RUBY SHINES BRIGHTEST IN KNOCKLONG DECIDER AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
*Story re-posted as due to a technical error it didn't appear last week*
Kindly sponsored by Liam Hayes, the final of the €2,200 to the winner Knocklong Schooling Track A1/A2 525 was the feature at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night (4th February) and after winning his semi final in good style, Ballygibba Ruby emerged victorious once again at huge odds of 10/1.
Pic: Liam Hayes making the winning presentation to Billy Guiney after Ballygibba Ruby won the Knocklong Schooling Track A1/A2 525
The competition had produced some exceptional racing at the Munster venue over the past three weeks and the final was expected to go the way of Strictly Paul, who had posted a number of sparkling displays throughout the stake. His 28.42 in round two was followed up with a 28.50 clock in last week’s semi final and as such, he was installed as the 2/1 favourite to land the outright prize. However, Ballygibba Ruby had been going about his business nicely under the radar and he built on his own semi final victory with another powerful display for popular owner, Billy Guiney.
From a level break in the decider, it was Tyrap Shane and Dromabbey Flyer who emerged to dispute the early running but the brilliantly housed Ballygibba Ruby was showing excellent acceleration on the rail and he duly motored up the inside to narrowly lead the field upon entrance to the opening corner. Meanwhile, market leaders Strictly Paul and Meduza has both fluffed their lines at traprise and it was all to play for as a result. At this point, Ballygibba Ruby looked destined to turn in front but the Paraic Campion-trained Rattlefence showed incredible track craft to go through the eye of the needle rounding the opener and he was to take a one length advantage into the back straight from Ballygibba Ruby in second, with the strong running Dromabbey Flyer a close enough if good enough third. All to play for midway down the back, Rattlefence continued to set a strong gallop and still held a solid advantage rounding the bottom two bends. However, the complexion of the race was to change in the final 25-yards and it was the brilliantly determined Ballygibba Ruby, who was scraping the paintwork throughout, that came home best of all to storm past the longtime leader. The judge was called into action but there were no doubts about the winner as Ballygibba Ruby (Sonic – Ballygibba Dawn) got the verdict by a neck crossing the line. The time was a smart 28.91 and many thanks are extended to the sponsor of the event.
MIDAS A POPULAR WINNER OF GOBA FEATURE
The final of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A4/A5 525 served as the supporting act on the card and it was Tally Ho Midas who landed the €1,300 first prize.
Owned by the Walls-Of-Tally-Ho syndicate, Tally Ho Midas is a home-bred son of Tally Ho Lee and Crottys Act and despite approaching his fourth birthday, he shows no signs of slowing down, as evident from his last two outings. A winner of his semi final in 29.09, Tally Ho Lee was installed as a 4/1 shot to build on that victory and he was to make every post a winner on route to a brilliant twelfth career victory. Leading early from trap two, Tally Ho Midas displayed his customary early gears to take control at the opener and despite being kept honest throughout by Selinas Blubelle in second, Wall’s charge stuck to his task well to cross the line with one length in hand. A terrific victory for this greyhound, the time was 29.22.