Friday night’s Galway card featured some semi-finals of various graded stakes on a ten race programme which saw the local Castlegar kennel of Thomas Connor record a double curtesy of Rockandrollmarty and Bonzo Bourke.
By Michael Maher
In the second semi-final of the A5 525 Stake Blaze More Fire and Lissatouk Sox were both away well and they disputed the lead on the run towards the opening bend rounding which the Kim Bennis and Tony Brigdale of Ennis owned Blaze More Fire took a definite advantage along the rails. Racing down the back, the daughter of Ballymac Eske and Blaze Bee opened up a three length advantage on Lissatouk Sox and Starson Lass and exiting the back straight she looked home for all money as she raced to a four and a half length success over Starson Lass in 29.10.
In the third heat of the Talking Dogs S5 350 yards Stake the Brendan Browne of Kilkee owned Glasheen Tiger maintained his unbeaten career record as he now made it three wins from three starts as he just touched off the pace setting Burkos Tonic by a neck at the line in 19.61. From traps Burkos Tonic was away smartly and racing towards the opening bend led from Glasheen Tiger and Dynamic Logan towards the inner . Rounding the bend Burkos Tonic maintained middle berth hut now Glasheen Tiger(Wolfe-Glasheen Covid) was in the clear and he just led close home to maintain his perfect record.
Racing opened with an A8 graded 525 yards contest in which the Donal Duggan of Tulla owned and trained Nine O’Clock News was very smartly into his stride and racing towards the opening bend the son of Good News & Turree Kate readily outpaced Fantasy Twobob and Statuette to lead by over three lengths entering the back straight. Racing along the back straight the leader set sail for home as Newhall Velvet recovered from a slow start to move a distant second but Nine O Clock News was gone beyond recall as he scored by thirteen and a half lengths from Newhall Velvet in 29.03.
The kennel double was completed in the A4 graded eighth contest curtesy of the Madden-Pepper Syndicate of Feakle owned Astro Podge who made all as he just lasted hope by a length from the flying Rattling Ya Ya in 29.40 The winner was way very smartly and rounding the opening bend the son of Ballymac Best & Dynamic Cool Sky led Ballygibbon Lad by two lengths. Racing down the back the leader increased his advantage to at least eight lengths and looked home and hosed. From the crown of the home bend though the petrol gauge was running in empty but the line just came in time to complete the kennel double.
Saturday night’s feature contest was the €800 to the winner final of the Text Entries. The second semi-finals of the S3 Stake went to an all the way winner as the Thomas O’Doherty of Cooraclare owned and trained by John Browne Own Lullaby registered her second career victory by three lengths over Ballygraigue Ros in 19.08. Very smartly into her stride the daughter of Droopys Sydney & Droopys Lullaby led Drombeg Snowy and Ballygrauige Ros by one two lengths approaching the opening bend. Striding out well the winner extended her advantage between the two bends to score readily.
Successful last week in a similar grade, the Patsy Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned Flyers Magu repeated the dose in the opening semi-final of the A4 525 Stake as then son of Pat C Sabbath & Flyers Ineos defeated the staying in Astro Keva by a length and a half in 29.28. Away well from his trap five berth the winner showed pace to lead by two lengths rounding the opening bend from Copperjack Boy. With some crowding behind Flyers Magu extended his advantage to over four lengths racing down the back and although Astro Keva closed with every stride in the straight the line was always coming in time for Flyers Magu.
At Limerick on Saturday night, Wizard got back to winning ways in a 550-yard contest in race nine as the Paraic Campion trained powerhouse justified his even money price tag. Owned by Gary Pepper in Feakle, Wizard flew from traps and he appreciated the longer run to the turn to take a comfortable advantage into the back straight. Five lengths clear at this point, Rougarou did come out of the pack late on to close at a rate of knots, however, Wizard had enough in reserve to see out the win. Just a half length clear crossing the line, the time was a slick 29.76 for the 550-yards.
