Friday night’s Galway card featured the semi-finals of the Paul McKenna Memorial A5 525 yards stake which commemorates one of the great gentlemen of the game who raced his dogs at the track for many years and who won most of the leading competitions at the track throughout this career.
By Michael Maher
In the opening semi-final, Burnpark Taylor and Hinomite were both away smartly towards the wide outside and racing towards the opening bend the matched strides just ahead of Fortune Zeyno and Killanin Bono. Turning down the back Burnpark Taylor led by a length to Hinomite as Killanin Bono tried to close along the inner as they passed halfway and raced to the exit of the back straight. Exiting the back straight the Maria Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Taylor (Newinn Taylor & Burnpark Leanne) went two lengths clear but he had to dig deep to see off the challenge of Killanin Bono by three parts of a length at the line in 29.60.
The outcome of the second semi-final was in little doubt from as early as the halfway mark as the Donie Duggan of Tulla owned and trained Rylane Master was out on splendid isolation. Away smartly Rylane Master led Peteles Spirit and Uphill Climb racing towards the opening bend and tracking well around the opening bend the son of Burgess Buckss and Notimetotalk kicked five lengths clear of Lallys Legacy turning down the far side. Racing along the back Rylane Master extended his advantage as Lisk Rapid began to make ground after being hampered early but the bird had well and truly flown as Rylane Master scored by six and three quarter lengths form Lisk Rapid in 29.28.
The Tulla handler was in the winners enclosure after the A5 graded contest where Creggane Pudgie showed pace on the wide outside as he led approaching the opening bend from Nady Des and East Clare Way. Turning into the back straight Creggane Pudgie held a narrow advantage over Nady Des with East Clare Way and Washington Sky now far off the pace passing halfway. Exiting the back straight Nady Des went two lengths clear but between the final two bends two bends the Vincent Sweeney owned Duggan trained Washington Sky (Slippery Robert-Clodaghs Legend) made rapid progress before leading early in the straight and drawing clear for a four and a half length success in 29.48.
In the concluding A3 graded contest Knockanoura Kate and Cragataska Black were both away well and racing towards the opening bend the Martin Williams owned Knockanoura Kate held a narrow advantage over Cragataska Black with Bumblebee Milan in third place as they entered the back straight. Racing along the back Knockanoura Kate was making the best of her way home as Bumblebee Milan tried to bridge the gap but Knockanoura Kate(Burgess Bucks-Crokers Wish) stayed on well to score by two lengths for the Stephen Murray Kennel of Sixmilebridge in 29.23.
