CLARE greyhounds dominated the weekend action in Galway with wins for owners from Kilkee, Tulla, Liscannor, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Cree and Cratloe.
By Michael Maher
The concluding A2 graded 525 yards contest was the top graded event on Friday nights card at Galway Greyhound Stadium. Clonfeigh Jetty was best away in the S6 graded fourth contest with Blaze Buck and Glasheen Model both giving chase to the leading pair as they raced towards the opening bend. As the bend loomed, the Brendan Browne of Kilkee owned Glasheen Model made rapid progress on the outside of the trio and with Blaze Buck running off the rails Glasheen Model found herself three lengths clear turning for home. Striding out well at the head of affairs the daughter of Dromana Bucko and Glasheen Covid recorded her second career success by two lengths form Blaze Buck in 19.26.
In race five, the Pat Kelly owned Mollys Ambition never saw another rival in this A8 graded contest as she recorded her maiden success by making all from her trap six berth although the Donie Duggan of Tulla trained daughter of Good Cody and Droopys Freda was all out to see off the challenge of Drimeen Jetty by a neck at the line in 29.75. Very smartly into her stride Mollys Ambition showed good early pace to lead Drimeen Jetty and Grangeview Biddy by over two lengths rounding the opening bend. Racing along the back the lead grew to three lengths but from the home bend the winner was searching for the line which just arrived in time to the delight of connections.
As the traps rose for the A7 graded affair Paradise Honk and Ethans Choice were both away well with The Honk-Army Syndicate of Newmarket-on-Fergus owned Paradise Honk holding a narrow advantage as they negotiated the opening bend. Racing down the far side Paradise Honk continued to show the way to Ethans Choice as Gortkelly Leo and Upya Boyo Gar both began to close on the leading pair. Exiting the back straight though Paradise Honk trained by Sean Meade of Miltown Malbay began to turn the screw and the son of McInerney and Paradise Brook eased home six lengths clear of Gortkelly Leo in 29.28.
Saturday night’s Galway card featured the semi-finals of The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A4 525 Yards Stake with the concluding A3 graded 525 yards contest the top graded event on the card.
As the traps rose for the feature event Notsobadnow came away well towards the inner and he led the charge towards the opening bend from Brickhill Patsy with Ryadar Rocket in third place as they approached the turn. Rounding the bend Clare natives John Collins and Albert Long owned Brickhill Patsy tracked superbly as she switched inside the leader to claim the rails berth turning down the back straight. Racing down the back, Brickhill Patsy led Notsobadnow by three parts of a length but as they raced towards the three quarter mark Brickhill Patsy set sail for home. Tracking well out of the back the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Twentylittletoes was now in command of proceedings as she raced clear to defeat Rydar Rocket by three lengths at the line in a best of the night 28.87.
In the second semi-final of the IRGT A4 525 Stake Claudegreengrass was away best and he led Confused Kiely and Highview Tom on the run towards the opening bend. At the bend Confused Kiely moved though on the leaders inner and getting the better of the argument taking the turn Confused Kiely turned down the back straight two lengths to the good over Portumna Syd on the outside. Racing towards the end of the back straight Portumna Syd began to close on the leader but the Gerry Manley of Cratloe owned Confused Kiely (Magical Bale and Lavan Fairy) in teak tough and he prevailed by a length at the line in 29.29.
Racing towards the opening bend in the A5 graded 525 yards contest Skirk Bud showed pace in the centre of the track to lead from Effernogue Bush with Killanin Bono also prominent on the wide outside as they rounded the bend. Turning down the back Effernogue Bush switched inside the pace setting Skirk Bud to deliver a challenge but the door was firmly shut forcing the Frank Casey of Newmarket-on-Fergus owned runner to switch back to the outside racing past halfway. At the third bend, Effernogue Bush struck the front on the outside and quickly asserting the son of Burgess Bucks and Ballymac Helena scored by two lengths from Skirk Bud in 29.40.
Having met trouble in three of her last four outings the Maria Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Class enjoyed a welcome change of fortune in the A5 graded 525 yards contest leading close home to deny the pace setting Burkos Breeze by half a length in 29.48. Burkos Breeze was away smartly on the wide outside and led from Hanover Luna and Alva Chase on the run towards the opening bend. Racing down the back Burkos Breeze led her rivals by over two lengths as Burnpark Class moved into four place passing halfway. From the third bend though Burnpark Class began to close with every stride out wide and sweeping down the outside in the home straight the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Burnpark Willow scored for the fifth time in her career.
The outcome of this A4 graded 525 yards contest was effectively settled at trap rise as once the lids rose the Michael Malone of Liscannor owned Substance was away like the wind and racing towards the opening bend she led her rivals headed by Five Alley Mike by two lengths. Rounding the bend the daughter of Slippery Robert and Be Slow Teresa tracked pretty well and as she raced towards the halfway mark her advantage had grown to five lengths over her rivals. Clear exiting the back straight Substance was home for all money as she routed her rivals by upwards of seven and a half lengths at the line in 29.14.
