DOUBLE VICTORIES were recorded for Cooraclare owner James McMahon and Sixmilebridge trainer Stephen Murray in Galway over the weekend while Ollie Hester bowed out after twenty years at the helm.
By Michael Maher
The semi-finals of the Text Entries 087 2770969 A2 525 Yards Stake were the twin features on Saturday nights card at Galway Greyhound Stadium which was also a very nostalgic night as it was the final nights racing under the management of Ollie Hester. Hester has been at the racing helm of the track for over twenty years and has always been a pleasure to have either worked with or dealt with and will be a huge loss to the sport of Greyhound Racing.
Sixmilebridge trainer Stephen Murray was in double form curtesy of Clooney Bale in the second contest and the very impressive Bayview Fred who took the sixth in a superb time of 28.87.
The opening heat of the A3 525 Stake brought the run of the night as the Erin Clancy of Kilrush owned Bayview Fred trained by Stephen Murray went from trap top line as he recorded his second career success by two and three quarter lengths from Burnpark Crash in 28.87. Away very smartly the red jacketed son of Premier Fantasy and Bayview Flyer fairly motored to the bend to lead by three lengths from Flyers Phobia and Burnpark Crash. Racing along the back straight that lead remained as Bayview Fred really lengthened his stride and maintained the tempo all the way to the line.
In the third heat, the Patsy Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned Flyers Magu certainly lived up to his name from traps as she burst clear on the wide outside racing towards the opening turn rounding which he enjoyed a three length advantage over Springwell Sugar and Hit The Diss. Racing along the back straight the son of Pat C Sabbath & Flyers Ineos continued to extended his advance over his rivals . From the top of the home bend Springwell Sugar did close but Flyers Magu was home and hosed by two & a half lengths at the line in 29.19.
Race two was an A7 graded contest where Clooney Gale, Mounvoor Moll and Black Freddie were all prominent as the field raced towards the opening bend with Clooney Gale holding a narrow advantage turning into the back straight . Racing along the back the Martin Williams of Clooney owned Clooney Gale opened up a length advantage on his rivals as they passed halfway and exiting the back straight the Stephen Murray trained son of Magical Bale and Astro Aoife was still in control and beginning to extend the advantage . Staying on well his advantage over Mounvoor Moll was five and three quarter lengths at the line in 29.61.
Friday night’s Galway card featured the final of the Sprinters S7 350 Yards Stake as well as the opening round heats of both the Galway Greyhound Stadium A5 & A6 525 Yards Stakes
Racing towards the opening bend in the opening heat of the A5 525 Stake, Lexis Angel and Astro Sydney were both away smartly on the wide outside and they were joined on the run towards the opening bend by the James McMahon of Cooraclare owned Lissatouk Peggy along the inner and it was the latter headed the field into the back straight from Lexis Angel in second place.
Racing down the back Lissatouk Peggy continued to show the way out front and tacking well around the final two bends the daughter of Doratos Woo Hoo & Lissatouk Lady defeated Lexis Angel by three & a half lengths in 29.42.
McMahon went on to complete a double in the concluding heat where Lissatouk Sox was best away on the wide outside and racing towards the opening bend the Seamus McMahon owned runner led Blaze More Fire by over two lengths despite maintaining a wide berth rounding the bend. Racing towards the halfway mark Lissatouk SOX was still over two lengths to the good as Blaze More Fire continued to be the nearest pursuer. Off the home bend Lissatouk Sox began to come back to his rival but the son of Laughill Blake and Lissatouk Dolly gamely stuck to the task to prevail by a head at the line in 29.26.
In the opening heat of the A6 525 Stake all six runners were away almost on terms and as they charged towards the opening bend the Donie Duggan of Tulla owned Knoppogue Blue just about showed in front from Grangeview Bear with Erril Star in third place turning into the back straight. Racing along the back the daughter of Magical Bale and Notimetotalk began to open up a decisive lead on her rivals and tracking well around the final two bends Knoppogue Blue score by five and three quarter lengths over the staying on Millroad Victory in 29.24.
Racing opened with a Novice 525 Yards contest and from traps the Thomas Keane of Kilmihil owned Glynnscross Ted was very smartly into stride on the wide outside and racing’s towards the opening bend the son of Droopys Sydney and Glynnscrosstyler led Drombeg Rex by over two lengths. Turning down the back Glynnscross Ted extended his advantage to three lengths over Drombeg Rex with the remainder five further lengths adrift of the leading pair. Maintaining the gallop out front Glynnscross Ted prevailed by three and three quarter lengths at the line in 29.18.
