Ganja Guboxes is favourite to take the Golden Muzzle final this Saturday at Limerick greyhound stadium.
By Michael Maher
Running in the opening semi-final on last Saturday night Ganja Gun went to as a 2/1 shot with Hazelhill Hazard installed the even money favourite to land the spoils after an eye-catching performance in behind Whats Up Jack last time out. However, this proved to be all one-way traffic as John Meehan of Newmarket and Fergus and Paddy Conlon of Cree runner made light work of the opposition in the end.
Only moderately into stride from trap three, Ganja Gun was forced to settle for third early on as Adamant Approach led early with Vigorous Orla also pacing up well on the rails. Ganja Gun tucked in nicely at this point however, and after running a fine second bend, he outpaced his rivals down the back to take control at the penultimate bend mark. From here, it was a case of how far for the son of Sh Avatar and Killinan Reina as he powered clear of his rivals to claim an eight length success with a rapid time of 29.83 .
Friday night’s Galway card was headlined by the concluding A2 graded contest over 525 yards and as the traps rose for the feature the John Quinn and Tarragh Cantwell of Gort owned Fast Fit Vic certainly lived up to his name with the manner of his trap exit and racing towards the opening bend the son of Ballymac Vic and Rossmult Martha led from Danmar Daniel and Pats Best Girl. Turning down the back Fast Fit Vic increased his advantage to over three lengths from Pats Best Girl who was now in a clear second place. Out front though the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained Fast Fit Vic was setting sail for home as he stayed on well to score by six and a half lengths from Pats Best Girl in 29.06.
The Donal Duggan of Tulla trained Astro Podge (Ballymac Best-Dynamic Cool Sky) really lit up the card with his career best run in the A3 graded sixth contest as he saw off the late challenge of the slightly unlucky Tuesdays Hope by a length and a half in 28.98 and record his sixth career success from twelve outings. Away smartly in company with Brickhill Queen the Madden-Pepper Syndicate of Feakle owned runner grabbed the all-important rails position at the opening bend where he led by just over a length.
Turning down the back straight Astro Podge kicked three lengths of Brickhill Queen as Tuesdays Hope moved through the traffic and began to close passing halfway . Rounding the home turn the leader began to come back to his rivals but Astro Podge was always going to prevail on the run to the line.
In the early strides of race three which was an S7 graded contest Killeshil Star was fast to break rank and showing pace on the run towards the opening bend he led Wilbrook No Deal and Charmed by over a length. At the bend though the leader ran very wide and this allowed but Charmed and Wilbrook No Deal to join issue on the leaders inner off the home bend. On the run home the Claire Davoren of Ennistymon owned Wilbrook No Deal came through along the rails and the son of Bull Run Bolt and Tiermana Soda proved three parts of a length too strong for Killeshil Star at the line in 19.87.
In the sixth contest on Saturdays nights card, the Pat Hogan of Ennis owned Aulton Super unlucky in some of his recent outings made no mistake this time as the son of Superior Product and Portumna West made all the running to defeat Breaghmore Rob by five lengths in 19.05. Very smartly into his stride Aulton Super led from Breaghnore Rob and Burrow Busty on the run towards the opening bend where he took two lengths out of his rivals. Tracking well the winner extended the advantage off the home bend to win going away in fine style.
