Slaheny Mags winner of MOET Accountants A6/A7 final. Peg Lenihan accepting the trophy. Photograph: Joe Buckley
The Limerick and Clare GOBA were responsible for sponsoring the entire card at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night.
By Michael Maher
The newly elected committee under Chairman Seanie McMahon of Newmarket-on-Fergus deserve high praise for putting this card together, getting sponsorship for the twelve races on the night in these tough times was an achievement in itself and great credit goes to all involved. The first final of the night was the MOET Accountants A6/A7 525 and it went to script as the even money favourite, Slaheny Mags, maintained her unbeaten run in the stake to land the €1,250 winner’s prize.
Owned by Peg Lenihan from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Slaheny Mags had won both prior rounds by an aggregate of fourteen and a half lengths and she went into the decider as the hot favourite to land the spoils. Running from trap four, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Drumcrow Clara broke well from the middle but was headed early on by the blue jacket of Ready For Adam, the strong-running Slaheny Mags displayed her staying power to the winning line in a time of 29.51.
The Final of the Liffey Mills A5 525 was the fifth race on the card which went the way of veteran performer Gower Jet owned by Anne Carey of Cooraclare as he sprang a 4/1 upset in landing the €1,250 decider. Approaching his sixth birthday, Gower Jet landed his semi-final assignment in off-the-pace fashion and deployed similar tactics on this occasion as he took charge off the second turn to seal back-to-back wins. Gower Jet stopped the clock in 29.50, three lengths better off than Blastoff Roisino in second.
Long time supporter of the Limerick Track, Joe Collins of Parteen got the Banner boys off to a flying start winning the opening race sponsored by Mace Shannon /McKeoghs Hardware Ballina, Joe handles the winner Freyas Paradis for the Shanakyle-Syndicate of Parteen, boxed in trap one the winner broke well and held on to win in a time of 32.60 for the 575 trip.
Race six sponsored by Greyhound & Petworld Supplies went to another life-long supportor of the Track, Mary Crotty of O’Briensbridge, Mary was in the winners enclosure after her Inislosky Urchin was an impressive winner in a time of 29.36 for this A3 contest over the 525 yards journey.
Fast Fit Paddy owned by John Quinn of Gort and trained by Declan McDonagh of Liscannor made it win number nine in Shelbourne Park on Saturday night last, Paddy was an all the way winner running from trap one.