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Dublin, Ireland – A record total of 19 two-year-old colts and filly pacers have declared for the 4th annual Ladbrokes sponsored Vincent Delaney Memorial Cup and its envisaged this year’s competition will take the form of two colt heats and one filly heat.
Developed by Derek and James Delaney of Oakwood Stud as a tribute to their younger brother Vincent, who tragically passed away in 2011, the memorial now stands as the richest Standardbred race in all of Ireland and the UK.
The youngsters will race in their respective elimination divisions on Saturday with the first and second place finishers in each heat plus the fastest two third place finishers, returning on Sunday for the €18,500 final.
Last year’s winner Titanium has gone on to have a stellar career and is rapidly heading towards the €30,000 prizemoney marker and has a personal best of 1.56.4, a national record for 3 year olds in the UK (June 2015 at York).
Featured in this year’s Ladbrokes Vincent Delaney Memorial Cup are the following horses:
ALICOLT
Although beaten by 2 lengths in 2:06 by Springhill Catch last Sunday at Portmarnock Alicolt has been impressing in qualifiers and has been timed in 2:03 so connections will be hopeful of qualifying at least for Sundays final. Still has to find improvement but is well capable of doing so.
AYROSMITH
Was a winner on debut at York on the 27th June when he took the York Futurity Bronze Division and has come 3rd three times since. With a personal best time of 2:04.5 he does not look good enough to be a contender on paper but is trained by UK champion Alexis Laidler so it would be foolish to write this one off just yet.
FAIRDAYS DIXIE
Ran unplaced on debut last Sunday at Portmarnock behind Springhill Catch and has been campaigned very lightly in qualifiers in the run up to this event. May come up short in this through inexperience and is likely to make a better 3 year old at this stage.
INDIE HANOVER
impeccably bred and imported from the USA, this 2 year old has just 2 runs under his belt so far this season and both were unplaced efforts. Has been punted ante post into co-favouritism but really needs to pull something out of the bag if he’s to justify this support in the betting. With top trainer Alan Haythornthwaite but still has a mountain to climb.
KICK ON
Owned and trained by Brenda Dean, Kick On is another lightly campaigned colt who has just one qualifier and one unplaced run under his belt. This would suggest time has run out for this one and inexperience rather than ability will hamper this one’s chances
MEADOWBRANCH ROMAN
Finished 3rd on its debut performance last week at Portmarnock behind Springhill Catch in 2:06 but was hand timed in a qualifier in 2:04 back in July. Is another who has a bright future but this big heat and final occasion may just some too quick for him.
MEADOWBRANCH TITUS
Remains a maiden after 3 starts but has already clocked 2:01.6 so is entitled to be considered a live contender. Placed every time out, Miraculous has been the victor every time they have clashed at UK tracks Tir Prince and York but trainer John Richardson must be hopeful of turning the tables on his arch nemesis now they finally meet in own backyard. Needs to improve but has been trained with this event specifically in mind and is very much one to be considered as a potential winner.
MIRACULOUS
The most experienced and most consistent in the line-up with 5 starts so far in 2015 and has either won or been placed in all of them. He’s the fastest personal best of all the runners having won in 2:01.4 in York and ticks all the boxes. He’s already racked up over £5,000 in winnings and looks set fair to be one of the brightest new stars in the sport over the coming years. Could this half-brother to last year’s winner Titanium land the spoils in this year’s fourth renewal? The bookmakers seem to think so and are running scared.
NEWTOWN ROCK
Had done nothing wrong up until last Sunday when only finishing 4th in a muddling affair behind Springhill Catch in 2:06. Before that he had been unbeaten and impressed with wins at Annaghmore in 2:03.1 and Portmarnock in 2:04.3. The Rock is a big scopey 2 year old who is immensely talented and it would be no surprise to this Rock N Roll Hanover bred win both his heat and grand final for Liam Wallaces legendary Newtown Stud.
NO STOPPING
Has now raced and been placed 4 times showing a level of consistency and has clocked 2:02.6 at York but needs to improve significantly if he’s to trouble the main market principals. Nevertheless he’s a likeable well-bred sort who will run well this weekend but looks an outsider on all racing form shown so far.
