The opening leg of the Limerick v Galway Intertrack Challenge was the feature on last Saturday night’s card at Limerick with five contests on offer, the Connacht venue claimed four victories to establish a commanding advantage ahead of next weekend’s return leg.
The opening Intertrack contest went the way of Petes Noah, who will enter veteran status next month, as he ran out an impressive winner for Peter Russell of Shannon and trained by Donal Duggan of Tulla. Chasing a sixteenth career success, the son of Burgess Bucks and Notimetotalk was headed early by Asiam Magic and entered the back straight three lengths adrift in second. The 4/1 chance began to close approaching the penultimate bend before powering clear around the bottom two turns. From there, Petes Noah stormed up the Limerick hill to cross the line five lengths clear of Hail Mary in 29.23.
Galway struck again in the A3 Intertrack 525 as Confused Kiely emerged a game 4/1 winner for owner Gerry Manley of Cratloe. Bidding to bring up his sixth career victory, ‘Kiely’ broke well from trap two to track Lemon Arnold into the back straight before taking charge shortly afterwards. Lissatouk Robbie threw down a strong challenge late on, but the son of Magical Bale and Lavan Fairy showed excellent determination to fend off his rival by a neck in 28.91.
It proved a clean sweep for Galway here with Westwood Jenson finishing in third. The A2 contest also went Galway’s way as Rosshill Ciara completed a hat-trick of victories for Joe Long.A 3/1 chance, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Marley Star was paw-perfect at traprise, breaking smartly from four to lead on the run-up and close the door on Highview Elegant. Holding a three-length advantage approaching the three-quarter mark, Rosshill Ciara swung wide off the final bend but had enough in reserve to repel Highview Elegant by three-parts of a length. The time was a fast 28.71.
The remaining Intertrack contest was an A1 event and Galway again prevailed, this time courtesy of Company Man for Michael Keating. Defending a recent victory, the 9/4 joint-favourite broke well from trap six to dispute early before Code Four took the field into the back straight. Company Man was making rapid headway when forced to check at the penultimate bend, but that setback failed to deter the son of Grangeview Ten. Rallying strongly on the run for home.
Company Man got up in the dying strides to deny Code Four by a neck in 28.97. Limerick did have the final say, however, as Boozed Wish produced the fastest performance of the night for Paraic Campion and Gary Pepper of Feakle. The 7/2 chance prevailed in a thrilling three-way photo-finish, stopping the clock in a rapid 28.40. Drawn in four, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Road Queen arrived on the back of a narrow defeat at Clonmel and made his intentions clear with a good start, posting a 1.28 sectional to quickly outpace his rivals on the run-up. Opening up a three-length advantage into the back straight, Boozed Wish looked home and hosed as Lissatouk Sydney and Stickwithme gave chase. However, the Galway pair began to close rapidly inside the final fifty yards and Campion’s charge was forced to pull out all the stops. He duly held firm, with just two necks separating the trio at the line. The time of 28.40 was the fastest of the Intertrack contests and indeed the night overall with four of the five opening-leg contests going their way,
Galway are now firmly in the driving seat. The Tribal County holds a commanding 87-53 advantage, leaving Limerick with something of a mountain to climb when the Intertrack Challenge resumes at Galway on Friday night. Last Friday night’s Galway card featured the semi-finals of the Galway Unraced Novice 350 Yards Stake with the A2 graded eighth race over 525 Yards the top graded event on the night.
As the traps rose for the opener which was a S6 graded sprint contest Clonfeigh Jetty in the white jacket was very smartly into her stride and racing towards the opening bend she led by two lengths from Killanin Bono with Hollywell Charly close up in the leaders slipstream as they approached the opening bend.
Rounding the opening bend, the John Maher of Kilmaley and Noel Coote of Ballyea owned Clonfeigh Jetty tracked pretty well as Hollywell Charly took the scenic route but on the run home Clonfeigh Jetty (Dromana Bucko and Tierman Jetty) was always in command as she scored by three lengths from Hollywell Charly in 19.60.
On The Wire, Pierview Pearl and Bumblebee Nova were all away well for the A7 graded contest and racing towards the opening bend the trio were racing line abreast with Hollywell Jive just in behind the trio as they negotiated the turn. Railing well and with the benefit f the inside line On The Wire emerged with a one length advantage out of the second bend and racing towards halfway the son of Good Cody and Tromora Palm extend the advantage to two lengths. Striding out well at the head of affairs the Gerry O’Donoghue of Gort owned On The Wire had his rivals in trouble at the third bend as she stayed on powerfully all the way to the line to defeat Hollywell Jive and Pierview Pearl by three lengths and a short head in 29.81
