*Robert Carkill and family celebrate the success of Camerooney.
CLARE greyhound owners tasted success in Galway, Limerick and Kerry over the past week.
By Michael Maher
The opening round heats of the Anne Cheevers Memorial A3 525 Yards Stake formed the spine of Saturday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
In the second heat Claudegreengrass was best away from his trap four berth and racing towards the opening bend he led from Derrymoyle Bono and Tiermana Hunter. With some crowding behind Claudegreengrass extended his advantage to over five lengths as he raced towards halfway with the Supping Away Syndicate owned Tiermana Hunter now taking dead aim at the leader as he bridged the gap with every stride. Approaching the home bend Tiermana Hunter(Ballyhimikin Jet-Tiermana Jetty) switched to the outside of Claudegreengrass and the Colm Fitzgerald of Kilrush trained runner gradually wore his rival down to prevail by a length at the line in 29.18.
In the final heat Aulton Joxer trapped best from his trap three berth and racing towards the opening bend the Pat Hogan of Ennis owned runner led from Stonepark Sam and Island Bobby. Tracking well the son of Ballymac Cashout & Jumeirah Genie led Stonepark Sam by two lengths early in the back straight as Fleeting Moment briefly looked a threat out wide. Exiting the back straight though the leader again railed well with the Vincent McKenna trained runner staying on well to defeat Stonepark Sam by a length and a half in 29.11.
Having met serious trouble on her two most recent outings the Kay Lynch of Quin owned Cragataska Black took full advantage of the slight drop in grade as the daughter of Skywalker Logan & Drombeg Dancer made all the running to land this A6 graded contest to three lengths in 29.46. Away smartly Cragataska Black led Drombeg Cindy and Charming Ciara on the run towards the opening bend. Tracking well the lead was three lengths approaching halfway where Charming Ciara looked a major threat on the wide outside as Balroebuck Tom also began to close. Cragataska Black was on the bunny though out front as he maintained the gallop all the way to the line to score for the sixth time in her career.
In the concluding A5 graded contest Pronto Bucks was away well and racing towards the opening bend with On The Latt racing in second place ahead of Balroebuck Ash as they rounded the opening bend. Racing down the back Pronto Bucks continued to show the way to On The Latt as the Scattery Syndicate of West Clare owned Scattery Beauty began to make ground along the inner. Leaving the back straight On The Latt and Scattery Beauty went on but tracking well around the home bend Scattery Beauty(Ballymac Cashout-Work Your Head) was on terms early in the straight and she stuck her neck out close home to prevail by a neck in 29.29.
The top graded contest on Friday night’s card was an A2 graded affair over 525 yards and as the traps rose the red jacketed Knockanoura Kate was away smartly and racing towards the opening bend the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained lady was closely attended to by Rylane Master with this pair opening a three length advantage on their rivals as they entered the back straight. Racing along the back the Martin William of Quin owned Knockanoura Kate continued to set the fractions out front with Rylane Master never more than a half length adrift as Cloonturk Bruno closed in third place. Rounding the home turn though Knockanoura Kate(Burgess Bucks-Crokers Wish) kicked again as she drew clear to score by two & half lengths from Rylane Master in 29.14.
In the opening heat of the Text A5 Tri- Distance Stake Piercefield Jet was smartly away in the centre of the track and racing into the opening bend his dad was two lengths over Rylane Lass with Ard Roxy in third place along the inner. Racing towards the halfway mark Piercefield Jet continued to lead but the Donal Duggan of Tulla owned and trained Rylane Lass was gradually inching closer having switched to the outside of the leader. As the leaders hit the third bend Rylane Lass poked her head in front and gradually gaining the upper hand between the final two bends the daughter of Burgess Bucks & Notimetotalk eased clear to score by a length and a half in 29.45.
In the opening contest over 350 yards the striped jacketed Heavenly Prince was all the rage in the betting but as the traps rose the Tony Brigdale of Ennis owned Blaze Banter was just about best away towards the inner with Miss Doris and Newhall Belle also prominent as they raced towards the opening bend. Rounding the bend Blaze Banter took a definite advantage as he kicked three lengths clear and striding clear in the straight the son of Blastoff Kia & Nitro Midget scored by three and a half lengths from Miss Doris in 19.69.
In the concluding A7 graded contest the striped jacketed Substance trapped best and racing towards the opening bend the Michael Malone of Ennistymon owned lady led from Threebagsofmeat and Madabout Cushie. Racing down the back Substance extended her advantage to over Madabout Cushie who was now in pursuit but out-front Substance (Slippery Robert-Be Slow Teresa) was not for catching as she stayed on powerfully to score by six lengths the one in 29.87.
Last week’s Action from the Limerick Track got underway with Thursdays SIS meeting, where Snuggie Bunty recorded career win number 20 in 29.48 for Breda Casey and Myles Cummins from Newmarket-on-Fergus just shy of his fifth birthday he is a son of Paddys Magic and Miles Girl, and Donie Duggan has success with Washington Sky who stopped the clock in 28,87m he is a son of Slippery Robert and Clodgahs legend.
Friday’s card saw the time club derby A4 sweepstake commenced, and there was a heat victory for Burnpark class for the Brownes from Kilmihil in 29.11, she is a homebred daughter of Grangeview ten and Burnpark Willow and in the finale of the evening, Ballynew Sally notched her first career win for Miltown Malbay’s Ciara Burke, in 29.04, she is a daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet and Oakview Brae,
On Saturday, Flyers Minnie really caught the eye with a smart 28.62 victory for young Tullabrack trainer Colm Fitzgerald and the Zero Zero Syndicate which comprises of Michael and Liam Fitzgerald, Cooraclare’s Joe Kelly and Quilty’s Nicholas O Dwyer and she is a daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet and Liosgarbh Lila.
Highview Ben set tongues wagging when he stopped the clock in 28.14 for the VHR Syndicate which is spearheaded by Tommy Hegarty and Seanie McMahon, his was career win number ten for this son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Ivy.
Meanwhile in Tralee, there was success for Camerooney owned by Ennis’ Robert Carkill and trained in Castleisland, County Kerry by James O’Regan. Camerooney was first home in the Kingdom Stadium Novice Stakes round one first heat in a time of 28.85 in a memorable Tralee debut.