PARTY AT THE SPA
Has had 3 races and won 2 of them in impressive fashion. He’s the only colt to have inflicted a defeat upon Miraculous (twice and at both Tir Prince) Clocking 2:02.6 he is a colt with a very big future. Although Miraculous has the fastest time of all the runners Party At the Spa appears the type to have the most scope for improvement at this stage and the shrewdest of pundits are predicting this is the one to be holding an ante post betting docket for!
SPRINGHILL CATCH
Has been impressing in workouts and qualifiers before finally demonstrating his talent with a win at Portmarnock last Sunday in 2:06. Although the time could be considered as slow, he could do no more than win and he lowered the colours of the previously unbeaten Newtown Rock and the well-touted Alicolt. Connections will be confident of big run from this colt who could just be the surprise package of the whole weekend.
GABRIELLE CAMDEN
Hailing from Scotland this Pro Bono Best filly has had 4 starts and won 2 of these including a Vincent Delaney Prep race at Corbie Wood and also the Breeders Crown Fillies Final at Tir Prince in July. She has done nothing wrong so far and must be considered as having a live chance of making the final at least.
JMS MACY HALLSTAR
Has ran 5 times and been paced twice but has so far struggled to hit the heights of her full brother JMs Hallstar. Has been aiming high by targeting all the big fillies classic races so must be showing connections something that’s making them persevere. Trainer Mick Lord is a master at bringing a young filly to their peak but this would be his ultimate achievement if this filly were to win the overall final from what shes shown on the track to date.
MEADOWBRANCH QUEEN
The aptly named filly is the fastest female in the line-up with a personal best of 2:02.4 under her belt. She’s now on 2 wins out of 3 starts including York 2 Year Old Futurity (Silver) and BHRC Sire Stakes Fillies. If qualifying for the final, she is assured of a gate draw and this will be a distinct advantage and it will then be a case of catch-me-if-you-can to the colts in the second line.
MERRINGTON MOONLITE
Has only had 2 lifetime starts and failed to trouble the judge in both. Hails from the UKs top trainer Alexis Laidler however and therefore improvement could be forthcoming. Still on all known form, this filly by Check On Jack must be considered an outsider for this event.
PORCELAIN SEELSTER
Well-bred USA import. Although failing to win in her 5 lifetime starts this striking grey filly has been placed 3 times and has shown great promise. Her run behind Meadowbranch Queen was particularly pleasing and she clocked 2.03.5 today and won’t need to improve much to be a realistic contender.
SPRINGHILL ALI
The second of Joe Sheridans entries Ali was first to race and impressed on her debut with a 3rd place finish behind Newtown Rock and Oakwood Destiny. Has been quietly prepped by Gavin Murdock since and could be the one to spring a big surprise amongst the more exposed fillies in the race.
SPRINGHILL ARTIST
The last of Joe Sheridan’s trio of entries, Springhill Artiste has been the slowest to come to hand and although impeccably bred, she’s more likely to make a better 3 year old so anything she wins this weekend is a bonus.
The Oakwood Stud 3 Year Old Derby
A total of 12 runners have declared for the 2015 Oakwood Stud 3 Year old Derby on Saturday and as a result this event will be run with two elimination divisions with the top four finishers in each division returning on Sunday for the grand finale. Last year’s winner, Rhyds Rainbow, clocked 3:04.2 for the 1 ½ mile trip and was a winner of 7 races in her debut season, including the York 3 Year Old Derby, The BHRC Sire Stakes and The Breeders Crown pacing to a lifetime best of 1:57.3.
ATM
A winner of 2 classics and placed 8 times from a total of 14 starts this filly has a personal lifetime best of 2:01.6. Owner and trainer Hamish Muirhead is would not be bringing her all the way from Scotland without good reason. Still, she has a lot to find on form with the betting market principals and a place finish appears to be her best hope in this event.
AYR MAJOR
Having only earned a single red rosette in its career so far Ayr Major should not be underestimated and is still a force to be reckoned with when taking into account the colt has a personal lifetime best of 1:59.6, however the William “Rocker” Laidler trained inmate will still need to pull out all the stops if he is to qualify for the grand final based on recent performances.
