Greyhound Ballaghboy Panda with owners master Patrick o Driscoll and his grandfather Gerry Moloney after winning the ninth race in Galway on Friday night last.
Kilmihil’s John Collins recorded another double success at Galway Greyhound track while the grandfather and grandson duo of Gerry Moloney and Patrick O’Driscoll also had reason to celebrate.
By Michael Maher
Friday night’s card was headlined by the A2 graded fifth interest and as the traps rose for this 525 yards contest Menmal Princess was best away and racing towards the opening bend she led from Brickhill Daisy and Astron Podge on the outside. Turning down the back Menmal Princess led Astro Podge by over length with three lengths back to the chasing pack. Approaching the penultimate bend Astro Podge moved through on the leaders inner but the pair seemed to get tangled up allowing the pack to closed right up.
Off the home bend, Springwell Jenny briefly hit the first but Banner natives John Collins of Kilmihil and Albert Long of Ballyea owned Brickhill Daisy (Droopys Sydney-Rathmeehan May stormed through in the centre of the track to take command and score by a length and a half in 29.72.
John Collins was back in the winners enclosure in the very next contest an S2 graded sprint, this time in partnership with John Browne of Ballyea as their Brickhill Paulio railed superbly well between the two bends on her bay to a seventh career success by three & a half lengths over Derra Misty in 19.20. Only fourth best away the winner showed pace to chase down Peteles Lady on the long run towards the opening bend. Moving through rounding the bend the son of Laughill Blake & Rathemeehan Holly kicked clear off the home bend to win going away at the line.
The most authoritative winner of the night was the Leo McNulty of Shannon owned Moyolla Miss in the A5 graded seventh contest the daughter of Sir Paddy & Rylane Dubh routing her rivals headed by dead heaters Shammer Dubh and Darla The Queen by upwards of ten and a half lengths in 29.16. In the early strides Sports Glory showed pace along the inner to lead as the eventual winner shoed pace out wide. Turning down the back the front pair kicked clear of their rivals but passing halfway the winner turned on the turbo. Clear leaving the back she drew further clear with every stride from the crown of the home bend.
In race nine, the Gerry Maloney and Patrick O’Driscoll of Clarecastle owned Ballaghboy Panda returned to winning ways in this A5 graded contest as the son of Lenson Panda & Sues Music led early in the back straight on his way to a two length victory the seventh of his career in 29.54. Peteles Duke was smartly into stride in the centre of the tack and led the eventual winner by over a length approaching the opening bend. Rounding the bend Ballaghboy Panda closed right up on the leaders outside before edging to the front entering the back straight. From the halfway mark the winner steadily increased his advantage and was full value for his success at the line.
Saturday night’s card featured the Final of the Bumblebee Kyne Novice 525 stakes with six first round heats of the Galway Greyhound Stadium A3 with a winners prize of €4000 also down for decision on a very competitive ten race card.
The heats of the Galway Greyhound Stadium A3 Stake saw some excellent racing and the competition promises to really provide tremendous racing over the next three weekends. In the opening heat Danmar Corona was best away and led the charge to the opening bend where Kentucky on the inner and Menmal Prince on the outside both joined and passed the leader. Turning down the back Kentucky led by a length but the Martin Fahy trained Menmal Prince was now in full flight and the son of Paddy Magic and Cottage Brandy swept to the front at halfway as Beautysquickstep moved five lengths further adrift. Between the final two bends Menmal Prince was three lengths clear but the Michael Casey of Mullagh and Martin Fahy owned runner was all out to hold the flying Beautysquickstep at the line in 29.67.
Having finished runner up on her debut over the sprint trip, the Pat Hogan owned Aulton Jewel made no mistake in race two stepping up to the 525 yards trip as she made all the running to defeat Glasheen Mendoza by four lengths in this A7 graded contest in 29.66. Away smartly the daughter of Superior Product and Portumna West led Glasheen Mendoza and Its My Fantasy by over a length rounding the opening bend. Turning down the back the winner extended her advantage to almost three lengths as Glasheen Mendoza continued to give chase but Aulton Jewel was in complete control as she stayed on well all the way to the line.
On Last Thursday night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, the Banner county produced four winners from the 12 races on offer. It was a second career win for Two Pints who is owned by the aptly named – Guzzling Pints Syndicate from Ennis, and is under the dutiful care of Myles Cummins and Breda Casey from Newmarket on Fergus. This son of Sir Paddy and Miles Girl led from trap to line to record a career best 29.25 Tulla native Donnacha McNamara, had Rockalong Sierra in fine form and he duly obliged to land the spoils in 29.20, Sierra is a son of Droopys Cain and Sues Stout.
Harry Galvin from Cratloe, presented Upland Hills for an A5 graded contest and he didn’t disappoint to record a first career success in a time of 29.25 for this son of Droopys Cain and Star Princess The finale of the evening proved to be fruitful for Clooneys’s Martin Williams when his charge Clooney Dasher notched career win number 5 in 29. 17 for an A3 contest.
