COORACLARE’S James McMahon was the winner of the Young Handlers Final in Galway.
By Michael Maher
The final of the Jimmy Flaherty Memorial A2 525 Yards Stake kindly sponsored by the Flaherty Family was the feature event on Thursday nights card at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
In the Young Handlers A8 525 Stake Final sponsored by PJ Tynan, from traps Lissatouk Bailey showed pace in the centre of the track and approaching the opening the James McMahon of Cooraclare runner led from Carebear Cara on her outside with John Boy Kevin also close up along the inner as they negotiated the opening bend. Racing down the back Lissatouk Bailey opened up a three length advantage in her rivals and tracking well out of the back straight the daughter of Newhall Missile and Rathmeehan Craggi looked home and hosed and although John Boy Kevin closed late on Lissatouk Bailey scored by a length and a half at the line in 29.79.
In the concluding S2 graded 350 yards contest Norway Bucko broke smartly towards the outside and racing towards the opening bend showed pace to lead from the red jacketed Ballyea Jet with three lengths back to the third placed Trinity Tom as they closed on the opening bend. Rounding the bend Norway Bucko led Ballyea Jet by over a length and although Ballyea Buck swung wide around the home turn the Noel Gavin of Ballyea owned Ballyea Jet (Jaytee Jet & Seekers Vision) finished well to prevail by a length for the Albert Mullins kennel in a time of 19.34.
The Boylesports Irish Derby Trial Stake was the feature on Saturday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium and as the traps rose Brickhill Moana was away well from her trap two berth and displaying good early pace on the long run towards the opening bend the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Twentylittletoes led from Fast Fit Patch and Tiermana Hunter. Tracking well between the opening two bends the Clare natives Albert Long and John Collins owned Brickhill Moana led from Fast Fit Patch entering the back straight before Tiermana Hunter went a clear second as they approached the halfway. Out front though Brickhill Moana was setting sail for the judge and once again tracking superbly around the final two bends she powered right away all the way to the line to defeat Tiermana Hunter by five and a half lengths in 30.31
In the first semi-final of the Martin Fahy Sweepstake, all six runners came away almost on terms but as they settled down to race towards the opening bend Cricket Box shaped the way to Bayview Wild on his inner with Five Alley Sid in third race as they began the swing into the back straight. Turning down the back Bayview Wild too over along the inside and racing towards the halfway mark he led by two lengths from Cricket Box with the Gerry O’Donoughue of Gort owned On The Latt now beginning to improve on the wide outside. Approaching the third bend, Bayview Wild still led by a length but On The Latt was now closing with every stride on the wide outside ad following a ding dong battle from the crown of the home bend On The Latt (Broadstrand Bono & Brickhill Sharon) just prevailed by a head at the line in 29.54.
In the second semi-final, Barntick Midget was just about best away and racing towards the opening bend she held a harrow advantage over Island Badger on her inside and Confused Kiely on her outer. Rounding the bend Island Badger moved slightly off the rails and the his allowed Barntick Midget to open a two length advantage over Confused Kiely heading for the back straight. Racing along the back straight Confused Kiely closed right up on the leaders outside but the Mary Reidy of Manus, Clarecastle owned Barntick Midget responded well and the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Barntick Smokey eased on in the straight to score by a length and three parts in 29.51.
In the early strides of the Horan Family Stake Final Lose No Time showed pace in the centre of the track to lead from Alva Chase and Killanin Blake as they raced towards the opening bend. Rounding the bend Alva Chase continued to show the way desired drifting wide on the track and this allowed the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained Alva Chase to creep closer on the inside as Madabout Cushie tried to close on the rails . Off the home turn the front two were split by the width of the track with the Damien and Garry Pepper of Feakle owned Alva Chase (Jaytee Taylor & Luna Rocket) ending in close home to score by length at the line in 19.81.
The opening contest of the night was an A8 graded affair in which the black jacketed Jayden’s Lady broke smartly in company with Balroebuck Tom but as they ran round the opening bend the Little Man Syndicate owned Jayden’s Lady opened up a two length advantage over Cragbrien Hero as they entered the back straight. Racing along the back the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Jaydens Lady extended her advantage to three length as Balroebuck Tom went second but Jayden’s Lady (Burgess Bucks & Crokers Wish) was in command throughout as she scored by two and a half lengths in 29.94.
