NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS owners were in the winners enclosure of Galway Greyhound Stadium.
By Michael Maher
Thursday nights Galway card saw the commencement of three mini graded stake competitions with the Semi Finals of a Novice N2 350 Yards event and the opening round heats of both an A5 and A7 525 Yard Events
All runners were away on terms for the opening heat of the Bet on the Tote A5 Stake with the Killanin Bono slipping round in front and avoiding the slight crowding behind as he led into the back straight. Racing towards the third bend the Frank Casey of Newmarket-on-Fergus owned Knockalton Bill (Malachi-Billy’s Sahara) began to close on the leader in company with Ballyhale Matt. Off the home bend less than a length separated the trio with Knockalton Bill sticking his neck out to prevail by that margin over Ballyhale Matt and Killanin Bono in 29.86.
In the opening heat of the A7 Sweepstake Kate’s Princess was away smartly along the inner and racing towards the opening bend she led Killanin Grace by a length with Bayview Power in third place on the wide outside. Racing down the back Kate’s Princess led by two lengths to Bayview Power as the Donie Duggan of Tulla trained Candys Widget (Skywalker Canny-Miss Dior) began to close in third. Leaving the back Bayview Power took over in front but the Any-Chance-Of A Kuga Syndicate of Newmarket-on-Fergus owned Candys Widget stayed on well to lead close one and prevail by a neck in 29.99.
In the first semi-final of the Novice 350 Sweepstake all runners were away to a level enough break with Brickhill Moana the prominent along the inner and Drombeg Jet and Brickhill Aurora also prominent as they raced towards the opening bend. As the bend loomed Brickhill Moana railed really well and took a couple of lengths out of her rivals and quickly extending her advantage the Clare natives John Collins and Albert Long owned daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Twentylittletoes drew right away to defeat litter comrade Brickhill Aurora by eight and a half lengths in 19.23.
As the traps rose for the S7 graded sprint contest the Martin Griffin of Lissycasey owned Universally was very smartly into her stride along the rails and striding out well the daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Brickhill Sharon led Pallasmore Bid and Burnpark Lorna by two lengths at the opening bend. Tracking well Universally led by two lengths turning for home and although Pallasmore Bud did close the margin was still a length and a half at the line in 19.44.
In heat three of the On Faya Kennels A2 Bitch 525 Stake on Friday night’s card. May On Faya and Burnpark Layla were both away well with Mirabel in third place rounding the opening bend. Turning down the back the Michael Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Layla shot three lengths clear of her rivals and by the third bend the daughter of Newinn Taylor and Burnpark Leanne was now May On Faya and Fantasy Tuppence who improved from the rear. On the run home Burnpark Layla looked home and hosed but Fantasy Tuppence finished to some effect to get within a neck at the line in 29.33 with She Did It in third place.
The second contest of the night was an S6 graded 350 where all six runners were away to a good line and as they settled down Fast Fit Fergie along the rails and Drombeg Star on the wide outside both showed good pace to move a length clear of their rivals approaching the opening bend. Rounding the bend, the Donal Malone of Ennistymon owned Drombeg Star took a half length advantage and although the daughter of Skywalker Logan and Drombeg Dancer ran wide around the home bend she gradually asserted to defeat Fast Fit Fergie by two & a half lengths in 19.37.
