KNOCKEEN DAZZLES IN CON & ANNIE KIRBY DECIDER AT LIMERICK

KNOCKEEN DAZZLES IN CON & ANNIE KIRBY DECIDER AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

72 greyhounds set off in search of landing the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick Greyhound Stadium some five weeks ago and last night saw seventeen-year-old Daniel O’Rahilly claim the prestigious Classic in mighty fashion with Knockeen Dazzler. The win also provided West Limerick club, Mountcollins GAA, with a handsome €10,000 prize and future fundraising potential with a free fundraiser in Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

Kindly sponsored by the McManus Family, Knockeen Dazzler came into the €80,000 to the winner event boasting a modest record of two wins from six starts, however, outlined his massive abilities with a stunning 18.52 qualifying effort prior to the opening round. Indeed, that was a sign of things to come as the brilliant March whelp displayed awesome early speed throughout the event, which ultimately landed him in pole position on the night that mattered most.

KINGPIN FAVOURITE

Earlier in the week, a wide-open final saw three co-favourites in the shape of Merits Inclusion, Scooby Pacemaker and Romeo Kingpin, however, on the night it was the latter who was installed at 9/4, with Knockeen Dazzler coming in for some good support at 5/2 next best. It was 3/1 Merits Inclusion, 7/2 Scooby Pacemaker and 5/1 Epic Chick. The outsider of the pack was the early paced Phoenix Tyson at 16/1.

PING START

Like most finals, the lift of the lids would prove crucial and Knockeen Dazzler, as he has been on so many occasions, was paw-perfect as he bolted from trap six to dispute the early running with Scooby Pacemaker, who was also on the receiving end of his best start to date. Showing awesome early speed out wide, Knockeen Dazzler quickly began to assert however, and he posted his usual red-hot sectional of 1.26 on route to taking control. Meanwhile, Merits Inclusion, who completely fluffed his lines at traprise, was showing unbelievable early speed and he accelerated in between both Romeo Kingpin and Scooby Pacemaker to turn a close second.

STRETCHES CLEAR

Such as the early speed that Merits Inclusion displayed to get back on terms after a sluggish start, the Brendan Matthews-owned powerhouse ran off the second turn and in contrast, this allowed Knockeen Dazzler to quickly open a six length advantage down the back over his close relative as he tracked brilliantly around the opening couple of turns to not break stride. Showing sensational speed down the back, the son of Laughil Blake and Love Island was taking no prisoners as he stopped the third-bend sectional in an explosive 15.95. In behind at this point was Merits Inclusion, who was going about his business in fine style, while Scooby Pacemaker had recovered well from an opening bend bump to improve into third. However, barring incident, young Daniel O’Rahilly was on the brink of tasting Classic success.

EMPHATIC FROM DAZZLER

Entering the bottom two bends and the lead continued to be a healthy one for Knockeen Dazzler as he never relented up front to maintain his four length lead over the chasing hard, Merits Inclusion, in second. At this point, the first three home looked a safe bet and as Knockeen Dazzler coursed the hare out wide around the final turn, O’Rahilly’s dream began a reality. Powering up the Limerick straight, Knockeen Dazzler soared across the line to make it a brilliant four wins from five in the Kirby and he indeed saved his best performance to last. 28.10 on the clock, the strapping black came home four lengths clear of Merits Inclusion, with Scooby Pacemaker two lengths further back in third. Romeo Kingpin was next best in fourth, while the luckless Epic Chick was forced to settle for fifth. Phoenix Tyson completed the field in sixth place.

MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR MATTHEWS

While Daniel O’Rahilly ensured that he won’t have too many better nights in greyhound racing, the Newry kennel of Brendan Matthews also deserves a huge mention. Not only was the Northern outfit responsible for Merits Inclusion, who had contributed massively to this year’s Classic, they also bred the winner, Knockeen Dazzler. A son of Love Island, who is a full sister to the dam of Merits Inclusion, this was indeed a serious achievement to breed the first two home in a Con & Annie Kirby Memorial and is something that dreams are made of for most breeders. That said, while huge congratulations are extended to Daniel O’Rahilly on a monstrous achievement, this is also echoed to the Matthews connections, who have once again shown they are just as effective on the track as they are on field.

Noreen McManus presents the trophy to D O'Rahilly after Knockeen Dazzler won the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial. Also included are JP McManus, Frank Nyham Chairman GRI, Tim Lucey CEO GRI, Con Kirby, Lilian Mulcahy, Margaret Collins and Daniel O'Rahilly.                      Pic: Imelda Grauer

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SEAN O CONNOR SUCCESS FOR PAPPONE

The supporting final on the card was the €5,000 to the winner Sean O Connor Memorial A1/A2 525 and this was landed by Tinahue Pappone, who bounced back emphatically from his semi final defeat.

