Peter Hassett (Treasurer WGOBA), Dylan Brennan racing manager, Hughie Keleghan (Chairman WGOBA), Sean Meade and Cian Mulrooney (Secretary WGOBA).
SIXMILEBRIDGE HANDLER Stephen Murray and Miltown Malbay’s Sean Meade were among those in the winners enclosure in recent races at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
BY Michael Maher
Saturday nights Galway card feature two mini stake finals both sponsored by the Western Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association on an eleven race programme featured a double for Stephen Murray .
As the traps rose for the final of the W.G.O.B.A Dual Distance(550) final, French Fearless broke smartly along the inner and racing towards the opening bend he led by two lengths from Paradise Sky with Portumna Buck in third place rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back French Fearless continued to lead by over three lengths but all the while the Sean Meade of Miltown Malbay owned Paradise Sky was taking dead aim at the inside line into the third bend. Sweeping through approaching the penultimate corner the daughter of Dromana Bucko & Paradise Asia powered clear to score by five lengths in 30.30.
Sixmilebridge handler Stephen Murray’s runners are in good form at present and they completed a double on the night initiated in the third contest as the Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan owned Derra Bear recorded his sixth career success in this A6 graded contest as the son of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby never saw another rival as she scored by five and three quarter lengths from Bumblebee Milan in 29.20. Trapping well from his trap six berth the Stephen Murray runner led from Bumblebee Milamn and Moneygall Aaron racing towards the opening bend. By the halfway mark the lead was three lengths as Derra Bear was making the best of his way home and he stayed on really strongly to the line and was full value for the margin of victory.
The Murray kennel double was completed in the S4 graded eighth contest as the Little Man Syndicate owned Jayden’s Lady made all the running to defeat Blacklabel Rose by two and a half lengths in 17.93. Trapping well the daughter of Burgess Bucks and Crokers Wish shooed good pace on the run towards the opening bend to lead by two lengths from Asian Ten and Seekers Jet. With some cursing behind the winner set sail for home and tracking well eased home comfortably in command.
The A3 graded ninth contest was the top graded event on the card and in the early strides Cloneyogan Sydny and Drumgeely Jim disputed the lead with the latter taking a definite advantage as they rounded the opening bend. Racing down the back Drumgeely Jim led from Cloneyogan Sydny with Blacklabel Sally trying to bridge the gap in third place passing halfway. As the leaders approached the third bend the Siobhan Garraghy of Moy owned Cloneyogan Sydny went up on the leaders outside and striking the front nearing the crown of the home bend the Donie Duggan of Tulla trained son of Droopys Sydney and Tiermana Rum stayed on well to hold the challenge of Blacklabel Sally by one length in 29.47.
As the traps rose for this Novice 325 yards contest Foxwood Rip and Brickhill Julie were best away and racing towards the opening bend it was Brickhill Julie that led on the wide outside from Foxwood Rip with She Came Out in third place towards the inner. Rounding the bend Brickhill Julie opened up a two length advantage on her rivals and rounding the home bend Clare natives John Collins & Albert Long owned daughter of Ballymac Bolger & Brickhill Layla was in total control as she scored by two lengths in 18.08.
The chief supporting contest on Friday’s nights card was the A2 graded ninth contest and as the traps rose the Mary Reidy of Manus owned Barntick Midget really struck the ground running and racing around the opening bend she led Meteoric Moon and Sir Rodger by over two lengths rounding. Racing down the back Barntick Midget led Meteoric Moon by three lengths as the leader made the best of her way home. Exiting the back straight Barntick Midget was still in command and maintaining the gallop all the way to the line the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Barntick Smokey scored by two lengths from Meteoric Moon in 29.00.
The opening contest of the night was an S9 graded sprint contest and this quickly developed into a match between Tipp Off and Burnpark Latitia who were both smartly into their stride. Trapping best Tipp Off led by a length in the early exchanges but approaching the opening bed the Alanna and Michael Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Latitia slipped through along the inner to lead by half a length at the turn. Tracking well the daughter of Newinn Wonder and Burnpark Lexi kicked on rounding the home turn to score by two and three quarter lengths in 18.30.
