*Owner of Own Spice Thomas O’Doherty Cooraclare with his Girlfriend Susan O Shaughnessy were in a happy mood after winning the Sweepstake Final at the Galway Track on Friday night last.
The Browne’s of Ballyea stole the show in Galway over the weekend with three of their dogs, Own Spice, Karakal Jon and Rathmeehan Hill racing home in first position.
In Friday’s feature contest at the Collage Road Venue, the €2000 Welcome Back To Sport A4 525 Yards Stake sponsored by John Grimes and as they went to traps the red jacketed Astro Abby was a shade of odds on to life the prize.
As the traps rose the “jolly” was away well as was the wide seeded Ougham Tubber and the pair led the charge towards the opening bend with their rivals closely grouped behind. Rounding the bend there was a slight coming together of the leading pair but Astro Abby still held the call entering the back straight.
Straightening up down the back though the complexion of the race changed as Own Spice who is owned by Cooraclare’s Thomas O’Doherty found space along the rails and the John Browne of Ballyea trained runner swept to the front at halfway. Quickly setting sail for home Own Spice led by two lengths on the crown of the home turn and although Astro Abby stayed on well again Own Spice had a length to spare at the line in 28.99.
In the A2 graded seventh contest the Michael Costello of North Clare owned Pinnacle Rio who came in as a reserve never saw another rival to record a sixth win from just eleven starts by a length from Springwell Sully in 29.45.
The opening contest of the night was an A7 contest in which Tromora Tiger showed pace along the rails to lead from Merciful Charlie on the run towards the opening bend and turning down the back Traceys Tiger was three lengths clear of Karakal Jon who improved to track the leader into the third bend. Rounding the home bend the Jack Browne of Ballyea owned Karakal Jon loomed up on the leaders outside before edging away in the straight to prevail by three and a quarter lengths in 29.72.
The John Browne of Ballyea owned Rathmeehan Hill finally enjoyed some luck in running in the A5 graded fifth contest as he recorded a four three quarter length success over Sues Panda in 29.52. Ringroe Rally showed pace to lead the field early and with trouble towards the outer the leader kicked clear around the opening bend as Rathmeehan Hill moved into second place. Leaving the back straight Rathmeehan Hill loomed up on the leaders outside and from this point there was only going to be one outcome.
There was a dead-heat in the S7 graded seventh contest as the Martin Tucker & Stephanie O’Brien owned Mountcashel Jet got right on the line not share the spoils with the David Browne owned Garryfine Grace in 19.52. Garryfine Grace showed plenty of early pace to lead by two lengths on the crown of the home bend but once Mountcashel Jet found room at this juncture he fairly flew up the straight to force the dead heat.
Less than two lengths covered the field approaching the opening bend in the S4 graded ninth contest as Rathin Rover led Springwell Bobby but right round the wide outside the Maria Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Pluto took command of the contest. Clear off the home bend the son of Tommy Brislane and Ballyea Beauty proved two and a half lengths too good for Foulkscourt Yank in 19.37.