Owned by John Fox, Tinahue Pappone was installed as the 2/1 favourite and despite facing what looked a tricky draw in five, he bolted from orange to open up a healthy lead around the opener. Two lengths clear of Smart Sam entering the back, the son of Toker Forest and Tinahue Lady quickly excelled down the back and it was clear that he wasn’t in the mood for hanging around. Showing expert tracking abilities, ‘Pappone’ was in a class of his own out in front and he stayed on stoutly to see off Kilcolgan Whitney, by three lengths, in a swift 28.27.

ALF LANDS LIMERICK & CLARE DECIDER

In race two, the final of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A3 525 went down for decision and this went the way of Valleymount Alf, who produced a masterclass in front-running for his owner Ted Curtin.

A 3/1 chance at the outset, Valleymount Alf was incredibly still searching for a first win of 2024, however, he made his intentions clear from traprise with a ping start from three. In doing so, the son of Ballymac Best and Carmac Luna quickly opened a two length lead over Rattlefence and this doubled on the approach to the penultimate turn. Staying on well thereafter, ‘Alf’ emphatically got back to winning ways as he powered across the line five lengths clear of Killduff Barkley in second. The time was 28.55.

GINGE BLITZES RIVALS

There was another sensational performance in race four, which was the Synchronized A0 525 as Castleivy Ginge produced a clinic for Karol Ramsbottom and Michael & Noel Nash.

Chasing a seventh career success, Castleivy Ginge went to traps as the 11/10 favourite and he broke well from his inside berth to follow Hot Wood into the opener. The lead of Hot Wood was short-lived as ‘Ginge’ scraped the paintwork to take control at the second end and within a blink of an eye, he had opened up an unassailable lead over his rivals. Showing a tremendous turn of foot, the son of Droopys Sydney and Pennys Baccata never relented thereafter as he crossed the line eight lengths clear of Drombeg Ten in second. The time was a serious 28.24.

HURRICANE BLOWS RIVALS AWAY

Aside from the standard action, an unbelievable line-up took to the field in the Minella Times Open 350 and this was landed by one of ‘talking sprinters’ of last year, Hopes Hurricane.

Previously running under the name of ‘Get It Right’, this greyhound was posting some huge times around Dundalk during the 2023 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup and showed that he is very much back to his best under the stewardship of Pat Buckley and Amanda Jeal. Now called Hopes Hurricane, the 4/1 chance made no mistake at traprise as he broke marginally second behind In Good Times. Quickly showing that devastating turn of foot that saw him dip under 21-seconds at Dundalk, Hopes Hurricane soon put the contest to bed as he opened up emphatically on the run to the first bend, before swooping into an unassailable lead. Staying on strongly up the hill, the son of Newinn Taylor and No Recollection was clearly producing something special and he was to cross the line five lengths clear of Ballinakil Alf, in a blistering 18.38.

MEADOWS POWERS TO VICTORY

While Merits Inclusion was forced to settle for second in the main event, there was an incredible performance from kennel companion, Rushy Meadows, in the Istabraq AAO 525.

Jointly owned by Brendan Matthews and Gert Du Plessis, Rushy Meadows went to traps as the 5/2 second favourite in behind Road Exile and he broke with real intention from trap three to see off the early pacers of Halo and Road Exile. Turning one and a half lengths clear of both rivals, the son of Droopys Sydney and Miss Pickpocket never gave an inch to his rivals down the back and in truth, his stamina superiorities were always going to shine through come the business end. Drawing clear to quickly manufacture a five length advantage, Rushy Meadows stopped the clock in a superb 28.16, a quite brilliant performance from this tracker.

UNDULATION SECURES MEMORABLE NIGHT FOR MATTHEWS

Indeed, the I Am Maximus Open 550 saw Brendan Matthews account for another winner in the shape of Undulation.

A finalist in the recent BresBet Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park, Undulation went to traps as the 2/1 second favourite in behind Superfast Gorden and it was the pair who disputed the early running with both trapping smartly from the middle boxes. The inside line was to prove crucial for Superfast Gorden at this point as he dictated proceedings into the back, however, there was a certain inevitability about the result with Undulation looming large in behind. The daughter of Pestana and Unlock Unlock is so strong over this trip and quickly coursed around Superfast Gorden to take control between the bottom two bends and she cranked it up a notch on the run for home to cross the line with an increasing one and a half length lead over Swords Hero, who came through for second. Another thoroughly professional performance from Undulation, the time was a slick 29.67 for the 550-yard trip.

POOKA SIGNS OFF IN STYLE

The concluding race on the card saw a fitting end to a brilliant night at Limerick as Glenbervie Pooka produced a career best in the Don't Push It Open Bitch race.

Jointly owned by Damien and Maurice O’Regan, Glenbervie Pooka came into the contest fresh from back-to-back wins at Clonmel, however, was still widely available at 9/2, which gave an indication of the quality of the opponent. Fast away from two, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Odell Ayla was allowed the freedom of Limerick on the run-up after Goldcash Ice missed the kick from one. Chased by two formidable rivals in Glengar Martha and Scooby Countess entering the back, in truth neither made any inroads into the lead set by ‘Pooka’ and she was to draw clear thereafter to win in the most convincing fashion. Five and a half lengths clear of Glengar Martha crossing the line, the time was a blistering 28.26.