Supporters Michael Ryan (Kilmihil) and Seamus Crowley (Cooraclare) with owners Finbarr Keating (Cree), Tom Browne (Cree), Frank Finucane (Kilmihill), John Reidy (Cooraclare), trainer Tom O’Connor (Tarbert) and JP Prenderville (cup sponsor)
A CLARE SYNDICATE took the spoils in the JP Prenderville Memorial Cup.
By Michael Maher
The opening rounds of the GRI Galway Oaks got underway at the College Road Venue on Friday night last and it couldn’t have gone any better as reigning Sporting Press Oaks Champion, Raha Mofo, smashed the 525-yard track record on route to a procession victory.
Already firmly established as one the fastest females in training, Raha Mofo came into the €6,000 to the winner feature as the one to beat given her exploits throughout 2022 and she justified this status with an incredible performance to break Hillcroft Josie’s track record, held since 2007.
Trained by Murt Leahy of Kilkenny for one of the Galways Track huge supportors Marissa Molloy, Raha Mofo is chasing an historic Oaks double after capturing the Sporting Press Oaks at Shelbourne Park earlier in the year and she got off to the perfect start, with an unbelievable display from this bitch, the time was a sensational 28.27.20s.
On Thursday night last at Limerick Greyhound Stadium there was four Clare winners out of the twelve races on offer. The dynamic duo of Frank and Mary Browne from Quin were first up for the Banner with the Michael Browne owned Irelands Call – a son of Velvet John Joe and Mine Velvet, he recorded a ninth career success in 29.72.
The fastest run of the evening went to Tiermana Oak for Mullagh publican Noel Moroney who stopped the clock in a personal best of 28.93, this was career win number three for this son of Laughil Blake and Cloneyogan Flash.
There was also a person best for John Boy Dylan who is owned by young Dylan O’Donoghue from Fanore, trained by Donal Cooney, this son of Droopys Sydney and Ballistic Nina recorded a fourth career success in 29.14.
The finale of the evening, the Slan Abhaile A7, honours went to Tulla’s Michael McNamara with Firestorm Thea, a daughter of Magical Bale and Firestorm Ellie, she notched career win number two in 29.52. and speaking of classic events, all eyes were on Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as eleven first round heats of the Matchbook Betting Exchange St Leger 550 commenced, the nation’s top performers take to the stage for the accolade of claiming the €30000 purse on offer.
There was great excitement at the excellently ran Listowel Coursing meeting last weekend with the victory of Sammy Be in the JP Prenderville Memorial Cup.
Sammy Be is owned by the Banner Gentlemen Syndicate. This syndicate was formed one night over a few pints in Walsh’s Bar, Cree, its members are Finbarr Keating, the Cooraclare contingent of Tom Browne, John Reidy, and Michael Healy, Kilmihil’s Frank Finucane and Brendan Clancy from Mullagh, trained by Tarbert’s Pat O’Connor, he is now well primed to take his position in the Classic Club Champions Stake next February at the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel.
