CLARE dogs were running in either side as Galway were crowned winners of the intertrack challenge.
The concluding night of the Limerick versus Galway Intertrack Challenge took centre stage at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and there was to be no miracle in Medinah for the Treaty County as the Connacht trackers ran out convincing overall winners.
Kindly sponsored by both the Limerick & Clare GOBA and the WGOBA, the Intertrack Challenge has proved a fine initiative and attracted plenty of interest over the past couple of weeks. Galway established a commanding 87-53 advantage on night one and they cemented that lead with another strong showing on home soil on Friday night.
Indeed, the writing was on the wall in the opening Intertrack contest as Galway recorded a clean sweep, with Balure Diamond heading a one-two-three for the Tribesmen. A 6/4 favourite coming into the contest, Patrick and Michael Duffy’s runner was a brilliant winner on his previous start and the son of Ballymac Cashout and Windy Love continued his recent purple patch. Left in midfield following a moderate break from five, the strapping blue breezed past his rivals at halfway before following Musical Gags around the bottom two bends, looking a major threat at this point. Quickly hitting the front thereafter, ‘Balure’ was ultra-strong late on as he powered clear to cross the line three lengths ahead of fellow Galway representatives Orbsen Fixit and Westwood Jenson. The time was 29.54.20s.
In race five, the second of the four Intertrack contests, Limerick got somewhat back on track, albeit by filling second and third behind Galway winner Hanover Gorm. Donning his beloved red jacket, Leeanne Fleming’s charge proved far too strong for his rivals on this occasion. A generous 7/2 chance, the son of Slippery Robert broke well before pacing up brilliantly on the rails to lead. In doing so, he manufactured a healthy advantage down the back before pressing home his superiority in the closing stages to emerge eight and a half lengths clear of Limerick duo Petes Noah and Lemon Arnold. The time was a fast 29.14 20s.
The third leg had some added spice, with both ‘Captain’ selections taking part, and Limerick closed the gap courtesy of the ever-reliable Ballyea Jet (4/5). With double points on offer for the winner, Ballyea Jet looked a safe bet given Noel Gavin of Ballyea owned and trained in Gort by Albert Mullins’ rarely runs a poor race, as evidenced by his superb tally of nineteen career victories. Facing a familiar foe in Nashville, who represented Galway as their captain, ‘Jet’ had plenty on his plate early as Nashville flew from trap three to lead. However, the son of Jaytee Jet and Seekers Vision was quickly back on terms and nudged his way to the front at the opening bend. From there, he proved a tough nut to crack on the Galway hill as he saw off Nashville by one and a half lengths. The time was 19.27.10, with Colossal Journey landing third for Limerick.
In the concluding Intertrack Challenge contest, Galway responded in style with another clean sweep as they filled the first three places. Rosshill Ciara caused ripples at Limerick last weekend when posting a smart 28.71 victory and Joe Long’s charge made it back-to-back wins with another hard-fought success. Drawn in two, the even-money favourite raced prominently throughout, but it was around the final two bends that she made her decisive move. Steering a wide course, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Marley Star rallied strongly on the run for home to narrowly see off fellow Galway representative Killaruss Jet, while Confused Kiely also finished well to complete the Galway one-two-three. The time was 29.32.20.
On the night, Galway emerged 69-53 winners over Limerick, bringing the overall score to 156-106 in favour of Galway. It was a strong showing from the Connacht representatives across the two legs and brought the curtain down on a thoroughly enjoyable couple of weeks for both tracks. The initiative certainly proved a worthwhile one, generating plenty of interest and friendly rivalry between the two venues.
Also on the card was the final of the Galway Stadium ON2/ON3 350 and Ruthless Ruth bounced back from a third-place finish on debut to land the €600 first prize. Trained by Colm Fitzgerald of Kilrush for the Zero-Zero-Syndicate, Ruthless Ruth went to traps as a 3/1 chance and the brindle took a flyer from four to show first at traprise. Just edging the improving pair of Hyde The Fiddle and Island Teddy at the opening bend, this proved crucial as the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat AND Liosgarbh Lila ran out a comfortable winner thereafter. Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, Ruthless Ruth crossed the winning line one and a half lengths clear of Easky in second. The time was 19.45.10.
The opening contest was an A6 graded Maiden 525 yards affair and from traps Brumbys Best and Confused Dexter were both away well and racing towards the opening bend the pair raced stride for stride a length ahead of Ballistic John. Turning down the back the Gerry Manley of Cratloe owned Confused Dexter kicked three lengths clear of his rivals and looked set to draw clear but rounding the third bend he maintained a wide route as Brumbys Best closed again to get-together within a length nearing the home bend. On straightening for home though Cunfused Dexter( Ballyhimikin Jet-Lavan Fairy) drew clear again to defeat Drimeen Jetty by three lengths in 29.43.
The second contest was an S5 graded sprint contest and as the traps rose the striped jacketed Crinkill Ranger was away smartly as was the black jacketed Rock Country but as they raced towards the opening bend Crinkill Ranger displayed the better early pace to lead by a length and a half as they approached the turn. cutting towards the rail, Crinkill Ranger forced his rival to check slightly but rounding the home bend he then ran very wide and this was the opportunity that the Martin Griffin of Lissycasey owned Rock Country was awaiting and the son of Grangeview Ten and Rockmount Mia gained the upper hand halfway up the run in to score going away by a length in 19.23.
