Derby-Oaks double.

2001 was a memorable final for Seamus Graham, who had three bitches in the decider – Marinas Tina in trap one, who won her semi-final in 28.80; Twenty To Ten in trap four who won the other semi in 28.88; and Fast Lizzy, priced at 16/1 out in trap six. Market Elm in trap two was trained by Lester Power; You Said So in three was handled by Michael O’Donovan in Cashel; and in five was Coolfadda Lady, from the Paul Hennessy kennel.

Seamus Graham was worried about Marinas Tina in advance of the 2001 Oaks, as she wasn’t showing her usual early pace, and he had her checked out throughout the stake, eventually discovering that the problem was with her back.

Airport Express went 5/1 favourite after the first round, following her 29.07 victory for Pat Dalton, with Marinas not far behind at 6/1 along with Tullerboy Lass. Seamus was still concerned about her wrist and a slight hind muscle problem.

It was all change after the second round, however, with Airport Express unfortunately finishing lame and Marinas Tina coming into her best form to win her heat in a fast 28.88, from trap five.

For the semi-final the defending champion was drawn against Nick Savva’s great English challenger Tinys Bud, a 28.67 winner in the second round.

Marinas, a daughter of Staplers Jo out of Tina Marina, was the 1/2 favourite for the final on July 21, 2001, and owners Aidan O’Regan, Sean Muldoon and Michael McElhatton were three happy men after her 28.60 triumph. It was a wonderful training feat by Seamus Graham and his third time winning the Oaks, which he claimed in 1995 with Cool Survivor.

Superb Spinster

Looking further back, the first Irish Oaks to be sponsored by the Sporting Press was in 1992 when it was won by Reggie Roberts with Old Spinster, who went favourite after her first-round victory in 29.24, joint second fastest of the round.

After winning her first and second-round heats in 29.24 and 28.90, she won her semi-final by three lengths in 29.50 and though drawn in a tricky trap three for the final, remained favourite.

Old Spinster’s brilliance continued through to the final, when a huge crowd at Harolds Cross – swelled by the fact that ladies were admitted free – saw her win the title in 29.42 by a length from All Knight Long, with Upyalala another two and a half lengths away.

‘Reggie’s marvel’ came from behind and put all her famed finishing pace into overtaking All Knight Long for her marvellous victory.

THIS RUNS

OWNERS & TRAINERS NOTICE RCÉ WILL COMMENCE INSPECTIONS TO RECONCILE RCÉTS RECORDS Please take some time to ensure that your RCÉTS records are up-to-date and maintained correctly on either the RCÉTS App or the rcets.ie website.

If you need assistance please get in touch with our Traceability Helpdesk.

EMAIL US ON rcets@grireland.ie CALL THE TRACEABILITY HELPDESK ON 061448120 VISIT grireland.ie/tracehelp

Race 8

Jason Craddock previews the 2021 SportingPress IRISH OAKS FINAL Front rank looks Amani’s place in classic Oaks renewal

Gift Voucher FRONT AMANI is fancied to complete an unbeaten run through the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks with victory in the final over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.

Robert Gleeson’s bitch looks one of the most exciting prospects in training with her strong running style which saw her destroy a quality field in last week’s semi-final, clocking 27.94sec, the fastest of the competition and the year. The two-year-old daughter of Sonic was a runnerup to Susie Sapphire in the Puppy Oaks back in early May, when her style of running was slow to the turn, then she turned on the power to halfway.

However, during this competition she has been going to the bend much better, turning in a more prominent position and putting the pedal to the metal down the far side.

It resulted in an eight-and-a-half-length turnaround with Susie Sapphire last week on Puppy Oaks form and one of the performances of the year so far. As the sole wide seed in the race, she can stay out of trouble and prove too strong.

BILLYS DIVA looks the main danger. John Kennedy’s bitch has reached the finals of the National Puppy Stake, Easter Cup and Open 600 without having much luck. She, like Front Amani, is unbeaten going into this final after overcoming an awkward trap five draw last week to hold Scooby Princess in 28.14sec. Definitely one of the fastest in training when she can drop into her favourite path on the inside, the Good News bitch could have trouble securing that slot with the lid-pinging Susie Surprise drawn on her inside. However, she is no slouch from traps herself and if getting away to a flyer, it will be game on.

SUSIE SAPPHIRE is easily the youngest in the competition and still capable of improvement.

