*Myles Cummins and Breda Casey with Breda’s sister Eileen Crosby (left). Photograph: James Treacy
MYLES CUMMINS AND Breda Casey had a trio of winners to mark the return of greyhound racing.
By Michael Maher
Thursday evening saw the resumption of racing, Greyhound Racing Ireland suspended all racing and trialling activity for the care and welfare of all greyhounds due to the extreme hot weather.
Action resumed locally at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, and it proved to be a memorable evening for the dynamic duo of Myles Cummins and Breda Casey who went home to Newmarket on Fergus with a trio of winners.
Snuggie Archie was first to the winners enclosure, a son of Paddy Magic and Miles Girl, he justified favouritism to land the spoils in 29.42 for a fifth career success. Next up Shug Avery, a daughter of Droopys Cain and Portdrine Queen recorded her ninth career win with a 29.50 effort for an A5 graded contest, and the treble was completed in the eight race, when Snuggie Ranger took the honours in the A4 contest in a time of 29.02, this was actually the fastest time of the evening and a second career win for this son of Paddys Magic and Miles Girl.
Noel Moroney from Mullagh, had Tiermana Oak in fine form for the A3 graded contest and this son of Laughil Blake and Cloneyogan Flash didn’t disappoint with a 29.30 victory, to record his second career success.
In the A2 graded contest, Glengar Manus had the Manus Syndicate from Clarecastle which is spearheaded by Pakie Healy in full voice, as this son of Ballymac Best and Droopys Mazda led from trap to line to notch career win number seven and stopped the clock in 29.25.
For race nine in Galway on Friday night, Aulton Lulum owned by Ennis’ Pat Hogan and trained by Vincent McKenna never saw another rival in this S7 contest as she made all to defeat Mounvoor Lady by two lengths at the line in 19.77. Smartly into her stride the daughter of Skywalker Rafa & Rylane Dubh led from Bumblebee Mojo and Mounvoor Lady approaching the opening bend where Mounvoor Lady closed along the inner to go second. Off the home bend the leader was a little wide but she stayed on well to win in good fashion.
As the traps rose for the 525 yard feature contest on Galway Saturday night’s card, Arrowhead was away smartly on the wide outside to lead on the run towards the opening bend from Beebees Star and Toolate Shannon as Speedie Syd met trouble in rear. Turning to run down the back straight the Kevin Ryan of Ruan owned Arrowhead set sail for home chased by Master Of Magic with Speedie Syd beginning to recover lost ground. Exiting the back straight Arrowhead (Pat C Sabbath-Krystalise) was still in command and staying on well he completed a litter brace and a training double for the Stephen Murray kennel of Sixmilebridge by three and a half lengths from Speedie Sydney in 29.00.
The double was initiated in the opening A5 graded 525 yards contest in which Krystaline was very smartly away from her trap five berth and the Stephen Murray trained lady led Killerk Black by over three lengths rounding the opening bend. With crowding behind the leaders advantage extended to over six lengths approaching the halfway mark as Killerk Black continued in second place. Tracking well around the final two bends the Kevin Ryan and Helen Vaughan owned Krystaline(Pat C Sabbath-Krystalise) was home and hosed by eight & a half lengths at the line in 29.37.
Racing towards the opening bend in race ten for this S5 graded sprint contest Nephin Tommie, Room To Stop and French Flo Jo were lined across the track with the Martin Griffin of Lissycasey owned Room To Stop just about shading the advantage as they negotiated the turn. Approaching the home straight Room To Stop had established a length advantage as Drumgeely Avenue came out of the pack to give chase and the son of Laughill Blake & Nebraska Scot was all out to see off that challenge by a diminishing neck in 19.52.
In race eleven, the Noel Gavin of Ballyea owned Ballyea Rogue never saw another rival as he recorded his fifth career success by two and three quarter lengths over Capoola Blue in the S3 graded finale in 19.23. Very smartly into his stride the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained son of Laughill Blake and Amigen Rogue led by two lengths approaching the opening bend. Tracking well, he extended the advantage as he rounded the home bend as Capoola Blue gave chase all the way home. It was a night to remember for the Ballyea owner as he also sent out Ballyea Scrutiny to win the final race at Limerick on Saturday night.
