KNOCKEEN AND MERITS CLAIM TWO EXCEPTIONAL KIRBY SEMIS
Peter Farrell
The two semi finals of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 took centre stage at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and they produced two exceptional displays from Knockeen Dazzler and Merits Inclusion.
Such as the theme of the €80,000 renewal, rarely has it been straightforward to select a winner and this so proved in two top-class semi finals, which were landed in terrific but albeit unpredictable fashion.
KNOCKEEN DAZZLES
Knockeen Dazzler came into the Kirby as a relative unknown, however, after landing both his opening round assignments, Daniel O’Rahilly’s charge is now firmly on everyone’s radar. Displaying explosive early pace, the 5/1 chance needed to produce one of his ping starts and he did just that to quickly reel in the fast-starting In Good Time in the opening yards. Motoring around the outside in six, ‘Dazzler’ swooped the opening corner and he was now joined by Romeo Kingin, who showed huge acceleration from his inside berth in one to recover from a moderate start. Meanwhile, there was a big gap back to third after crowding at the opener saw Epic Chick, Ballymac Patriot, Barefoot On Fire and In Good Time all impacted. At this point, John Kennedy’s runner managed to slip through in third, however, she was ten lengths adrift off Knockeen Dazzler and Romeo Kingpin, who were contesting a ding-dong battle up front. Allowing one another plenty of racing room up top, Knockeen Dazzler stayed wide of Romeo Kingpin and he was always holding David Firmager’s runner on the approach to the penultimate bend. Three parts of a length clear at this point, the son of Laughil Blake and Love Island posted a slick 16.06 sectional thereafter and proceeded to pull clear up the Limerick hill to win with real intent. Quickly creating daylight between his rival, Knockeen Dazzler was two and a half lengths clear of Romeo Kingpin in second, while Epic Chick claimed the final qualifying position some six lengths further back. The time was an outstanding 28.23.
MERITS MAKES-ALL
Merits Inclusion (Dromana Bucko - Million Dreams) shot to prominence last Saturday night when going quickest in the quarter finals and the Brandan Matthew’s runner made it back-to-back wins as he handed his Newry handler another Kirby finalist.
Despite winning in 28.31 one week prior, Merits Inclusion was still offered at generous odds of 7/2 as Scooby Pacemaker went off the 6/4 favourite from what looked a lovely makeup in trap one. However, one thing that was reasonably certain was that the Ian Reilly-trained Phoenix Tyson was going to take some leading and this proved accurate as he was on the receiving end of a lightning start from trap six. Merits Inclusion quickly emerged from the pack in two as he showed a lovely turn of early gear to join ‘Tyson’ at the opener and he used his inside line expertly to assert upon entrance to the second bend. At this point, some crowding ensued in behind and it was the strong-running Faypoint Sean who was the main victim as he was forced to check badly, which ultimately ended his Kirby tilt. Merits Inclusion had now turned a slender lead into a three length advantage entering the back-straight, however, Scooby Pacemaker was showing blinding back-straight pace and he was really eating into the lead set by Merits Inclusion in front. That said, the leader was nothing if not game for his Northern connections and he pulled out all the stops in the closing stages to hold off Scooby Pacemaker by a mere half length. The final qualifying position went to the gallant Phoenix Tyson, who was a further seven and a half lengths back in third. The time was an exquisite 28.24.
The draw for the final of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial was made shortly after and is as follows :
T1 - ROMEO KINGPIN
T2 - SCOOBY PACEMAKER
T3 - MERITS INCLUSION
T4 - EPIC CHICK
T5 - PHOENIX TYSON
T6 - KNOCKEEN DAZZLER
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ALL ABOUT SAM IN SEAN O CONNOR MEMORIAL
The three semi finals of the Sean O’ Connor Memorial 525 were also down for decision on the night and it was Smart Sam that set the standard with another emphatic performance.
Owned by Paul White, Smart Sam was a massive 6/1 chance prior to the off but he soon defied those odds with a ping start from trap four to lead. In doing so, the son Droopys Sydney and Ballyoran Maid opened up nicely and he was three lengths too strong for Kilcolgan Whitney crossing the line. The time was 28.45.
In the opening semi, Kilcolgan Mick also defied his starting price of 5/1 as he came from off-the-pace to win. Tinahue Pappone set the pace in this contest from two, however, ‘Mick’ was never going away in behind as the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Razldazl Annie, owned by Karen Geoghegan and trained by Neilus O’Connell, stayed on strongly to win by one and a half lengths. The time was 28.71.
The third semi final followed trend as 6/1 outsider, McNeill, finished with a flourish to reel in Cheque For Sir. The latter, trained by Karol Ramsbottom, didn’t break as he can but still showed his fine early dash to manufacture a three length lead into the back. The powerful McNeill was never too far behind however, and the Paul Hennessy-trained son of Jaytee Jet and Home Julie came home with a wet sail to deny Cheque For Sir. A short-head separating the duo, the time was 28.64.
HANOVER DOUBLE
It proved a brilliant night for Leeanne Fleming as both Hanover Phantom and Hanover Sky scored in style.
Trained by Declan McDonagh, Hanover Phantom (Slippery Robert - Be Slow Dor) went to traps as a 7/2 chance and he sat in a handy position at the midway point, just in behind both Dromana Dano and Knockeen Dawn. A stout six-bend runner, the Galway track record holder upped the ante off the final turn and he powered to a three parts of a length victory over Knockeen Dawn in second. The time was 29.73 for the 550-yard trip.
Shortly after, litter brother off a repeat mating, Hanover Sky, made every yard. Owned and trained by the same connections, the July puppy showed fine determination to head Drombeg Ten early on and he played his part in a brilliant battle with Bouncing Lad thereafter. Always holding his rival, ‘Sky’ crossed the line a half length clear of ‘Lad’, in a brisk 28.69.