Racing Post

Front to leave final rivals behind in Oaks showdown

By Jonathan Kay

FRONT AMANI had to settle for second in the Puppy Oaks last month but Robert Gleeson’s bitch is faultless since and can prove much the strongest in the €25,000 final of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks final over 525 yards at Shelbourne.

And it could be that the bitch she chased home in that last defeat, Susie Sapphire, aids her cause by making things difficult for the other unbeaten finalist, Billys Diva, on her immediate outside.

However, Front Amani will not need a huge amount of help should she turn as close to the action as she did in the semis when it was just a matter of time when she hit the front before she predictably forged clear in the second half to win by seven lengths from Susie Sapphire in a flying 27.94sec.

That is not to say that Billys Diva does not still command maximum respect but the nagging doubt about her being hassled before she can stretch away from Front Amani does dent confidence a little, while Scooby Princess is another top-class bitch who could just be searching for racing room at a vital stage.

The Oaks Consolation can go to Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Art from a great draw on the rails after she had to contend with trap four in Front Amani’s semi-final last week.

First of the evening’s finals is the €1,500 Joe Dolan/ICC Open 350 in which Dowling’s Ballymac Rule can make it 11 wins in 12 career starts by following up his fastest-ofround heat victory.

Other fancies are Tommy O’Donovan’s Irish Leger winner Epic Hero over 550 yards, while Dowling’s Ballymac Wisdom can make proven 750 yards stamina tell over classy kennelmates Boylesportsbingo and Priceless Jet who step up in trip after their Towcester Derby eliminations, while Larry Dunne’s Knight Tornado is preferred to another backfrom-England runner Great Name That in the 550 yards finale.

The other major race this evening is the €15,000 SIS Race Of Champions over 550 yards at Tralee with Pat Guilfoyle’s Explosive Boy clearly the one to beat after his track record run seven days ago.

That 29.22sec run took 12 spots off the previous mark of his sire Good News set in the heats of the competition four years ago, although it is worth noting that he was then beaten in the final when taking a tumble from the same trap five that Explosive Boy occupies this evening.

However, the recent Produce Stakes winner does have winning form wearing the orange jacket and, indeed, was seeded wide for the first round at Clonmel so even though that experiment was swiftly scrapped his early pace should prove a telling and potent weapon.

Limerick has two semis in the Widdess Fitzgibbon Pharmacy Treaty Cup over 350 yards with Nicky Walsh’s Skylight Blake and Chris Houlihan’s Seomra Nate.

Finals betting

Irish Oaks (9.00, Shelbourne): 1 Susie Sapphire 9-2 (Paddy Power), 2 Billys Diva 7-4 (BoyleSports), 3 Highview Magnet 33-1 (BS), 4 Scooby Princess 11-2 (BS, PP), 5 Ballydoyle Rossa 12-1 (PP), 6 Front Amani 15-8 (PP).

Race Of Champions (9.22 Tralee): 1 Ballymac Belvult 8-1 (PP), 2 Ballymac Merlin 4-1 (PP), 3 Deadly Samuri 12-1 (PP), 4 Crossfield Feena 33-1 (PP), 5 Explosive Boy 4-7 (BS), 6 Buttsys Bengal 8-1 (BS).

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2021-06-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

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