KILKEE OWNERS Brendan Browne and David McNamara tasted big wins in Galway and Clonmel.
By Michael Maher
The final of the Irish retired greyhound trust A6 525 yards stake was the feature on Friday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
As the traps rose for the feature, Lissatouk Storm, Glasheen Model and Lexis Sydney were all away well but as they closed in on the opening bend it was the Brendan Browne of Glasheen, Kilkee owned Glasheen Model that held the call by over a length from Lissatouk Storm with Lexis Sydney in third place out wide as they entered the back straight. Turning into the back straight, Glasheen Model shot three lengths clear of her rivals who were now headed by Breaghmore Tillly who was now in pursuit of the leader who was four lengths clear nearing the third bend. Turning for home Glasheen Model (Dromana Bucko & Glasheen Covid) looked home and hosed but she was searching for the line late on as Breaghmore Tillyclsoed to within a length and a half at the line in 29.64.
An S7 graded 350 yards contest kicked off proceedings. As the traps rose the red jacketed Gower Eileen was away smartly and quickly opened up a two length advantage over Croaghill Magic and Calling Bridie racing towards the opening bend. Tracking well out of the back straight the daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet & Tiermana Jetty was in command turning for home and although Croaghill Magic finished well the Anne Carey of Cooraclare owned Gower Eileen held on by three parts of a length in 19.64.
All six runners came away on terms for this A4 graded affair with Highview Fashion and Notsobadnow disputing the lead as they rounded the opening bend. Railing tightly the red jacketed Notsobadnow took a length out his rivals and racing towards the halfway mark the Going-Well-Now-Syndicate owned son of Ballyhimikin Jet & Raha Gogo set sail for home leading by three lengths at halfway easy as Guideys Bullet took up the chase. From the top of the home straight the leader began to tread water but the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained runner had enough in hand to score by a length and a half in 29.43 to the delight of winning connections who roared him home with great joy.
The opening contest at the same venue on Saturday night’s card was an A7 graded 525 yards contest in which Woo Hoo Emoski and Ketchup On Me both trapped well with the latter holding a narrow advantage approaching the turn but with Woo Hoo Emoski railing well she took a two length advantage into the back straight. Racing down the back Woo Hoo Emoski was chased by Derrymoyle Sue and Brickhill Robin who began to close as the third bend loomed. Off the home bend it was anyone’s race but the Clare natives John Collins and Albert Long owned Brickhill Robin(Good News & Brickhill Daisy) surged between her rivals close home to score by half a length from Woo Hoo Emoski in 30.20.
Although she celebrated her fourth birthday in June of this year the Kay Lynch of Quin owned Cragataska Black can still lead her rivals a merry dance when on the bunny and she did so once again scoring for the seventh time in her career by four lengths over Lakeside Albert in 29.53. Away well the daughter of Skywalker Logan and Drombeg Dancer led from Killanin Bono and Hollywell Flint racing towards the opening bend. Racing down the back the winner extended her advantage to two lengths as Lakeside Albert went in pursuit but the winner was in control throughout and stayed on strongly to the delight of her popular Clare owner.
Racing towards the opening bend in the S6 graded sprint contest Blaze Banter and Mollys Ambition were forcing the pace as the striped jacketed Substance made ground out wide as the leader Mollys Ambition held the call into the turn. Racing around the crown of the home bend the Michael Malone of North Clare owned Substance shot to the front on the wide outside and although he took the scenic route turning for home the daughter of Slippery Robert and Be Slow Teresa raced clear to defeat Mollys Ambition by three lengths in 19.40.
At Clonmel Greyound Stadium, where on Friday evening last, there was an eye-catching performance by Castle Tier who is owned by Kilkee’s David McNamara, in partnership with Gavin Tier from Corbally, a daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa and Stonepatk Molly, and trained by Tipperary man David Flanagan, her winning time was 28.98.
From the Cork Greyhound Stadium, Curraheen Park, a large attendance witnessed an excellent night of racing which had the Bar One Laurels as the feature event on Saturday last, it proved to be a memorable night for two Clare greyhounds who graced the winner’s enclosure.
Tiermana Dream impressed all with a 17.51 victory over the 330 yards trip, this was career win number four for the Colm Fitzgerald from Tullabrack trained son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Tiermana Jetty, owned by the Zero Zero syndicate which comprises off Tullabracks Michael and Liam Fitzgerald, Cooraclare’s Joe Kelly, and Nicholas O Dwyer from Quilty.
Highview Ben won the finale of the evening for the VHR Syndicate whose members include Seanie McMahon from Newmarket-on-Fergus and Clarecastle native Tommy Hegarty. A son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Ivy, he recorded career win number 14 in 28.58, he is trained by Paraic Campion from Tipperary.
On the coursing front, three Clare owners won their golden tickets for the Centenary National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel in February.
Cree Noelle, won the Tradaree Oaks Trial Stake which was ran at the Regional Meeting in Clarina for Cree’s Dinny Gould and this daughter of Annual Fergie and Barrack Noelle is trained by Liscannor’s Declan and Terry McDonagh.
Cooraclare’s Liam and Noreen Liddy made the long journey to the Carlow meeting at Fenagh a memorable one where Frank duly obliged in the Derby Trial Stake, he is a son of Boylesport Magic and Alltoplayfor.
From the Mitcheltstown Meeting, there was success for Kilmihil’s Martin Keane after Bridie won the Reserve Oaks Trial Stake, a daughter of Blades of Hope and fate Intervenes she is jointly owned by Pat Treacy from Kilmallock.
