River reaps reward in thrilling Limerick final
A plethora of sweepstake action around the country sees local kennels battling for festive prizemoney on many fronts and leading the way with victory in the Donal Scanlon Memorial A2 525 Yard Stake at Limerick, Caulry River delivered an early Christmas present for the Mary Ellens Gang Syndicate when completing final victory on Friday.
Lightly raced as an October 2016 whelp, he has shown steady progression as a strong runner over the 525 yards but improved breaking brought semi-final victory in 28.73 a week prior and when again quick to stride from Trap 6 on Friday, he gave himself every opportunity to convert when contesting the lead in the early exchanges.
Matched from traps by renowned early pacer Airfield Heir, that duo would turn the opening bend as one with some minor bumping before reaching the back-straight. Obliged to cede half a length while racing wider than his closest rival, Caulry River was further inconvenienced when forced to race perilously close to the hare rail for much of their tussle to the closing bends. Remaining on the leader’s quarters however, he would again range alongside before entering the home-straight and taking dead aim on the run to the line, the Pat Steed trained youngster swept to the front for a most game three quarter length verdict in a thrilling final victory.
A third success in his eight race career, he will now take a small rise to A1 grade for his next outing but this performance left the impression that there was scope left to further lower his best time and he appears highly likely to be the next in a line of Open racers for the Ballinaclough kennels.
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