DONIE DUGGAN had a weekend to remember on the greyhound front in Galway.
The concluding A3 graded 525 yards contest was the feature event in Friday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
The opening two races were semi-finals of the Unraced 350 Yards Stake and in the opening Semi Hawkfield Luna and Candys Widget were best away in the centre of the track with Mounvoorwhitepaw going well along the rails as the neared the opening bend. At the bend Hawksfield Luna went on but ran very wide into the home bend as his two rivals closed on his inner and as they raced to the line the Any-Chance-Of-A-Kupa Syndicate owned Candys Widget(Skywalker Canny-Miss Dior) stuck his neck out to prevail by that margin over Hawksfield Luka for trainer Donie Duggan of Tulla in 20.03.
In the second semi-final Moiunvoorblackout was best away and led early but racing towards the opening bend she was joined and passed by the Supping-Away-Syndicate of West Clare owned Tiermana Hunter. Rounding the bend Tiermana Hunter went two lengths clear but turning for home Crafty Tallyho closed rapidly but on the long run home the Colm Fitzgerald of Kilrush trained Tiermana Hunter(Ballyhimikin Jet & Tiermana Jetty) was always just holding the advantage as he prevailed by half a length in 19.53.
In race three, trainer Donie Duggan completed an early kennel double in this Novice 525 yards contest as the Robert Carkhill of Ennistymon owned De Red Fiver comfortably made all the running to defeat Ducks Ina Row by three and a half lengths in 29.30. The son of Ballymac Best and Kishlawn Amelia trapped ahead of Hawkfield Dash and Ducks Ina Row and quickly grabbing the rails berth he led by a length from Ducks Ina Row at the opening bend on. Racing down the back the winner extended his advantage to over four lengths as Ducks Ina Row continued to give chase but the winner was always in command throughout
Racing towards the opening bend in the S7 graded affair Drombeg Daisy showed pace to lead from Burnpark Lorna out wide and Freckles Mist. Rounding the opening bend the leader ran quite wide thus forcing Burnpark Lorna to switch inside and this proved the deciding factor in the contest as the Kieran Browne and Brian O’Halloran of Cree owned Burnpark Lorna (Newinn Wonder & Burnpark Maryllyn) kicked clear to defeat Ballyhale Billy by two and a half lengths in 19.74.
In the early strides of the A5 graded contest Matilda Be Slick, Calafia Park and Confused Kiely were all prominent and lined across the track but as they reached the opening bend the Ger Manley of Cratloe owned Confused Kiely took a narrow advantage along the rails ahead of Matilda Be Slick to his outer. Racing into the back straight the front pair were back matching strides until halfway where Confused Kiely (Magical Bale & Lavan Fairy) set sail from home. Gradually turning the score on his rivals Confused Kiely stayed on strongly to score by two lengths at the line in 29.44.
The concluding A2 graded 525 yards contest was the feature event on Saturday night’s card at the Collage Road Venue. The chief supporting contest was the A3 graded fifth contest in which the Donal Duggan of Tulla owned and trained Rylane Master(Burgess Bucks-No Time To Talk) lasted home by three parts of a length from the staying on Uphill Climb in 29.27. As the traps rose the two principals were best away and racing towards the opening bend Rylane Master just showed the better pace to lead by a length at the turn. Tracking well Rylane Master extended his advantage to four lengths approaching halfway. From the crown of the home bend though Uphill Climb began to bridge the gap but the line was always the winners friend close home.
The Tulla trainer made it a weekend to remember as he completed a kennel and litter double in the A4 graded sixth contest as the Peter Russell of Shannon owned Pete’s Noah led at the second bend on his way to a length and a half success over Kiltymon Ninja in 29.49. Burnpark Taylor and Kiltymon Ninja disputed the early lead with the eventual winner a length adrift taking the opening bend Racing into the back straight Pete’s Noah went to the front and at halfway led by four lengths to Kiltymon Ninja and Fortune Sydney. Off the home bend the winner began to come back to his rivals but like his brother he was always going to last home in front.
The night’s opening contest was an S9 graded affair and from traps Lissatouk Bailey and Princess Roisin were away smartly and racing towards the opening bend the pair matched strides just ahead of Lightfoot Sadie on the wide outside. Rounding the opening bend the James McMahon of Cooraclare owned Lissatouk Bailey went a length clear of her rivals and tacking well into the home straight the daughter of Newhall Missile and Rathmeehan Craag stayed on well to defeat Astro Mary by a length and a half in 19.74.
The A6 graded 525 yards contest saw the Kay Lynch of Quin owned Cragataska Black returned to her best form as the daughter of Skywalker Logan and Drombeg Dancer made all the running to defeat Lightfoot Pearl by five & a half lengths in 29.44. Away smartly the winner moved towards the centre of the track from her trap one berth on the run towards the opening bend where she led round from Burkos Breeze and Lighfoot Pearl. Racing towards halfway the lead was now four lengths over Lighfooyt Pearl with Fast Fit Max in third place but the winner was in control by this stage as she stayed on stoutly to register career win number five.
