*Winner of the Construction Mans Sweepstake Ballygibbon Cash with owner John O’Meara being presented with Trophy by Noel Gavin, also in photo is Clare hurler Peter Duggan.
THE final of the Construction Man’s A3 525 yards stake was the centre piece of Friday night twelve race programme at Galway Greyhound Stadium which was a Gala Fundraising night in aid of the West Clare Cancer Care Centre organised by the Western Greyhound Owners And Breeders Association.
As the runners were heading to traps for the €1500 to the winner decider the John O’Meara (Nenagh) owned Ballygibbon Cash was the favourite to remain unbeaten throughout the competition and once the son of Ballymac Cashout and Sive To One negotiated the opening bend those who took the odds were forming an orderly queue. Headed from traps by Petes Noah towards the outside Ballygibbon Cash quickly went through the gears racing toward the opening bend to lead along the inner. Tracking well around the opening bend Ballygibbon Cash set sail of the judge entering the back straight with Petes Noah and Rosshill News in pursuit albeit five lengths adrift. From the third bend though Ballygibbon Cash really lengthen his stride and powering right away from his rivals to defeat Rosshill News by ten & a half lengths in 28.82.
The Declan and Gerard Lillis of Cooraclare owned Alva Mist trained by Declan McDonagh (Liscannor) delivered a fine performance in taking the Noelle McLoughlin A4 525 race number eleven on the card as he powered to a twelve and a half length success over On The Radio in a superb 28.93. A previous winner in similar grade the son of Dromano Bucko and Paradise Asia trapped well on the wide outside as Aulton Lucy and On The Radio showed pace towards the inner. At the bend the winner crossed to the rails and took two lengths out of his rivals as On The Radio gave chase into the back straight. Approaching the halfway point though Alva Mist began to lengthen his stride and drawing right away between the final two bends was home and hosed entering the finishing straight.
In race number two the Gary Pepper A8 525 Killdoo Lass was smartly into her stride and racing towards the opening bend she was closely attended to on either side by both Pinnacle Venture and Burnpark Taylor. Racing down the back Killdoo Lass led Burnpark Taylor closed right up on the leaders outside but approaching the penultimate the Donal Cooney and Gerry Maloney of O’Callaghans Mills owned Kildoo Lass (Burgess Bucks and Notimetotalk) kicked again but on the run home Kildoo Lass was all out to hold the renewed effort of Burnpark Taylor by three parts of a length in 29.87.
The fifth contest was a Galway versus Clare challenge sponsored by Clare native and now Gort based butcher Gerry O’Donoghue and it proved to be a clear sweep for the Tribesmen as the Amy Burke owned Burkos Breeze never saw another rival as she routed her rivals headed home by Hanover Mellie and Pierview Toony by seven and three quarter length in 29.51. The daughter of Grangeview Mac and Emma’s Dream trapped really well along the inner and by the opening bend she led by three lengths. Racing down the back Burkos Breeze extended her advantage to in excess of six lengths and exiting the back straight it was a case of how far for the runaway leader.
The A5 graded sixth contest was sponsored by Meaney/Casey Construction and racing towards the opening bend the field were well grouped with Badgerfort Denis just shading the issue as they negotiated the opening bend. Turning down the back Badgerfort Denis led by two lengths from Annadown Zara who had ran off the rails rounding the opening bend. Racing past halfway Annadown Zara made rapid progress to join issue on the leaders outside at the third bend. Striking the front on the crown of the home bend the Gary Dillon owned Annadown Zara(Jacob Tashdalek & Headford Laura) drew clear to score by five and a half lengths in 29.57.
The Bernie Mullins Memorial 810 was the seventh contest on the card and fittingly it was won by the Top Benefit Syndicate owned Fantasy Tuppence fittingly trained by the late Bernie’s son Albert Mullins who made all to defeat Sweet Melodies owned by the Mullins Curtin Syndicate by a head in 46.65. From traps Croaghill Minnie was best away but the winner moved through along the rails to take over in front. Going out on the final circuit Fantasy Tuppence (Redzer Ardfert & Fantasy Lane) led by four lengths but from the penultimate bend Sweet Melodies closed with every stride but Fantasy Tuppence just managed to last home by a head in 46.65.
The Williams Concrete A3 contest became a match from an early stage as Gainstown Choice trapped well towards the inner and racing towards the opening bend he led from Knockanoura Kate and Claudegreengrass. Turning down the back Gainstaiwn Choice led Knockanoura Kate by two lengths and although the latter closed right up approaching the penultimate corner she couldn’t find a way past as the Paul Hogan owned Gainstown Choice(Grangeview Ten-Ballymacken Boby) stayed on well to score by a length and three parts in 29.30.
