THERE was a major upset in the quarter-final of the Leger at the Limerick Track on Saturday night last as Flyers Minnie (Ballyhimikin Jet & Liosgarbh Lila) made every inch of the running to win at odds of 33/1.
Trained by Colm Fitzgerald in Kilrush for the Zero-Zero-Syndicate, Flyers Minnie looked to have plenty on her plate in terms of making the frame in the final quarter, however, she produced a career best effort to book her spot in the final twelve next weekend.
Indeed, there was nothing fortunate about the performance of Fitzgerald’s charge as she pinged out of trap two to show the superior early speed. Rounding with a one length advantage over Droopys Deploy, you would have been forgiven for thinking that Robert Gleeson’s runner would storm past his rival at this point. However, Flyers Minnie showed brilliant guts to fend off her rival at every turn, before crossing the line to record a short-head victory. The time was 29.92
The quarter-finals of the Martin Fahy Memorial A4 525 Yards Stake generously sponsored by the Fahy Family formed the spine of Saturday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium and the large attendance were treated to some exiting finishes on the night especially in the quarter finals of the €3000 to the winner Martin Fahy Memorial Stake which is generously sponsored by the Fahy Family.
The opening quarter final produced a thrilling finish with the Gerry Manley of Cratloe owned Confused Kiely digging deep to see off the challenges of Five Alley Syd and On The Latt by a neck and half a length in 29.34. Five Alley Syd was best away from traps with Heathlawn Ruby and Confused Kiely close up on his inner racing towards the opening bend. Rounding the bend Heathlawn Ruby got the run of the race along the rails and she led by a length and a half from Five Alley Syd racing towards halfway. Approaching the third bend though Confused Kiely switch inside the leader and he somehow made it through along the inner to lead turning for home and despite his rivals chalenging strongly close home the son of Magical Bale & Lavan Fairy dug deep to prevail.
The third quarter-final produced another thriller with the Cian Mulrooney owned Colm Fitzgerald of Kilrush trained Jasmine Coco (Ballyhimikin Jet-Wishful All) just prevailing by a head from Bosra Bono with Hanover Hellbiy a length and a quarter adrift in third place in 29.42. Bosra Bono trapped smartly and led on the run to the opening bend where Vernon Mist slipped through to lead along the inner and was tracked through by Jasmine Coco.
Racing down the back Vernon Mist extended his lead to three lengths but from halfway the eventual winner was taking aim at the leader. Between the final two bends Jasmine Coco got to the within a length and although Bosra Bono also closed off the home bend “Coco” was always the one who looked like prevailing.
In the concluding quarter-final Barntick Midget was just a bout best away from her trap three berth and racing towards the opening bend she led from Cragataska Barack and Island Badger and these three went in as the outside runners had a slight coming together. Racing down the back straight the Mary Reidy of Manus, Clarecastle owned daughter of Droopys Sydney and Barntick Smokey extended her advantage over her rivals to four lengths as Island Badger lead the pursuit but the bird had well and truly flown as Barntick Midget scored by three lengths from Island Badger with Hollywell Sky doing well to qualify in third place in 29.40.
In the second semi-final of the young Handlers Stake on Fridays night’s Galway card Rylane Boss was just about best away as the field were line abreast across the track racing towards the opening bend. At the bend the James McMahon of Cooraclare owned Lissatouk Bailey just about led and quickly grabbing the rails berth rounding the bend opened up a three-length advantage over Rylane Boss who ran wide entering the back straight. Striding out well Lissatouk Bailey was in command as they exited the back straight with the daughter of Newhall Missile and Rathmeehan Craggi scoring by two and a half lengths over Rylane Boss in 30.26.
In the third heat of the Magical Kennels Stake Drombeg Fizz and Return Visit disputed the lead along the inside as they raced towards the opening bend rounding which Return Visit tracked well along the fence to lead by two lengths entering the back straight. Racing along the back Drombeg Fizz closed again on the leader and approaching the third bend the Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan of Sixmilebridge owned daughter of Grangeview Ten and Blastoff Kat went to the front and quickly taking command of the contest she drew clear to score by four and a half lengths from Portumna Syd in 29.77.
