CLARE OWNERS had reason to be cheerful over the festive period following performances of their dogs in Galway.
By Michael Maher
The opening three contests on last Thursday night’s Galway card were semi-finals of the Barking Buzz App A7 525 Yards stake and in the opening semi-final Kai and Kate’s Princess were both away well and they disputed the lead ahead of Orbsen Olive racing towards the opening bend.
At the bend, the John Maher of Kilmaley owned Kate’s Princess was limp it like along the fence and at halfway she led Kai by a length. Approaching the home bend Springwell John arrived on the outside with his challenge but Kate’s Princess (Lenson Bocko & Freddie’s Girl) stuck her neck out to defeat Springwell Jon by a neck in 30.18.
The outcome of the second semi-final was never in any doubt from as early as the second bend as the Noel Gavin of Ballyea owned Ballyea Jet had his Rivas strung out like Monday morning washing in his wake. Headed from traps briefly by Tygra on his inner the son of Jaytee Jet and Seekers Vision tracked well around the opening two bends to lead Springwell Phil by three lengths. Striding clear down the back the Albert Mullins of Gort trained runner powered right away to defeat Springwell Phil by seven lengths in 29.59.
As the runners made the long trek towards the opening bend in heat one of the A2 550 Stake Knoppogue Time and Portumna Saphire were both prominent as Fortune Sydney showed pace down the inner and led by a length at the turn from Lady Aston. Racing down the back Fortune Sydney led by over three lengths as Collossal Venture began to creep closer. Between the final two bends the Colossal Venture began to close and powering down the outside off the home bend the Colossal Syndicate of Ennis and Kilmaley owned Colossal Venture(Droopys Sydney-Droopys Lullaby) led close home for a length success in 30.63.
In the second semi-final the reserve Drombeg Apollo trapped best in the centre of the track and racing towards the opening he led from Drombeg Rio and Kilbrennan Clan. Racing down the back Drombeg Apollo continued to show the way to Drombeg Rio as the Top Benefit Syndicate owned Fantasy Tuppence (Redzer Ardfert & Fantasy Lane) began to reel the pair in. Turning for home Fantasy Tuppence swept to the front to complete an Albert Mullins of Gort kennel double by a length and a half from Drombeg Apollo in 30.62.
In the second semi-final of the A3 525 Stake Burnpark Layla was away well on the wide outside with Cloonturk Honey matching strides almost with striped jacketed runner on the run towards the opening bend. Rounding the bend Burnpark Layla led by three parts of a length and this became two lengths as the halfway mark loomed. Approaching the third bend, the Micheal Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Layla was chased by Cloonturk Honey and Menmal King and kicking again off the home bend the daughter of Newinn Taylor and Burnpark Leanne scored by two and three quarter lengths from Cloonturk Honey in 29.24.
In the first semi-final of the Talking Dogs S5 Stake Pirate Roberts was away best on the wide outside with Dereal Cerebus showing pace towards the inner in the early stages. As the leaders approached the opening bend they were joined by Burnpark Jaytee in the centre of the track and rounding the bend the Mrs Maria Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Jaytee took command of the contest. Two lengths clear entering the home straight the son of Jaytee Jet & Seekers Vision scored by two & a half lengths from Freckles Mist in 18.44.
In the opening Novice 325 yards contest on Galway’s Friday night card, the Jack Browne of Ballyea owned Cascade Pipper was away like the wind from her trap four berth and racing towards the opening bend the daughter of Burgess Bucks and Coolavany Spice led by over three lengths from Swinford Mike and Bosra Bono. Tracking well between the two bends the leader was in command turning for home as she stayed on well to defeat Bosra Bono by two lengths in 18.49.
A winner last time in similar grade the Kieran Browne and Brian O’Halloran of Cree owned Burnpark Lorna made it back to back successes in race two as she led approaching the opening bend on her way to an impressive five and a half-length success over Heathlawn Rocky in 18.32. The daughter of Newinn Wonder and Burnpark Marilyn was headed early by Sports Bell but once finding her stride on the wide outside the winner devoured the ground to take command of proceedings at the opening bend. Although maintaining a middle to wide route between the bends ‘Lorna’ was always in control of the contest racing to the line.
The Noel Hehir of Inagh owned Tromora Supreme ran out a most impressive winner of this Novice 525 yards contest as she never saw another rival on her way to a seven and a half-length success over Split The Gee in 29.59. Away smartly from her trap one berth the daughter of Ballymac Best & Tromora Champion tracked superbly around the opening two bends and with her rivals getting in each other’s way it was a case of how far at halfway. Again railing well around the final two bends she was home and hosed early in the straight.
There was an exciting finish to the A4 graded contest as the first three home Hit The Diss, Toolate Shannon and Oaktree Roxy crossed the line as one. From traps Hit The Diss and Oaktree Roxy were both away well and racing towards the opening bend it was the John Quinn and Shane Counihan of Gort owned Hit The Diss that just handed the issue on the inside. Racing down the back Hit The Diss led by a length but approaching the third bend Oaktree Roxy slipped through on her inner to lead briefly. Off the home bend Hit The Diss (Pestana-Port West Pop) rallied on the outer as Toolate Shannon rattled home along the inner with Hit The Diss shading a neck verdict over Toolate Shannon in 29.69.
