Swords Rex brings Easter Cup & €25,000 home to Tipperary

Swords Rex is now a dual classic winner after racing to a thoroughly professional and deserving victory in the Bresbet Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night. As soon as the draw was made for the €25,000 to the winner decider, it was clear that Barbara Lowndes’ brilliant tracker was going to take some stopping.

The betting ahead of the Saturday’s final also suggested he was the one to beat, although the  Graham Holland (from his base in Golden, Co. Tipperary) trained star was a slight drifter. Those that remained loyal to the July ’20 whelp were richly rewarded.

The start was always going to be of huge significance and it was actually difficult to know which greyhound came away quickest. With the exception of Toolmaker Wilde, who was tardy at traps, nothing separated the inside quintet at boxes. It was only after ten strides that the race started to develop with both Swords Rex and Galloping Sydney going up fastest.

Bockos Crystal was the first to get squeezed out, while Romeo Magico couldn’t get around the outside. But the real action was happening up front with Swords Rex holding Galloping Sydney on the turn. Despite edging off slightly, Swords Rex opened up a decisive lead by the second turn.

Galloping Sydney gave chase down the back straight but it was futile. Swords Rex was never going to be stopped. The brilliant son of Droopys Sydney and Starry Display increased his lead to two and a half lengths by halfway and continued to turn the screw into the third turn.

Trinity Junior was third behind Swords Rex and Galloping Sydney to this point but Toolmaker Wilde was now starting to make up ground, passing Romeo Magico on the third turn to go fourth. He continued to finish fast and came through for second on the run in, but there was only ever going to be one winner.

After capturing the Kirby Memorial last year, Swords Rex raced to a second classic success. The magnificent tracker crossed the line with four lengths to spare over Toolmaker Wilde in 29.71. Trinity Junior ran a big race to finish just a half-length away in third.