*Freedom Reader with owners Tommy Hegarty (left), Seanie McMahon (right) and trainer Paraic Campion (centre).
CLARE OWNERS had a successful stint at Limerick Greyhound Stadium over the past week with five victories bringing smiles back to the Banner County.
By Michael Maher
Freedom Reader notched his fifth career win at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday evening with a 28.93 victory. A son of Magical Bale and Mustang Evita, he is owned by the VHR Syndicate which is spearheaded by Clarecastle’s Tommy Hegarty and Seanie McMahon from Newmarket-on-Fergus, he is trained by Tipperary’s Paraic Campion.
At the same venue on Thursday last, there was a twelve race card on view and four of the races resulted in victories for Co Clare.
Some Summer recorded her first career victory after four previous seconds for Ennistymon’s Thomas Flanagan, a daughter of Romeo Recruit and trembling Juliet her winning time was 29.52.
There was a sixth career victory for Ryan Lemon in an A6 contest, trained by Parteen’s Joe Collins for the Shanakyle Syndcate, the son of Droopys Cain and Lemon Abagails had a winning time was 29.77.
Killuran News recorded a career best with his 28.89 effort in a A3 contest, owned by O’Callaghans Mills’ Donal and Gary Cooney, this son of Good News and Anhid Classic recorded career win number seven.
In the finale of the evening, The Slan Abhaile A7 graded contest, Bling Bling Jane took the honours for Newmarket-on-Fergus’s John Meehan with a 29.61 victory, this was career win number two for this daughter of Good News and Bling Bling Lola.
The Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby Trial Stake was the Feature event on Saturday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium and as the traps rose Pats Angela was best away from her trap two berth and striding out well on the long run towards the opening bend she led round from Guapo Chico and Portumna Saphire with Jonny Whiskers in fourth place entering the back straight.
Racing along the back, Pat’s Angela continued to show the way but as the penultimate bend loomed the Jimmy Buckley owned Guappo Chico began to take dead aim at the leader and sweeping to the front at the third bend the son of Droopys Sydney and Jumeirah Lolls drew right away to score by six and a half lengths in 29.96 for trainer Mathew Harte of Gort.
The chief supporting contest was the concluding A2 graded 525 and from traps the James McMahon of Cooraclare owned Lissatouk Dave was away like the wide and racing towards the opening bend the son of Laughill Blake and Lissatouk Dolly led from Pats Best Girl and Raining In Paris rounding the opening bend. Turning down the back Lissatouk Dave had extended his advantage to over four lengths as Pats Best Girl continued to give chase but the chase was all in vain as Lissatouk Dave powered home to score by two and three quarter lengths in 29.03.
Race number seven was an S1 graded sprint contest and from traps Mounvoor Lady was best away towards the inner and racing towards the opening bend she led Almost There and Burnpark Ronaldo but just over a length. Racing between the two bends, the Albert Mullins of Gort trained Almost There poked her head through along the rails and off the home bend the son of Sonic and Mrs Will struck the front and she raced clear up the straight to score by a length and three parts for the Mullins-Curtin Syndicate in 19.40.
Two A3 graded 525 yard contests shared top billing on Friday night’s ten race card at the College Road venue. As the traps rose for the S6 graded contest Kates Princess was best away and racing towards the opening bend she led from Dynamic Josie and Serene Rolo. As the leaders closed on the opening bend the Kieran and Shauna Nugent of Ballyea owned Dynamic Josie swept through to take over at the head of affairs. Despite swinging wide into the home straight the daughter of Burgess Bucko and Allegra Blue was in control as the scored by four lengths from Serne Solo in 19.40.
On the long run towards the opening bend in the A4 graded 550 yards contest the Martin Meaney owned Wilbrook Sydney (Droopys Sydney and Killinan Reina) showed plenty of pace to lead from Howareyaloveen and Barnora Bella. Cutting towards the rails rounding the opening bend the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained leader set sail for home early in the back straight. Approaching the third bend, Wilbrook Sydney was home for all money as she stayed on powerfully to score by five lengths from Millrose Brandy in 31.03.
