Phils Dragon dominates at Racetime Raceway

A healthy attendance converged on Racetime Raceway for their third meeting of the 2021 season last Saturday where North Lucas’s Phils Dragon was the star of the show in the afternoons Novice/Grade 1 contest.

Six pacers went to post in this with Rio Bravo and Phils Dragon locking horns in an early battle for supremacy, a battle to which the latter emerged out on top after Peter Lyttle decided to give way with Rio Bravo.

At the half, Barry Reavey produced Oakwood Maverick to come and challenge Phils Dragon but North Lucas let out another inch of rein and the four year old kicked on again away from Oakwood Maverick. All the while Rio Bravo was tucked in behind getting the perfect trip only waiting for her opportunity to pounce but when asked for her effort in the stretch Phils Dragon found plenty to fend her off and land the spoils in 2:01.8 an electric time for that grade of race.

The gallant Rio Bravo was two lengths adrift at the wire and will be winning soon whilst Oakwood Maverick ran on one-paced to secure third spot from Fold Mischief, Mystical Carbs and Waverly Jane who never really got in a blow.

The winner, Phils Dragon, has a big future ahead of him and being out of  Blackwell Monsoon it wouldn’t be hard to see the colt plying his trade in the US alongside his illustrious sibling Blackwell Ruby in the coming months should a shrewd stateside trainer come knocking on North Lucas’s door with a realistic offer.

The highest graded handicap of the day for Grades 3/4/6 went to the oldest horse in the race, Vyrnwy Saddlepan.

Driven by the ‘Donegal Demon’ Hugh Friel, the thirteen year old still retains plenty of talent and enthusiasm for the game and when sent to the front from the outset in this he soon had his four rivals toiling in his wake.

Eamonn Griffin aboard Hilltop North Art tried valiantly to peg back the longtime leader but the veteran campaigner dug deep to fend off this challenge in the shadows of the post. Monugs Boy struggled to make any impact back in third as did Derrybeg whilst favourite John Barley got a torrid trip parked out wide for most of the mile and never threatened. The time was a respectable 2:01 and the distances were a neck and a further three lengths.

The square trots have become tactical affairs at Racetime lately and last Saturdays contest was no different. Ran over the extended mile and a half, the favourite Socrates Du Noyer quickly established a commanding lead and driver Ciaran Brickley then slowed the pace right down. As each rival came to challenge he simply upped the tempo on the straights and slowed it down again on Racetimes tight turns.

This frustrated all three competitors Bocage De Fornet, Diablesse Jisce and Hurricane Star who all made mistakes and broke stride at various stages of the event. This effectively handed victory on a plate to Socrates Du Noyer giving the chestnut a hat-trick of wins at the venue in 2021 and due reward to owner Finbarr Brickley, who makes a 500 mile round trip every fortnight to compete at Racetime.

The McCullough brothers Jason and Blake are two of Irelands best up-and-coming young drivers and they took each other on with Fairdays Bret and Veelas Imprint in the afternoons grade 1/2 handicap. Veelas Imprint was the slight favourite in this with Blake doing the steering, but older sibling Jason wasn’t for passing and despite launching an attack on the lead at various stages throughout the race Fairdays Bret was not for passing.

Clocking the mile in 2:02, the nine year old gelding had two lengths to spare over Veelas Imprint at the wire with Frisco Hold Up the same distance away in third spot. In a postscript to the contest, Lucky Cam who tried a daring run up the rail in the stretch was adjudged by stewards to have briefly entered the infield and was disqualified.

The day ended with a four runner pace for maidens and this provided the most exciting finish of the day.

Rounding the home bend all four runners were bang in contention with all to play for. In the end it was the only mare in the race, Dollarscheekygirl, who stuck her neck out and wanted it more lowering the colours of favourite Castlewood Glensman and longtime leader Big Pete in a time of 2.05.8 with the distances a half length and the same respectively.

Next Meeting at Racetime Raceway is Saturday July 10th. 

by Thomas Bennett, for Harnesslink