TULLA’S Donie Duggan had double success despite the horrendous weather in the greyhound scene over the weekend.
By Michael Maher
The final of the Talking Dogs A2 Tri-Distance Stake over 575 Yards was the feature event in Saturday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium in a night of horrendous weather but some excellent racing.
As the runners began the long run towards the opening bend for the feature contest Claudegreengrass trained by Gerry Dillon was just about best away ahead of Annie On Faya and Millroad Victory. At the opening bend, the Larry Keleghan owned Claudegreengrass took command of the contest as he grabbed the rails berth and entering the back straight the lead was two lengths over Millroad Victory.
Approaching the penultimate bend the lead was three lengths and although Millroad Victory stayed on well in the straight Claudegreengrass (Magical Bale-Notimetotalk) held on gamely to land the prize by half a length in 31.62.
The Donie Duggan owned and trained Knoppogue Blue recorded her second career success in this A4 graded contest as she put up a career best 28.96 in scoring by seven lengths from Menmal King in 28.96. The winner was away well in company with Menmal King but with the advantage of the inside line the winner cornered well to lea day two lengths entering the back straight . Approaching the third bend Menmal king did close but Knoppogue Blue (Magical Bale-Notimetotalk) kicked clear to win going away in fine style.
There was a change last week to the schedule at Galway when there was racing on Wednesday evening instead of Friday night when there was eight races on view and in the finale of the evening, an A3 contest the performance of the evening went to the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Bayview Fred, who romped home to notch career win number 4 in 28.91.
There was also an eye-catching performance by Knockdrum Molly for the Collins brothers, Paddy and John who are Knockerra natives, who recorded her second career victory in 29.10, she is a daughter of Ballymac Anton and Notimetotalk.
At Limerick Greyhound Stadium, on last Thursday night, Clooney Bale made up for his narrow defeat last week with a one length victory in 29.52 in an A4 contest, a son of Magical Bale and Astro Aoife, he is owned by Clooney’s Martin Williams and is trained in Sixmilebridge by Stephen Murray, this was his fourth career win.
After returning from a break from the track, the rest period has seemed to benefit Snuggie Ranger who made it two wins on the bounce with a 29.13 victory for Myles Cummins from Newmarket-on-Fergus, a son of Paddys Magic and Miles Girl, this was his eighth career victory.
