*Members of the Commons-Seven Syndicate of Clarecastle, Photograph: Brendan Gleeson
Limerick Track hosted its biggest meeting of the year on Friday night last with the Final of the Con & Ann Kirby Stake down for decision worth €80,000 to the winner which went to the Graham Holland trained Sword Rex.
By Michael Maher
While the Banner County had no representative in this final they had a number on winners on the night.
The final of the €1.500 to the winner Limerick & Clare GOBA A3/A4 525 was race three on the card and there was a shock as 12/1 shot Speedie Syd landed the spoils. Owned by Padraig Fannin of Ennis, Speedie Syd missed the kick from trap four but he showed sizzling pace down the far straight to nip up the inside of the well-supported Slippery Joe in trap one. From here, the May 20’ son of Droopys Sydney and Urban Time pressed home his advantage around the bottom two bends as he stayed on well to cross the line two lengths clear of Slippery Joe in second. The time was 29.11.
The night got off to a flying start as Cheero (Droopys Jet – Cats Belle) won the Mister Donovan 600 at a canter. Racing from trap six for the Commons-Seven Syndicate of Clarecastle, the Matthew Harte trained 9/4 shot drew clear of his rivals down the back straight and he pressed home his advantage in the closing stages to win by seven and a half lengths from Toolmaker Beach in second. The time was a rapid 32.41.
Race two was the Synchronised A2 525 and this was landed by Finnure Storm for trainer Denis O’Malley. Owned by the Finnure-Storm-Syndicate of Mullagh, Finnure Storm broke smartly from his inside draw in two and he led Boomin Staker into the opening corner. Nip and tuck down the back, the son of Shaneboy Spencer and Brickfield Roxy maintained a good gallop and he pulled clear late in the closing stages to cross the line three and a half lengths clear of Loxley in second. The time for the 10/3 shot was 29.16.
The chief supporting contest at the Galway Track on last Saturday night was the A3 graded eighth over 525 yards where less than two lengths covered the field approaching the opening bend. At the bend, Pats Best Girl took a length out of her rivals and turning down the back she led Dynamic Diva by two lengths. Racing past the halfway mark Dynamic Diva began to close on the leader and approaching the third bend the Kieran and Bridget Nugent of Ballyea owned daughter of Ballymac Best & Dynamic Cool Sky took command of the contest and she stayed on well to defeat Pats Best Girl by a length and a half in a career best 29.22.
Racing opened with an A3 graded 525 yards contest and from traps Astro Podge, Danmar Corona and Banter Blitz were all away well with the Madden-Pepper Syndicate of Feakle owned Astro Podge showing the best pace to lead by over a length rounding the opening bend from Danmar Corona along the rails. Turning down the back Astro Podge really lengthened his stride and approaching the third bend the son of Ballymac Best & Dynamic Cool Sky led by over four lengths and although Danmar Corona stayed on well again in the straight, the Donal Duggan of Tulla trained Astro Podge was still a length and a half to the good in 29.30.
In the early strides of race two for of this S6 graded sprint contest Killanin Vic and Bumblebee Dylan were both smartly into their strides with John Boy Dylan prominent towards the inner as they raced towards the opening bend. Approaching the turn, the Sean Conlon owned Bumblebee Dylan kicked on and cutting towards the rails opened up a three length advantage on his rivals. On straightening for home John Boy Dylan went clear second but the Stephen Murray trained Bumblebee Dylan eased home a length and a half to the good in 19.39.
