COORACLARE owner James McMahon was victorious in the final of the Paddy O’Gorman A1 525 which was the feature contest on Saturday nights card at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
By Michael Maher
As the traps rose for the €2250 to the winner Paddy O’Gorman A1 Final Crokers Spirit was just about best away in the centre of the track from Grangeview Lolo along the rails and Lissatouk Dave onwards the outside. As the leaders reached the opening bend Lissatouk Dave just managed to find a slight burst of pace to take command of the contest and tracking well around the opening two bends the son of Laughill Blake and Lissatouk Dolly set sail down the back three lengths clear of Grangeview Lolo and Cloonturk Bruno.
Exiting the back, the James McMahon of Cooraclare owned runner was in command and although Grangeview Lolo did close approaching the home bend Lissatouk Dave saw it out well to score by a lengths and three parts in 28.82.
All six runners were away on terms for the A1 graded 525 yarded eighth contest and racing towards the opening bend Flyers Kirsty and Syds Star showed the best early pace with the Michael Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned Flyers Kirsty railing superbly around the opening bend to take a three length advantage down the back straight. Passing halfway Flyers Kirsty led Syds Star by three lengths and from this point the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Arminta extend her advantage with every stride to score by seven and three quarter lengths from Grangeview Port in 28.86.
In the novice 525 yards contest race number two on the card owner Noel Gavin of Ballyea and trainer Declan McDonagh Liscannor combined with a most impressive debutant in the shape of Ballyea Buck who routed his rivals by upwards of twelve and a half lengths in a superb time of 28.79. Smartly into his stride the son of Burgess Bucks and Coolavanny Spice broke smartly in company with Uriels Ark and the pair matched strides to the bend where the winner cut towards the inner and took command of proceedings entering the back straight. Striding clear down the back it was a case simply of how far leaving the back straight as Ballyea Buck powered clear all the way to the line with Barntick Midget taking a distant second place.
The opening contest of the night was a Novice 350 yards contest and from traps Calabria Park was away well on the wide outside in company with Doughuisce Lad in the centre of the track but as they approached the opening bend the David Hogan of Quilty owned Tromora Banner surged between runners to command of the contest. Tracking well between the two bends the son of Ballymac Best & Tromora Champion drew clear in the straight to defeat Calabria Park by four & a half lengths in 19.58.
In the early strides of the A3 graded contest Donies Wood, Glynnscross Ted and Ceide Queen were lined across the track with Glynnscross Ted taking a definite advantage as they rounded the opening bend. Cutting to the rails entering the back straight the Thomas Keane of Kilmihil owned Glynnscross Ted extended his advantage to over three lengths on Ceide Queen and Drombeg Rio passing halfway. Tracking well out of the backs straight Glynnscross Ted (Droopys Sydney-Glynnscrosstyler) stayed on well to the line to defeat Donies Wood by three and a half lengths in 29.10.
Friday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium was an all graded card which took place with an air of sadness around the College Road venue as the majority of the attendance would have attended the funeral of Menlo Galway City based trainer Martin Fahy who had sadly passed away earlier in the week following an Illness. Martin was an outstanding trainer who enjoyed great success for many years and also served the W.G.O.B.A. in many roles.
The opening contest of the night was an A8 graded contest and from traps Island Mags and Cragataska Blue were prominent towards the outside with Kai also going up well inside the pair. Rounding the bend the Barry Cashman owned Island Mags took a couple of lengths out of her rivals and turning down the back she led by three lengths from Kai. Striding out well in front, the Declan McDonagh Liscannor trained daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Jet Stream Mags was in control as she stayed on well to score by four and a half lengths from Kai in 29.80.
Having been badly baulked on debut the Noel Hehir of Inagh owned Ivy Hill Jake made no mistake at the second time of asking in the A6 graded contest as he proved five lengths too good for Grangeview Yan in 29.19. Grangeview Yan was best away from traps and led from Killaspic Queen racing to the opening bend . At the bend the leader ran very wide allowing Killaspic Queen to lead along the inner entering the back straight . Racing past halfway Ivy Hill Jake made rapid progress between the leading pair to join issue and immediately stamp his class on the contest as the son of Good News and Coolavanny Chick quickly settled the outcome in a matter of strides.
Killanin Bob and Cillowen Missile led the way towards the opening bend in this A4 graded affair with Kilbrennan Clan and Da Ultimate close up rounding the turn. Racing down the back Killanin Bob continued to lead but approaching the third bend, the Thomas O’Connor of Ennistymon owned Da Ulltimate began to close and striking the front at the third bend the son of Out Of Range Ash and An Bhean Cheile stayed on well to score by two and a half lengths from Cillowen Missile in 29.35.
On last Thursday night at the Limerick Track there was twelve races on the card and five Clare owned winners entered the winner’s enclosure. The first race of the evening went to Joe Keane from Carrigaholt with Racenight Tony, a son of Slippy cain and Ballymac Vera, he recorded career win number two in 29.56.
In an A3 contest, Astro Sydney recorded a third career victory and a personal best with his 28.92 effort, a son of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby he is owned the Gary and Damien Pepper from Feakle.
Snuggie Jesse led from trap to line for Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Myles Cummins, a daughter of Sir Paddy and Snuggie Whisper, she stopped the clock in 29.49 to record career win number six.
There was a second career win for Knockdrum Ripper in 29.15 in an A3 contest, owned by the Collins brothers Paddy and John who are natives of Knockerra, this son of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby is trained by Stephen Murray from Sixmilebridge.
Stephen was to the fore in finale of the evening when Knockanoura Kate obliged for Clooney’s Martin Wiliams with a smart 29.31 victory, Kate is a daughter of Burgess Bucks and Crokers Wish.
