SOME SPARKLING DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
There was plenty of quality sweepstake action on offer at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night including the semi-finals of the valuable Upcoming Yvonne Barry Open Dual Distance.
There were brilliant performances throughout the evening and it truly made for superb viewing.
The semi-finals of the feature produced two fine winners in the form of Robbies Galaxy and Ower Cracker but others including Deadly Disco and Dark Dilemma went exceptionally quick elsewhere on the card.
GALAXY OUT OF THIS WORLD
It was hard not to be impressed with Robbies Galaxy in the opening semi of the Upcoming Yvonne Barry Open Dual Distance.
Shea Campbell’s powerhouse may not have set the pace to the turn but the manner in which he dispatched the hugely fast Neon Light down the back straight to take up the lead was particularly pleasing.
Turning second, the son of Pestana and Shinawill flew down the back straight to lead the field before the third turn. Maintaining a merciless gallop to the line, Robbies Galaxy went on to see off Neon Lights by two lengths in a really rapid 30.77.
CRACKER LIVES UP TO HIS NAME
Ower Cracker found a way to win Heat 2 despite failing to get the fast start many believed he would need over the extended trip.
The Pat Buckley trained star was third into the turn but displayed fine pace, fluency and track craft to make his move as they entered the back straight.
Scooby Countess and Now Were Talkin were disputing the lead at this point but the latter attempted to make her way to the fence, leaving Scooby Countess tight for room. Now Were Talkin missed a stride and suddenly found herself losing ground.
In contrast, Ower Cracker had edged off the fence to give himself room to challenge the front two and he was soon second and advancing. Scooby Countess continued to lead to near halfway but she had lost enough momentum to allow Ower Cracker make a decisive move.
Taking over at halfway, Ower Cracker quickly put daylight between himself and his nearest rival. Scooby Countess did stay on well all the way to the finish but Ower Cracker was not for stopping. Tony Harvey’s son of Deerjet Sydney and Nice Mystery powered on to a four-length verdict in 30.80.
DISCO WAS REALLY DANCING
Deadly Disco was nothing short of brilliant in the semi-finals of the Barking Buzz App A2 Dual Distance, posting an incredible 30.65, the joint second fastest time ever recorded for the trip.
This was a virtual procession with the Michael O’Donovan trained son of Ballymac Bolger and Bling Bling Lola shooting from trap six to dominate.
Pulling further and further clear with each stride, Gary Hannon’s talented tracker went on to beat Totilas by nine lengths. It was a truly massive run from a greyhound having just his fifth career start, while it also marked his first success. Have zero doubt, there is more to come from this July ’22 whelp.
JOSHY WINS IN A BRILLIANT FINISH
The second heat may have been only a four-dog affair but it provided the most exciting contest of the night with two short heads separating the first three home.
The nod went to Ballymac Joshy, who had to work somewhat harder than his rivals.
The David Flanagan trained son of Vulturi and Ballymac Breeze was third behind Chelsea Pat and Wakeywakey Rakey for much of the way but charged home to join the duo on the line to stop the clock in 31.31.
DILEMMA LEAVES RIVALS IN THE DARK
Dark Dilemma has really found himself in recent times.
A winner in 28.29 when last seen, he went even faster in the tenth race, losing his maiden tag in AA0 company. This was effectively over from the early yards with the David Murray trained son of Droopys Sydney and Jet Ski Queen breaking fast before quickly mastering Rapido Bob.
Once going to the front, there was no danger of Alan Devine’s charge getting picked up. Moving with real purpose throughout, Dark Dilemma went on to see of Leahs Best by eight lengths in a stunning fastest of the night 28.13.
TREND LEAVES IT LATE
Laurels champion High Trend emerged an unlikely winner of the penultimate race, picking up Droopy Metaphor in the final strides.
The latter seemed certain to come home in front when shooting clear into the turn only for his stride to shorten at the business end.
