*Members of the Colossal Syndicate from Ennis including Niall Warren.
COORACLARE owner James McMahon recorded a double victory in Galway over the weekend.
By Michael Maher
Saturday’s feature contest at Galway Greyhound Stadium was the final of the GoGreyhoundRacing.ie A2 Tri-Distance Stake with the decider over the testing 575 Yards trip and as the traps rose Portumna Sapphire and Ballyea Scrutiny were both away well and they disputed the lead on the long run to the opening bend ahead of Hunters Val and Colossal Venture. As the leaders reached the bend the leader moved slightly off and this allowed the red jacketed Colossal Venture to slip through along the rail to take command turning down the back. Passing halfway the lead was four lengths over Hunters Val but the Colossal Syndicate of Ennis owned Colossal Venture(Droopys Sydney-Droopys Lullaby) was home and hosed exiting the back straight as she scored by four and a half lengths from Portumna Sapphire in 31.66.
In race two, Pats Best Girl was away like the wind from her trap four berth inn this A2 graded contest and racing around the opening bend she led Lissatouk Dave and Drombeg Apollo by over two lengths. Racing down the back Pats Best Girl continued to show the way as Lissatouk Dave tried to bridge the gap. Racing between the final two bends the James McMahon of Cooraclare owned Lissatouk Dave(Laughill Blake-Lissatouk Dolly) began to close along the inner and slipping through off the home bend eased to a two length success over Pats Best Girl in 29.50.
Successful with Lissatouk Dave in race number two, the young Cooraclare owner McMahon made it a personal double on the night as his Lissatouk Peggy(Doratos Woo Hoo-Lissatouk Lady) led at the opening bend on her way to a three and a half length success over the staying on Fantasy Tuppence in 29.51. The winner went up well in company with Derra Dolly and Croaghill Gerry and rounding the opening bend she railed well to lead by two lengths entering the back straight . Striding out well Peggy was in complete control form the halfway mark and stayed on well all the way to the line.
The outcome of the S6 graded sprint contest was in little doubt from an early stage as from traps the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Bark Wahlberg was very smartly into his stride ahead of Lindas Lad and Dynamic Logan . As the leader approached the opening bend he briefly looked in bother as Drombeg Apollo closed in the rail but the door was firmly shut at the turn as the Blessmefatherforighave Syndicate owned son of Premier Fantasy & Geelo Lu Lu kicked clear again to defeat Lindas Lad by three & three quarter lengths in 19.29.
The Lads-Dayout-In-Dublin Syndicate of Clarecastle are certainly having great fun with their son of Ballymac Best and Ballydoyle Grace named Insidethehuddle who recorded his eighth career success in the S1 graded sprint contest by three lengths from Ceide Queen in 19.24. The winner was only in fourth place racing towards the opening bend as Grangeview Liz led the charge towards the inner ahead of Almost There. Between the two bends though Insidethehuddle switched to the inner and made rapid progress and despite swing wide into the home straight quickly asserted on the run to the line.
Friday night’s Galway card featured the final of the Talking Dogs Novice 525 Yards Stake with the concluding A3 graded contest over 525 Yards the top graded contest on the ten race programme.
Racing towards the opening bend in the A7 graded contest Giddyupgar held a narrow advantage over Bardeen Lady with Cregg View close up on the wide outside. Turning into the back straight, Giddyupgar led the way by over a length to Barheen Lady as Rathkerry Anne began to creep into contention along the rails passing halfway. Approaching the home bend, Giddyupgar drifted off the rails and this allowed the Rachel Hehir of Kilmaley owned Rathkerry Anne (Kinloch Brae-Baby Sugar) through to lead close home and score by a length and a half in 30.10.
The Stephen Murray kennel hit the target in the A5 graded contest as The Grove Syndicate of Roselevan, Ennis owned Groves Joy led off the home bend on his way to a third career success by three and three quarter lengths from Tygra in 29.49. From traps Tygra came away well on the wide outside and led to the bend where general crowding saw her extended her lead to three lengths over Groves Joy passing halfway. Approaching the third bend though Groves Joy (Droopys Sydney-Astro Abby) moved through on the leaders inner before asserting off the home bend to win going away.
