Phils Dragon sizzles at Ireland’s Racetime Raceway

Of the three harness racing meetings that were staged in Ireland over last weekend Racetime Raceway in Belfast was the only venue that boasted a sub-2:00 minute mile when Phils Dragon paced 1:59.5 to win the high-grade pace for owner/trainer/driver North Lucas. Quality was on display in abundance and the sun shone brightly on competitors, punters and patrons alike.

The five-race program opened with a Maiden & Novice grade contest where Cathal Donnelly was victorious aboard his own Whatshappenin (Kikicolt-Itsatrick). The gelding hit the front from the outset and was never headed thereafter despite the persistent challenge of Fullthisclosure throughout the final circuit with Camenna plugging on for third spot. The winner’s time was a respectable 2:03.9 with the margins two lengths and the same.

Ballycoan Major (Best Sunshine) has been a model of consistency at Racetime and Paul Telford’s eight-year-old hit the target again last Saturday in the Novice/Grade 1 event. Clocking 2:05.2 for the mile the gelding had to dig deep in the homestretch to defeat a determined Jollys Alibi by a length and a half with newcomer Elusive Ellen another length back in third.

The fortuitous Bocage De Fornet enjoyed a solo for driver Greg Dean in the afternoons square trot when his two rivals were declared non-runners on the day. It’s the first time that this has ever happened at the venue and patrons were treated to what was an exhibition with the timer tripping at 2:10.8 for the mile.

The day’s action culminated in two cracking contests for higher grade pacers, the first of which was won by Peter Lyttle’s Let There Be Rock in 2:02.4.

Check The Deal and Let There Be Rock locked horns for most of the mile in this before Peter Lyttles charge burned off his main betting market rival rounding the turn for home. Newtown Terror then emerged from the pack to lay down a stern challenge in the home stretch but Let There Be Rock hung on gamely to deny the Western Terror bred seven-year-old by the slimmest of margins. The gallant Check The Deal hung on for third ahead of fast finishers McIlroy and Derrybeg.

Patrons were sent home on a high note in the final event on the card when the season’s first sub 2-minute mile was clocked by North Lucas’s Phils Dragon (Connors Dragon).

Monugs Boy was first to show in this contest pressed by Oakwood Maverick to a 28 second quarter. They reached the half in :58 before Oakwood Maverick cried enough and dropped back leaving Monugs Boy in splendid isolation at the head of affairs.

The blistering pace began to take its toll on the longtime leader and sensing driver Greg Dean was sending out distress flares North Lucas made his move aboard Phils Dragon. The colt surged from the chasing pack to draw level with Monugs Boy in the shadow of the post before nailing his prey right on the line with Rio Bravo filling the frame back in third.

Initially the winners time was given out as 2:00.5 but a timer malfunction was observed by stewards on the day and video footage of the race was reviewed and hand-timed resulting in the correction to 1:59.5

Named after the owner’s brother, Phils Dragon is a half-sister to Blackwell Ruby who was exported to the US in 2019 and continues her career Stateside where she has performed with great credit for Irish based connections. It’s been muted that these two siblings could meet again across the Atlantic in the near future if the rumors of an imminent sale of the colt are true.

Next Meeting at Racetime is 23rd July.

From Racetime Raceway