Friday night’s Galway card was dominated by the opening round heats of the Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby which carries a €9000 winners prize.
By Michael Maher
In the opening heat Laois Lightening began well from his trap five berth and although the Gordon Vaughan owned son of Ballymac Anton and Old Treasure headed straight for the rails he still held the call by half a length from Droopys Bro as they rounded the bend. Tracking well around the opening two bends, the Donal Duggan of Tulla trained Laois Lightening led Peteles Express by three lengths with a further six back to Droopys Bro racing along the back straight .From the third bend though the winner was leader was home and hosed as he scored by three and a half lengths in 30.98.
In heat three, the Joseph Ward of Spancilhill owned Eastern Express was smartly into his stride from his trap one berth and racing towards the opening bend he led Lady Aston by over. A length with Dutchie in third place as they began the turn into the back straight. Racing down the back Eastern Express was making the best of his way home and the son of Ballymac Bolger and Jet Stream Debit led Lady Aston by two lengths exiting the far side and digging deep on the run in prevailed by a length and three parts from Dutchie in 30.44.
There were three mini-stake finals down for decision on Saturday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium Tipperary trainer Vincent McKenna has his runners in tremendous form at present and he landed another win in this A4 graded contest as the Pat Hogan of Ennis owned Aulton Joxer never saw another rival as he defeated the staying on Springwell Jon by four lengths in 29.38. The winner trapped well from his one box and racing towards the opening bend the son of Ballymac Cashout and Jumeirah Genie led Crokers Promrsoe by a length but that soon became four lengths entering the back straight . Striding clear out front Aulton Joxer was in control as he gradually drew clear of his rivals from the halfway point to register career win number two.
In the concluding A4 graded 525 yards contest Guideys Bullet, Drombeg Max and Petes Noah were all away well with Guideys Bullet tracking well around the opening bend to lead into the back straight with the Peter Russell of Shannon owned Petes Noah running right round the outside to entering the back straight half a length adrift of the leader . Racing past the halfway point Petes Noah went to the front and led by over a length exiting the back straight and despite maintains a wide berth between the two bends the Donal Duggan of Tulla trained son of Burgess Bucks & Notimetotalk was home and hosed turning for home as he defeated Guideys Bullet by three & a half lengths in 29.47.
Last Thursday’s afternoon meeting at Limerick Greyhound Stadium proved to a be a fruitful one for Clare owners with six of the twelve races on offer coming home to the Banner, it was magnificent afternoon for the father and son team of Michael and Donnacha McNamara from Tulla as they recorded a treble of victories, Litter brothers Yuri and Pampas, sons of Dromana Bucko and Rockalong Aqua duly obliged in 29.22 and 29.61 respectively and their half-brother Daystar, a son of Malachi and Rockalong Aqua recorded his sixth career win in 29.53.
The opening contest a graded A5, was won by Syds Star for the Ballyalla based C Start Syndicate, trained by Newmarket on Fergus’s Myles Cummins this son of Droopys Sydney and Annual review landed career win number 13 in 29.73.
The third race an A5 contest went to Tulla’s Donie Duggan and Knoppogue Blue in 29.15, a homebred daughter of Magical bale and Notimetotalk, this was her eighth career success. Parteen’s Joe Collins was in the winner’s enclosure with Shanakyle Turbo who recorded his first career success in 29.71, he is a son of Ballymac Cashout and Moment in Life.
On the coursing front The Tipperary and district Meeting held in Galbally last weekend displayed all that is positive about regulated coursing with magnificent hares and an electric atmosphere throughout the weekend, it proved fruitful for both North and West Clare as Moher Princess won the Latin and Emily Puppy stake for Peter Scales and Declan McDonagh and Castle King won the Con Ryan Memorial Cup for Kilkee duo Kieran McGrath and David McNamara.
Sympathies are extended to the Browne and Grogan families on the recent passing of Mary Browne from Burnpark, Leitrim near Kilmihil. The Browne clan have been steeped in the Greyhound community in Clare for generations and in the past Mary with her late husband Michael had many a champion greyhound come from their Burnpark kennels, to name a few 1984 Oaks Winner Burnpark Sally, 1986 Puppy Derby Winner Burnpark Black and the 1996 Scottish Derby Winner Burnpark Lord.
