THE FINAL of the W.G.O.B.A. Paddy O’Gorman A1 525 was the feature of five stake finals down for decision on the final card of 2024 at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
Racing towards the opening bend in the Christmas Cracker A5 Stake Final Killaspic Queen, French Fearless and Jayden’s Lady were all prominent with Mirable also close up on the wide outside. Racing down the back Killaspic Queen continued to show the way but the Harper Ward of Spancilhill owned Mirabel was now closing right up on the wide outside. Exiting the back straight Mirabel was now in command and the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Cactus Sapphire drew clear to score by three lengths at the line in 29.17.
The outcome of the A7 graded stake Final was in little doubt from an early stage as the Frank Casey of Newmarket on Fergus owned Pronto Bucks set sail for home from a very early stage. The son of Burgess Bucks and Churchtown Minee trapped really smartly and bagging the inside rail racing towards the opening bend led by two lengths from Aulton Joxer rounding the bend. Turning down the back the lead gradually became six lengths as Aulton Joxer and Ballyhale Evan continued to give vain chase but the winner was home and hosed exiting the back straight as he scored by five and a half lengths from Aulton Joxer in 29.38.
The opening contest of the night was the re-run of last weeks voided A3 Stake Semi Final and from traps Gob Smacked showed pace towards the outside to lead from Eastern Express with Guideys Bullet in third place as they negotiated the opening two bends. Racing down the back the Mary Flynn and Irene O’Sullivan owned Gob Smacked led her rivals by three lengths and although Eastern Express closed with every stride from the home bend the Donie Duggan of Tulla trained Gob Smacked (Broadstrand Bono & Blacklabel Magic) prevailed by a length at the line in 29.09.
In the S7 graded sixth contest the Donal Malone of Ennistymon owned Drombeg Star left her rivals strung out behind as she recorded her seventh career success by three lengths over Tippanyaki in 19.45. The daughter of Skywalker Logan and Drombeg Dancer really hit the ground running and approaching the opening bend she led Tippanyaki by three lengths and that became five rounding the crown of the home turn and although the leader ran quite wide around the home bend she was in control all the way to the line.
