It was Wednesday and Friday night racing last week at Galway Greyhound Stadium due to a rugby game on Saturday evening and the feature event on Wednesdays card was the concluding A2 graded 525 yards contest.
By Michael Maher
In this race, the Matthew Harte trained Kilwest Ranger who came in as a reserve in trap five and the Keating Family Syndicate of Ennis and Kilmihil owned son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Sanjose was very smartly into his stride and rounding the opening bend he led by two lengths from Crokers Harbour and Claudegreengrass in third place. Turning down the back Kilwest Ranger set sail for home and extending his advantage from halfway coasted home seven and a half lengths clear of Crokers Harbour in 29.74.
The S4 graded contest went in all the way fashion to the Martin Griffin of Lissycasey owned prolific winner Room To Stop who flew from trans and made all to defeat Rockandrollmarty by three parts of a length at the line in 19.43. The son of Laughill Blake and Nebraska Scot headed Rockandrollmarty and Menmal King from the traps and approaching the opening bend he led by almost two lengths. Tracking well, Room To Stop led by two lengths off the home bed and although Rockandrollmarty closed on the run in the winner was always in control.
Without a win in sixteen previous attempts, the Gary Pepper of Feakle owned Astro Sydney was another winner scoring for the first time on the card as the son of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby collared long time leader Orbsen Olive close home to score by half a length in 29.76. Away well the winner was outpaced by Orbsen Olive and Killanin Grace racing towards the opening bend. Racing along the back the front pair matched strides all the way but from the crown of theme bend the winner was coming home two to the leaders one as he struck the front where it matters most.
Friday night’s Galway card was headlined by the A2 graded fifth contest over 525 yards and as the traps rose the red jacketed Lissatouk Dave was very smartly into stride and shaping plenty of early pace the James McMahon of Cooraclare owned son of Laughill Blake and Lissatouk Dolly led Joeys Girl by over three lengths rounding the opening bend. Turning down the back the leader quickly set sail for home and at halfway it was simply a case of how far as Joeys Girl was still a remote second . On the run home Lissatouk Dave was home and hosed scoring by four & three quarter lengths from Portumna Saphire in 29.08.