Owen McKenna’s bitch has been beaten twice in the competition by Front Amani so far but did go quicker when setting the standard in the quarter-finals with 28.29sec. The Droopys Jet bitch has a great draw on the fence and looks odds-on to make the early running but does look vulnerable to a fast finisher so will need to build up a clear lead by halfway.

SCOOBY PRINCESS is another fast bitch when things go her way. Jennifer O’Donnell’s runner, who won the Shelley Fennelly Memorial Bitch final at Cork last year, took another Munster Bitch Stake in the form of this year’s Limerick Oaks. She did win in the first two rounds of the competition but her best race may have been making an out-and-gone Billys Diva pull out all the stops last week. Her draw in four looks ideal as she does look for the outside on the run-up.

BALLYDOYLE ROSSA came into the event a few weeks after being knocked over and showed no ill effects when posting a fastest-of-the-round 28.17sec from trap one in round one. Poor draws in the past two rounds haven’t helped her cause but this future stayer, who does her best work from halfway, has managed to get through. Trap five is far from ideal but if she managed to turn close to the action she wouldn’t be far away.

HIGHVIEW MAGNET is set to go off the outsider for the race. Gerry Merriman’s bitch is the least experienced in the field but did win a quarter final in 28.76sec. She has plenty to find on the clock but connections will be delighted to see her get this far.

1. Susie Sapphire 7/2 2. Billys Diva 7/4 3. Highview Magnet 33 4. Scooby Princess 11/2 5. Ballydoyle Rossa 10 6. Front Amani 7/4 (BoyleSports betting: Each-way 1/4 1-2)

Race 9

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Finalists TRAP 1

TRAP 2

TRAP 3

SUSIE SAPPHIRE

BILLYS DIVA

HIGHVIEW MAGNET

TRAP 4

TRAP 5

TRAP 6

SCOOBY PRINCESS BALLYDOYLE ROSSA

FRONT AMANI

Photos courtesy of Imelda Grauer

Meeting Date: Saturday 19th June 2021

Meeting No: 69

Declaration of a ‘NO RACE’

The Stewards may declare a ‘NO RACE’ only in the following circumstances: • Where there is mechanical or other defect of the hare equipment or starting box or any

outside interference with the race.

• If any of the dogs fight, and as a consequence, all fail to pursue the hare • If for any other reason, all dogs fail to pursue the hare Note: A greyhound turning back in a race does not constitute outside interference If through any cause the race has to be abandoned before the start of the fourth Race, pass out tickets will be issued, but, under no circumstances, will admission money be refunded.

UNAUTHORISED PHOTOGRAPHY IN THIS STADIUM IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Greyhound Turning in Traps

(A) If a greyhound turns before the hare is put in motion, that greyhound will be taken out and righted.

If, however, he turns again, no further attention will be given to him.

(B) If a greyhound turns while the hare is in motion, the hare should not be stopped and the traps should be released.

(C) If the hare passes the traps and for any reason the traps do not operate, then all the dogs should be taken out and re-examined before they are put into traps again.

COMPUTERISED TRAP DRAW MADE AT RÁSAÍOCHT CON ÉIREANN

Kennel area strictly out of bounds to all except owners, trainers, and officials. to do so before they appear on the Race Card. RACING CANNOT BE GUARANTEED FOR ANY DOG ENTERED AT THIS TRACK. If greyhounds have to be withdrawn, owners are requestedGreyhound Racing Ireland has a legitimate interest in filming and photography at this venue during events for promotional, regulatory and archival purposes. Footage, imagery and voice may be broadcast via television, radio, social media platforms and the GRI website at www.grireland.ie . CCTV operates at this venue for safety, security and regulatory purposes. For further information please contact PR@grireland.ie

Sales and Operations Manager: Patrick Flynn patrick.flynn@grireland.ie Racing Office: Michael Dempsey, Mark Maguire, Joyce Black, Derek Frehill Control Steward: Mr.John Nolan Hare Controllers: Dave McDermott David Turner Starters: Derek Garvey, David Turner Judge: Amy Ahern Vet.Surgeon: Ted Collins M.R.C.V.S Timekeeper: A.Ahern Stewards of the Meeting: M. Maguire, J. Nolan, L. Temple, J. Black,

M. Dempsey, P. Flynn, D. Turner, D. Frehill, D. Gerath

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