ASTER GOES FAST TO SET OZARK PACE AT NEWBRIDGE

Ian Fortune

John Wilson has put plenty of fast greyhounds through his hands over the years and he has another in the form of Annual Aster who set a strong standard in the opening round of the Hawkfield Ozark @ Stud ON2/ON3 525 at Nwbridge on Friday night.

Owned jointly by Wilson and Eugene Hearns, the son of Droopys Sydney and Annual Parlena broke smartly to contest the early lead before moving on at the corner. It was all one-way traffic thereafter with the August ’22 whelp staying on to see off Hometown by three and a half lengths in a quick 28.66.

MAGIC UP FRONT

Next fastest was Up Front Magic for Hall of Fame trained Francie Murray and his wife Kathleen.

The son of Dromana Bucko and Date Due was second into the back straight before charging into the third turn to head the early pace-setter Hayleys Spark. Up Front Magic went on to score by three lengths in 28.81, leaving the impression there was even better to come.

A MURRAY DOUBLE

In victory, Up Front Magic was completing a double for Kathleen and Francie Murray which had earlier been initiated by Hat Trick Bruno in the second heat.

A litter brother to Up Front Magic, the July ’22 whelp was always prominent before betting his long-time rival Junior Magician by a head in 29.02.

JUDGE CAN’T SEPARATE THEM

There was a dead heat in Heat 3 with the judge unable to separate Pat Cocoman’s Parkrun and the Jerry Melia trained Barter Account.

The former made much of the running but was joined on the line by his rival as they both stopped the clock in 29.30.

FRANCO ALWAYS IN CHARGE

The final heat went the way of Eugene Wheatley’s Doonanes Franco.

The Denis Smyth trained son of Ballymac Anton and Old Treasure was son in front and he went on to hold Speedy Torpedo by a half length in 29.13.