The semi-finals of the Martin Ryan Transport Treaty Cup Open 350 featured on a twelve race card at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night last. The night ended with a terrific performance from Coolavanny Palm as she turned her A2 575 contest into a procession for David Hogan of Quilty.
A lady with awesome pace when she gets it right, Coolavanny Palm was a 3/1 chance at the off and she quickly made her intentions clear with a swift exit from trap three. Setting a relentless gallop down the back, there was never any danger to the daughter of Ballymac Best and Coolavanny Dame as she romped to a six length success over nearest rival, Grouchos Cain, in second. The time was a sparkling 31.27.
Friday nights Galway card featured the opening round heats of the W.G.O.B.A. A5 Try-Distance Stake with the opening round taking place over the 525 yards trip
In the concluding heat of the WGOBA A5 TRI-Distance Stake both Malbay Darla and Menmal Princess were away best in the centre of the track and racing towards the opening bend Menmal Princess held a narrow advantage over her rival. Despite moving slightly wide off the opening bend Menmal Princess extended her advantage to over two lengths entering the back straight as Nephin Tommie moved into third place. Approaching the penultimate corner, the Sarah Burke of Miltown Malbay owned Malbay Darla(Kinloch Brae-Malbay Ally) moved through on the leaders inner and once in front she edged away to defeat the staying on Danmar Corona by two and a half lengths in 29.53.
The S6 graded sprint contest went to the Mary Grace of Quin owned Inishodriscol trained by Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge who made it two wins from two career starts as he proved half a length too good for Caislean Ciara in 19.58. Caislean Ciara was just about best away on the wide outside with the eventual winner the only one to go with the leader on the run towards the opening bend. Rounding the bend Inishodriscol tracked well and took a length advantage rounding the home bend. On the run home the son of Magical Bale & Donation was always holding the renewed challenge of Caislean Ciara.
The A0 graded fifth contest over 550 yards was the feature event on Saturday night’s Galway card which also featured the Semi Finals of both the WGOBA A3 Tri-Distance Stake(550yds) and the Colin Barry Memorial Novice Sprint Stake.
From as early as halfway towards the opening bend, the outcome of the first Semi Final of the Colin Barry Memorial Stake was in little doubt as the Notions-Fifteen Syndicate owned Brioscai Gloire showed tremendous early pace to lead from Crafty Toto who had been first to emerge from traps. At the opening bend Brioscai Gloire led by over six lengths and railing well the John Browne of Ballyea trained son of Droopys Jet and Paper Doll scored by nine lengths from Crafty Toto in 19.10.
The concluding contend was an S5 graded contest in which Croaghill Blake was away well out wide as Bogroad Star came away well in the centre of the track and racing towards the opening bend the pair matched strides. At the bend the Cathal Meaney owned Bograod Star took a definite advantage along the rail. Rounding the home bend Bogroad Star led by over a length and although Croaghill Blake rallied on the run in Bogroad Star (Ballymac Best-Prawn Star) prevailed by three parts of a length in 19.31.
