A super nights racing took place at Tir Prince Raceway in Towyn North Wales where a very competitive nine runner card enticed a bumper crowd to attend.
The weather was kind and the sun shone the stage was set and Coalford Ollie got us off to a flyer taking the maiden and novice event winning a shade cosily off a 10 yard trail with Joe Maw doing the driving for The Coalford Stud. Soldier Stanley stayed on for second whilst Reeds Scarlett ran into third.
Race two saw Irish horse Breakwater start as warm favourite but he could only finish third behind winner Elysium Thunder and runner up Itsmycheck. The winner ran well when third at the track in May and then was runner up at Wolverhampton so it was nice to see him get in the winners enclosure with a fast time of 2.03.5.
Race three was the first of two Tir Prince Let Trot Races over a mile an a quarter and Alza La Belle won by three lengths from Univers De Crennes in second and Tenor D'Ouville in third in a time of 2.39.6. Owned by Paul Mather the mare was very impressive as she pulled away in the straight and it would be no surprise to see her win again in the near future.
Race four was the two year old fillies championship Coalford Honey was warm favourite in the betting ring but Rhyds Mystique stole the show with an eye catching last to first move from Vicky Gill in the final quarter to win in 2.06.5 by half a length from Boo's Fury with Greenhill Debatable back in third. Rhyds Mystique showed a real turn of foot as she was stone last for most of the race and she looks like being a very promising fillies for connections.
Race five never took place as only ten two year old colts declared to race so it was straight onto race six. Patrick Kane got to the front with Springhill Glory and turned the race into a very tactical affair slowing the pace to the half it was therefore always going to be a sprint finish and it was Rhyds Ideal who quickened best of all to win by a length in 2.08.4 from Springhill Glory in second and No Brakes in third.
Race seven was the first Crock Of Gold heat of 2016 the heats are now run as open preferred handicaps and I'm justalittlleguy led out from his one draw, Brywinsmagicpotion soon took him on though and Meadowbranch Josh also got involved in the speed duel with the horses clocking a lighting quick first half mile of fifty eight seconds.
Alan Haythornwaite steadied the pace marginally and then came the challenge of hot favourite Portestown Road as they faced the sea breeze favourite backers readied themselves to cheer home the good thing but Alan had saved plenty to come home with and Brywinsmagicpotion won by four lengths in a very impressive time of 1.58.5. Porterstown Road stayed on for second and Imjustalittleguy finished a very respectable third.
Race eight was the second Tir Prince Le Trot race and Tenor Melois and Sulky De Blequin had a real battle with John Foy working hard to get past Rhys Evan's charge, as they swung for home though Tenor Melois showed that he is a real high quality individual to get back up and win by two and a half lengths. This won't be the last that these two horses see of one another and a few more battles should be on the cards before the end of the season.
Race nine saw one of the best performances seen at Tir Prince in modern times from three year old filly Jessie's Conquest drawn eight the hot favourite was almost taken out of the race by Oakview Duke on the first turn she carried on pacing despite losing at least 25 lengths and the pace she showed in the back straight on the second circuit was quite phenomenal eventually running out a two and a half length winner from the game Rhyds Merlin in second and Someonelikeyou in third.
The last race of the night finished with drama Ayr Mission was first passed the post however his driver Marc Elvin was deemed to have taken Shaba Hanover out of the race earlier on and he was disqualified leaving runner up Rhyds Design to take the spoils with Hollie Oaks in second and Coalford Chief in third.
Next meeting is Saturday 16th July.
by Eric Witherspoon, for Tir Prince Raceway