High Trend shook off an early bump to turn second but seemed to have a mountain to climb. Thankfully for Graham Holland and the RTC Syndicate, the brindle son of Droopys Sydney and Beaming Smasher had no intention of giving up and he galloped right to the line to pick up Droopys Metaphor for a head verdict in 28.41.
BEACH IS BOUNCING
The semi-finals of the RCETS A0 Dual Distance kicked off proceedings and both heats were won in fine style, although honour of going fastest just about went to Seven Beach as he emerged a narrow winner of the second heat.
De Foxy Devil certainly kept Seven Beach honest with little more than a length separating the pair for much of the way but ultimately, the early lead was the key to success for Seven Beach.
The Jennifer O'Donnell trained son of Pestana and Whitings Gift went up fast from six, just containing De Foxy Devil. the pair had a great buckle throughout but the beach Boys Trio Syndicate owned Seven Beach was certainly determined as he held a challenging De Foxy Devil by three parts of a length in a very quick 28.23.
ME LAD GOES FAST
Just two spots slower was Getup Me Lad in the opening heat.
The Mark Robinson trained son of Ballymac Best and Night Time fairy faced a tricky draw in five but his early speed carried him out of trouble. Daniel Ornstein's tracker flew into the turn to assume control and he made every inch thereafter despite radical Harry looking a serious threat off the final turn.
The latter flew into the third turn to sit on the heels of the pace-setter and looked set to take over as they turned for home but Getup Me Lad had other ideas, kicking on to emerge a good winner by two and a half lengths in a rapid 28.25.
JASMAN POUNCES
Dolores Merriman's Highview Jasman set the standard in the semi-finals of the Go Greyhound racing A1 Bitch 525, over-powering the early pace-setter Knocknadoguebale down the back straight.
The latter flew from the outside trap to lead but Highview Jasman was always too close for comfort.
Going through the gears as they straightened up into the back straight, the Gerry Merriman trained daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Jet made her move. By the third turn she was in charge and proceeded to see off Knocknadoguebale by three lengths in 28.33.
FAYA TEASES RIVALS LATE
Teasie On Faya was on the mark in the last of the three heats for Murt Leahy and owner Peter Mulrooney.
Flying from the inside box, she seemed set to emerge a comfortable winner having come from off the pace for her three previous outings but her stride began to shorten as she hit the home straight.
In a desperate finish, the progressive daughter of Dromana Bucko and Droopys Berry just held on from Coolemount Trust by a half-length in 28.46.
QUEEN DIGS DEEP
Patrick Devaney's Darbys Queen (Burgess Bucks/ Bower Deise) took the opening heat with a plucky display of front running, although she did give her supporters a couple of moment's worry.
Flashing from three, she challenged into the turn alongside both Sunshine Zoe and Droopys Fluff.
Importantly, Darbys Queen held the inside line and she moved into a narrow advantage. Droopys Fluff was soon challenging, however, and the pair bumped a couple of times into the third turn.
It seemed as though their rivals were queueing up to make their challenge but Darbys Queen eventually shook off Droopys Fluff around the last two bends to hold a narrow advantage into the home straight. Once doing so, she kicked to emerge a comfortable three lengths scorer in 28.55.
YONKERS GOES BONKERS
Racing ended with Murt Leahy completing a double with Bonkersinyonkers.
Having earlier scorer with Teasie On Faya, Leahy sent out Bonkersinyonkers to make the most of an inside draw. There was a great buckle into the turn with the outside trio of Phoenix Memphis, Syds Buttons and Cheap Sandwiches almost side by side.
Just behind the pair on the fence was the McLean Avenue Syndicate owned Bonkersinyonkrs and as the leaders clashed not once, but twice, the door was left open for the son of Droopys Sydney and An Cailin Alainn. Staying close to the rail, Bonkersinyonkers took over early in the back straight before going on to secure a five-length verdict over Carrick Fergie in 28.57.