Whilst the excitement of the Kerry Oaks, Dublin Cup, and Rural Kennels Open Unraced continues to unfold, the spotlight intensifies on the imminent Gold Cup at Shelbourne Park, with preparations now in full swing.
A significant development occurred this Saturday evening when Optic Chico, trained by Robert Gleeson, made a statement. Marking his debut run over the standard distance at Shelbourne Park, Optic Chico delivered a performance of sheer brilliance. Defeating the recent Christmas Oaks victor, Rathdown Molly, in a remarkable 28.23 seconds, he triumphed in the face of the biting cold.
Such was the calibre of Optic Chico's run, speculation abounds that under more favourable meteorological conditions, the 28-second barrier could well have been breached. His entry into the Gold Cup, boasting a substantial winner’s purse of €16,000, is now eagerly anticipated alongside other prominent names in the sport.
The prestigious Gold Cup is set to commence on Saturday, February 3rd, and it stands poised to be the final major event at Shelbourne Park prior to the commencement of extensive ground floor renovations.