SUES JETTY owned by Johnny Burke of Tubber had success in the Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby.
By Michael Maher
The second round heats of the Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby was the main attraction on Friday nights card at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
The finale was an A5 graded 525 contest and racing towards the opening bend Lexis Sydney led from Gimmie That with Highview Quid in third place as they reached the opening bend. Turning down the back Highview Guid railed well and took over in front racing towards halfway but all the while Gimme That and Sues Jetty were closing on the leaders outer. Exiting the back straight Gimmie That took over in front but she swung wide off the home bend and with the Johnny Burke of Tubber owned Sues Jetty tracking well around the inner, she found plenty to lead close home and prevail by a length in 29.74.
In the third heat of the Merlin Bar Stake Jasmine Coco trapped well on the wide outside and showing excellent pace the Colm Fitzgerald of Kilrush trained lady led by two lengths from Sheezatwister with Gealltanas Faye inn third place as they negotiated the opening bend. Racing down the back, the Cian Mulrooney owned Jasmine Coco set sail for home as Coolavanny Ogie whom had missed the break began to close on Sheezatwister in second place. Out front though Jasmine Coco (Ballyhimikin Jet-Wishful Ali) was making the best of her way home as she stayed on well to score by two lengths from Coolavanny Ogie in 29.10.
The four first round heats of the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust Novice 525 Stake formed the spine of Saturday night’s card at the same venue.
In heat three of this Stake Play Mate trapped well along the rails and showed pace on the run towards the opening bend with the striped jacketed Barntick Tiger also showing pace on the wide outside. Racing around the opening bend Play Mate held a half length advantage over Barntick Tiger with Slick Barry and Brickhill Patsy two lengths adrift of the leaders as they passed halfway. Exiting the back straight the Mary Reidy of Barntick Clarecastle owned Barntick Tiger was now in front by over a length and although he moved wide off the home bend the son of Dromana Bucko and Barntick Smokey saw off the challenge of Brickhill Patsy by a length and a half in 29.53.
Racing towards the opening bend in the A6 graded contest Pierview Pearl showed briefly in front but as they approached the turn the Colossal Syndicate of Ennis and Kilmaley owned Colossal Journey surged to the head of affairs and rounding the bend the son of Grangeview Ten and Droopys Lullaby was in command and setting sail for home. Turning down the back Colossal Journey led from Pierview Pearl and Balroebuck Tom by over two lengths a lead that double by halfway. From the third bend Balroebuck Tom began to bridge the gap but Collossal Journey was in command prevailing by two lengths at the line in 29.50.
Without a win in his six career outings so far and badly hampered last time, the Tony Brigade of Ennis owned Blaze Dasher took advantage of the slight drop in class as he made virtually all the running in the A7 graded contest as he defeated Croaghill Boris by two and a half lengths in 29.46. The winner was away well in company with Banter Bubbles and Lissatouk Storm and rounding the opening bend the son of Pestana and Speedie Bella led by two lengths form Croaghill Borris . Racing along the back the front pair drew clear of their rivals and although Blaze Dasher began to come back to his rival between the final two bends he was always in control.
