*Donal Cooney. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
O’CALLAGHANS MILLS’ Donal Cooney recorded a double win with John Boy Dylan and Dardis Whitepaws heading home from Limerick Greyhound Stadium in first position over the weekend.
In race five on Friday night’s Galway card which was an A4 graded contest, Malbay Theo showed pace along the inner to lead from Tygra with Insidethehuddle in third place two lengths adrift as they rounded the opening bend. Racing into the back straight, Malbay Theo led Insidethehuddle by over two lengths as the pair stretched on racing past halfway. Approaching the third bend, the Lads Days Out In Dublin Syndicate of Clarecastle owned Insidethehuddle began to close on the outside and striking the front on the crown of the home bend the son of Ballymac Best & Ballydoyle Grace won going away by two & a half lengths in 29.38.
Aulton Dubh owned by Ennis’ Pat Hogan and trained by Donal Duggan of Tulla came from last to first in the A7 graded contest to land her maiden success by one length form Lady July in 29.75. In the early strides Ballyfort Uni and Malbay Tiernan were both prominent before Lady July slipped through along the inner to lead at the opening bend. Racing down the back, Lady July continued to show the way but nearing the third bend Aulton Dubh began to close on the leaders. Off the home bend Aulton Dubh (Skywalker Rafa-Rylane Dubh) was now in the clear and she ran down Lady July close home.
In the A4 graded 550 yards contest on Saturday night’s card at the College Road venue, Heathlawn Redzer showed the way to Pinnacle Rio and Blaze Bill and rounding the opening bend he held a half-length advantage over Pinnacle Rio on his inside. Turning down the back the Michael Costello of North Clare owned Pinnacle Rio who was limpet like along the fence at rounding the bend stuck his head in front and at halfway he led by a length to Heathlawn Redzer as Blaze Bill began his move. Between the final two bends Pinnacle Rio (Rio Quattro-Fawn Samantha) again railed well which would prove decisive as he just lasted home by a neck at the line in 30.61.
Recently at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, there was success for Clare in a novice 525 yards contest. From trap one, the Stephen Murray trained youngster Ben N Marie finished strongly to claim the honours in 29.55, a son of Pestana and Nothingtosay he is owned by Frank Sheehan, an Ennis native residing in Quin.
It proved to be a memorable evening for Newmarket-on-Fergus owner John Meehan when he recorded a quickfire double in races eight and ten. First up was Bling Bling Zoe who recorded her first career success in an A4 575 contest, a daughter of Kinloch Brae and Bling Bling Lola she stopped the clock in 31.62.
And in an A0 contest, Bling Bling Paul took command after the first bend to record an eleventh career win in 29.20. Paul is a son of American sire SH Avatar and Killinan Reina And there was further success for Newmarket-on-Fergus when Snuggie Ranger landed the spoils for Myles Cummins over the 550 yards trip, this son of Paddys Magic and Miles Girl crossed the line in 30.44 to notch a third career win.
Millbank Della came up trumps for the Keating syndicate in the finale of the evening. The syndicate is comprised of Kilmihil native Michael Keating and Ennis residents Paul and Tom Keating. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Natalia took charge on the run home to record her first career win in 29.86.
Last weekend at Limerick, in the first race Snuggie Bonnie came in as a reserve and duly obliged in 29.32 for Breda Casey from Newmarket-on-Fergus, remarkably this was a twenty first career success for this daughter of Sir Paddy and Snuggie Whisper who is not far off approaching her sixth birthday.
It was an enjoyable evening for the kennels of O’Callaghan Mills. Donal Cooney who recorded a nice double with John Boy Dylan and Dardis Whitepaws. In the third race of the evening, Whitepaws who is owned by Darren Cooney and a son of former English Derby winner Dorotas Wildcat and Urban Fashion recorded career win number two in 29.65.
Donal completed the double when John Boy Dylan entered the winner’s enclosure for young Dylan O’Donoghue from Fanore, following up from victory last week, this son of Droopys Sydney and Ballistic Nina led from trap to line to stop the clock in 29.23.
