SIXMILEBRIDGE trainer Stephen Murray had a double success in Galway over the weekend.
By Michael Maher
At the Galway Track on Friday night last the Martin Williams of Quin owned Knockanoura Kate put up a fine performance in taking the A4 graded eighth contest by five and three quarter lengths from Spirngwell Thomo in 29.20.
The Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained daughter of Burgess Bucks & Crokers Wish who was completing a kennel double in the process raced in fourth place approaching the opening bend as East Clare Way led from Knoppogue Time and Springwell Thomo. Racing down the back East Clare Way opened up a sizeable lead but Knockanoura Kate really lengthened her stride racing along the back and striking the front at the penultimate bend she quickly stamped her authority on the contest to complete a double for her trainer.
The double was initiated in the A7 graded fourth contest as at the fourth time of asking the John Croker owned Crokers Primrose recorded her maiden career success as the Stephen Murray trained daughter of Doratosn Wildcat and Crokers Ruby held the renewed challenge of Calabria Park by a length at the line in 29.96.
Calafia Park was very smartly into stride and led by a length from Pierview Toony and Crokers Primrose approaching the opening bend. Rounding the bend though the winner forced her way through along the rails and turning down the back she led by over three lengths from Calafia Park. From the third bend Calafia Park began to narrow the gap to the leader but the line was always coming in time for Crokers Primrose.
In the early strides of the A9 graded contest Glynnscross Razz and Brickhill Mick were both prominent with the striped jacketed Brickhill Mick just showing the better early toe to lead by half a length at the turn. Cutting towards the rails the John Collins and Albert Long owned Brickhill Mick extended his advantage to three lengths over Grangeview Razz as they passed halfway.
From this point it was a two dog affair but Brickhill Mick (Broadstrand Bono and Brickhill Sharon) maintained his advantage to score by three lengths and three quarter lengths in 29.56.
The concluding A2 graded 525 yards contest was the feature in Friday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium and as the traps rose for the feature Glynnscross Ted trapped best on the wide outside but he was quickly joined in the run towards the all-important first bend by the white jacketed Brickhill Fayla on his inner and as they rounded the bend the John Collins and Kate Comerford of Gort owned took a definite advantage. Turning down the back the daughter of Good News and Twentylittletoes set sail for home and passing halfway she led Glynnscross Ted and Donies Wood by in excess of three lengths. Off the home bend Donies Wood began to close but Brickhill Fayla was home by a length at the line in 29.06.