CARMEL CAMDEN
Arguably one of the best 3 year old fillies in the British Isles she has a personal lifetime winning best of 2:00 flat but was narrowly beaten at Portmarnock Raceway last week in 1:58.5 demonstrating her current re-hot form. Tackling the colts in this event will be a difficult proposition for her however and although improving, she will need to improve again if she’s to win the grand final for sponsors James & Derek Delaney’s Oakwood Stud.
FRISCO FRISK
This beautifully bred filly has only been unplaced once in 10 starts demonstrating her rock solid consistency. Her 2 wins came on turf tracks Tregaron and Pike Hall and her hard track personal lifetime best is 2:02.3 leaving her something to find if she is to qualify for the grand final for trainer Alan Haythornthwaite and owners Fools Who Dream syndicate.
JMS HALLSTAR
Owned and named after Jim Murdock this colt has 2 wins and 3 places from just 6 lifetime starts and a personal lifetime best of 1:59.7. he showed he is a force to be reckoned with at Tir Prince in Wales on 28th July when winning the Breeders Crown 3 Year Old Final and lowering the colours of the mighty Titanium in the process. His shrewd trainer Mick Lord will have primed the offspring out of the famed Camden Lover to perfection and another big run is expected in the quest to claim the scalp of Rewrite History.
LYONS PREMIER
A winner of the York Futurity Silver Division and the Breeders Crown as a 2 year old on its first ever 2 starts, the colt has subsequently struggled to find the winning vein since. Although performing creditably without getting his head in front, connections has tried to change their luck by switching trainers and John Richardson and Meadowbranch have been tasked with turning around this talented colts fortunes. A lively outsider.
MEADOWBRANCH MILLIE
A bit slow to get off the mark as a 2 year old, this improving filly has racked up over €5000 in winnings so far this season and posted a personal lifetime best of 2:00.2 when breaking her maiden at Portmarnock on 28th June. Out of Meadowbranch Gigolo, Millie is guaranteed to put up a bold showing in this event and whilst maybe not winning it outright she is sure to emerge from this with credit.
REWRITE HISTORY
A winner of 9 of his 10 races so far, the Scottish raider will start odds on to win both his heat and the grand finale of this event and justifiably so. He has only been beaten once, and he still clocked 1.56.7 on that occasion so he ticks all the boxes on both race mile times and current form. Prizemoney of over €20,000 has been racked up so far in his short career and hes sure to go on to be one of the superstars of the sport for many years to come. Superlatives cannot adequately describe his abundant talent and purists await his Irish debut with baited breath. There’s no such thing as a racing certainty but Rewrite History is as near as they come in this year’s event.
SPORTSTRICK
Imported into the UK over the winter Sportstrick made an eye-catching debut victory at York back in May before fluffing his lines later that month at Tir Prince when displaying inexperience and finishing an unlucky runner up. Never been out of the first 3 and with a 1:57.9 mile on his CV the Alan Haythornthwaite trained colt is one of the sports up and coming stars but one wonders if he has enough experience at this stage of his career to upstage Rewite History. Still he deserves this opportunity and his game owners will be all out to create the upset of the whole weekend.
SPRINGHILL RUBY
A very lightly raced filly who has paced 2:01.5 this season but has been struggling to recapture that form in recent starts. She will make a very good race mare in time but this event just looks to hot on paper for her to be considered a contender based on her current form.
STREAMSIDE STAR
One of the revelations of the season, this colt has impressed more and more with every single start. Now a winner of 4 starts in 2015 he paced 1.59.9 at Annaghmore last week and there looked to be plenty left in the locker. The all-conquering Newtown Stud are in red hot form at present and although he may not lower the colours of Rewrite History this time, Alan Wallace won be afraid to go toe-to-toe with the British champion and Streamside Star won’t go down without a real dogfight.
WATCH YOUR BACK
A winner at 2 and has just recently hit form but the Christy Foran owned and trained gelding still looks to have his work cut out if hes to figure here. Will make a nice racehorse in time but not currently operating at the level needed to trouble the main market principals.
By Thomas Bennett, for Harnesslink.com
