There were twelve races on last Thursday’s card in Limerick with five Clare owned greyhounds in the winner’s enclosure.
By Michael Maher
First up was Droney Said No, who landed the spoils in an A3 graded contest for the Kildysart/Cranny based Dontellpettycoatgovernment syndicate, a daughter of Droopys Sydney and Estimate, she is trained by Tulla’s Donie Duggan, and this was her sixth career success, and the winning time was 29.24.
Ennistymon’s Tom Flanagan, had Some Summer in fine form, and she duly obliged recording a third career win 29.15 for an A4 contest, she is a daughter of Romeo recruit and Trembling Juliet.
A great campaigner over the last four years, Jocker Willy turned back the clock to record 28.95 for Mary Crotty and William Casey from O’Briensbridge, a son of Droopys Roddick and Cailin Pol, this was his tenth career victory.
There was a first career success for Aqua Blue who is owned by Tulla’s Michael McNamara, a son of Malachi and Rockalong Aqua, he stopped the clock in 29.42.
In the finale of the night, there was also a first career success in the A7 graded contest and honours went to Racenight Tony who is owned Joe Keane who resides in Carrigaholt, a son of Slippy Cian and Ballymac Vera, his winning time was 29.65.
There were two mini-stake finals down for decision on Friday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium an A7 graded 525 and an S5 graded 350 yard contest on a nine race programme that had the A2 graded ninth contest as the feature of the night.
In the feature contest the James McMahon of Cooraclare owned Lissatouk Dave sprung from his trap two berth and quickly bagging the rails berth the son of Laughill Blake and Lissatouk Dolly led Mounvoor Lad and Drombeg Apollo by over a length rounding the opening bend. Turning down the back the lead was two lengths but as the leader closed on the halfway mark he had his rivals in trouble . Tracking well out of the back Lissatouk Dave was home for all money as she scored by nine lengths from Drombeg Apollo in 28.91.
In the A5 graded contest the Kieran and Shauna Nugent of Ballyea owned Dynamic Josie return to winning ways as the Donal Duggan of Tulla trained daughter of Burgess Bucks and Allegra Blue proved five and a half lengths too good for Leamaneigh Gale in 29.10. From traps Like A Biscuit, Dynamic Josie and Leamaneigh Gale were all away well but approaching the opening bend the eventual winner took command of the contest. Tracking well she quickly set sail for home early in the back straight and maintaining the tempo all the way she was fully deserving of the margin of victory.
Two semi-finals of the Talking Dogs A2 Tri-Distance Stake featured in Saturday’s card in Galway.
In the first semi-final, Annie On Faya was best away from her trap four berth and racing towards the opening bend the Donal Duggan of Tulla trained lady led Thisrunsdeep by half a length with Millroad Victory in third place. Tracking well as her nearest challenger ran wide the Cian Mulrooney owned Annie On Faya (Superior Panama & Cabra Skylar) set sail for home early in the back straight. Approaching the penultimate bend Annie On Faya was four lengths clear of her rivals and she maintained that lead all the way home to defeat Millroad Victory in 30.30.
The opening contest of the night was an A6 graded contest and although all six runners were away on terms the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Derra Bear showed pace on the wide outside to lead his rivals at the opening bend. Rounding the bend the leader cut towards the rails and entering the back straight he led Nivea Blue by two lengths.
Approaching the third bend Derra Bear led by two lengths and although the Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan of Sixmilebridge owned son of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby began to tie up close home he prevailed by three parts of a length form Like The Mother in 29.96.
In race two, Kates Princess was very smartly into her stride form her trap three berth in this S6 graded sprint contest but racing towards the opening bend Byrneville Spice made rapid progress to lead on the wide outside. Racing between the two bends Byrneville Spice refaced right on the hare rail and this allowed the John Maher of Kilmaley owned Kates Princess(KInloch Brae-Baby Sugar) to regain the already and in a stride for stride battle up the straight split by the width of the track it was Kates Princess that prevailed at the line by a neck in 19.64.
Coming in as a reserve in the A5 graded contest, the Michael Nelson of Feakle owned Mounvoor Monster(Magical Bale-Astro Aoife) made just about all the running to secure a second career success by a diminishing neck at the line from the staying on Tygra in 29.91. The winner led from Backstreet Lady and Astro Kevin approaching the opening bend and turning to race down the back Mounvoor Monster and Backstreet Lady raced stride for stride . Between the final two bends the inner opened up a one length advantage but he was all out close home as Tygra closed with every stride.
