*Clare hurler, Jack Browne. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CASCADE PHANTOM owned by Clare hurler, Jack Browne recorded his second success in only his third outing.
By Michael Maher
The A2 graded fifth contest over 525 yards was the feature event on Friday night’s Galway card which took place in constant driving rain but as the traps rose for the feature Fast Fit Vic was very smartly into stride along the inner with Astro Podge close up on the leaders outside as they approached the opening bend where both tracked well and kicked clear of their rivals entering the back straight.
Racing along the back, Astro Podge edged to the front and exiting the back led by half a length. Rounding the home bend though the John Quinn and Tarragh Cantwell of Gort owned Fast Fit Vic (Ballymac Vic-Rossmult Martha) saved valuable ground and the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained runner dug deep to score by half a length in 30.07.
The chief supporting contest was the A3 graded sixth contest and on a night where it paid to be on the pace the Jack Browne of Ballyea owned Cascade Phantom (Droopys Sydney-Coolavanny Spice) never saw another rival as he recorded his second success from just three outings by five lengths from Springwell Diva in 29.70. The winner led by two lengths rounding the opening bend. Extending the advantage early in the back straight it was just a case of how far the margin of victory from the halfway mark.
In race two, Orbsen Olive trapped best in this A6 graded contest leading from Creevy Bird along the inner racing towards the opening bend. At the bend Creevy Bird ran off the rails carrying Orbsen Olive wide also and this allowed the Feakle Five Syndicate owned Mounvoor Lad slip through to take command turning down the back straight. Kicking clear racing along the back the son of Ballymac Best and Ridgedale Martha was home and hosed exiting the back straight as he eased home seven lengths clear of Creevy Bird in 30.02.
The concluding contest went to the Martin Griffin of Lissycasey owned Room To Stop who recorded his sixth career success by making all to defeat Backstreet Lady by three lengths in the concluding S5 graded contest in 19.79. Away smartly in company with One Survivor out wide the winner took command of the contest at the opening bend and racing right away rounding the home bend the son of Laughill Blake and Nebraska Scot ran out a comfortable winner.
The feature contest on Saturday’s Galway racing was the A1 graded seventh contest over 550 yards which was over at halfway as the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Arrowhead had his rivals really on the stretch. Away smartly the son of Pat C Sabbath and Krystalise showed plenty of pace on the long run towards the opening bend to lead by three lengths from Cloonturk Bruno as they rounded the turn. Racing down the back Arrowhead opened up a four length advantage on Cloonturk Bruno who never gave up the chase but Arrowhead was always in total control as he eventually crossed the line a length and a half clear of Cloonturk Bruno in 30.14.
On last Thursday night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, a nice crowd congregated to view the 12 races on offer, the racing circuit was rated 20 fast for the evening. Shanakyle Abbey was the first Clare winner of the evening in race three an A4 contest, owned by the Shanakyle Syndicate from Parteen which is spearheaded by Joe Collins, this son of Droopys Roddick and Toremore Nosey recorded his seventh career win in 29.58.
Snuggie Bunty made it a third career win for Breda Casey from Newmarket-on-Fergus with his 29.01 effort, this son of Australian import, Paddys Magic and Miles Girl battled hard to take the honours.
Donal Cooney’s Barnhill Jack recorded the fastest time of the evening with his 28.82 effort, this was career win number 4 for this son of Droopys Sydney and Emmas Pride.
Inislosky Jasper justified favouritism for O’Briensbridge’s Mary Crotty when he took the honours in 29.49 and in doing so this son of Droopys Roddick and Cailin Pol notched up career success number nine.
The finale of the evening, an A5 graded contest, proved fruitful for Mullagh’s Noel Moroney with his charge Tiermana Jetty, a son of Kinloch Brae and Tiemana Rum, his 29.06 effort was his fourth career success.
