AISHLING MURRAY and Pat Hogan were among the celebrating Clare owners in Galway following the weekend’s racing.
Friday night’s Galway card was headlined by a pair of A3 graded contests and in the A3 graded fourth contest Bumblebee Queen and Verstappen were away well and they matched strides to the opening bend just ahead of Springwell Thomo on their outside. Rounding the bend the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Verstappen went to the front and racing towards the halfway point the Aishling Murray of Sixmilebridge owned son of Pat C Sabbath and Krystalise led Springwell Thomo by over a length with Peteles King just behind the pair in third spot. Between the final two bends Verstappen railed well and this would prove crucial as he stayed in well to defeat Springwell Thomo by a length in 29.29.
There was a three way photo in the other A3 graded contest the sixth as the Pat Hogan of Ennis owned Vincent McKenna trained Aulton Super (Superior Product-Portumna West) got up on the line to deny Astro Podge by a neck at the line in 29.42. Lexis Cleo shoed pace to lead from Aulton Super and Astro Podge racing towards the opening bend. Approaching the penultimate bend Astron Podge swept to the front and looked set to score off the home bend until Aulton Super found his second wind to sweep through and claim the spoils .
Ballyea owner and trainer Jack Browne made the long trip to Tralee Greyhound Track on Friday night last worthwhile when his Cascade Phantom came away a winner in Round One Heat two of the Steve Kennedy Memorial Sweepstake. The winners time was 28.94 for the 525 yds trip and this was Cascade Phantom third win from three starts.
