RURAL KIHEI STORMS HOME TO LAND RURAL KENNELS UNRACED

Peter Farrell

Clonmel capped out their festival of racing in supreme style last night as the final of the Rural Kennels Unraced 525 came to a conclusion and there was to an upset on the cards as Rural Kihei, owned by the Scots-Clan Syndicate and headed by the sponsor Helen O’Dwyer, landed the €6,200 first prize.

The Rural Kennels Unraced 525 has once again lived up to its terrific reputation in blooding future stars and no doubt several of the participants will be contesting all the major competitions throughout the calendar year. Droopys Racer was the standout performer in the earlier rounds as he produced some incredible displays but luck deserted the Northern raider on the night as the 6/1 outsider, Rural Kihei, produced another devastating finish to get up late and land the spoils.

DECISIVE FIRST BEND

After being drawn favourably in trap two in the decider, Droopys Racer was installed the even money favourite to get back to winning ways after being handed his first career defeat in last week’s semi finals. Ironically, the draw proved to be his undoing as although breaking smartly from blue, both Burgess Ozzie and Laughil Rocky came away on terms and, as a result, traffic was to ensue at the opening corner. Droopys Racer was the victim of a huge bump which shuffled him to the rear of the field and this produced a domino effect, in turn allowing the red-jacketed runner of Burgess Ozzie to slip around in front for Paraic Campion. Meanwhile, another standout performer in Pied Piper had managed to evade the trouble at the opener and he turned a close second, followed in third by another strong runner in Rural Kihei.

PIPER MAKES HIS MOVE

Burgess Ozzie continued to lead down the back and he had two lengths in hand over Pied Piper. However, the latter showed a lovely turn of pace down the back and Maurice Heffernan’s runner cut the deficit within a matter of strides, looking a potent threat heading into the penultimate turn. The corner came too soon for Pied Piper, however, as Burgess Ozzie slammed the door on his rival, forcing him to check, and in turn allowing Rural Kihei to improve into second.

STRONG KIHEI ARRIVES LATE

Rural Kihei may have only had the three starts under her belt prior to last night but she has already developed a reputation as one of the fastest finishers in the game and after stalking both Burgess Ozzie and Pied Piper down the back, she quickly excelled around the bottom two bends to capitalize on the trouble and loom large on the outside. Burgess Ozzie looked a sitting duck at this point as the greyhounds rounded the final turn and Rural Kihei, showing a real brain for racing, switched to the inside upon entrance to the home straight, and she rallied up the rail to break the heart of Burgess Ozzie, crossing the line with a neck in hand, with the unlucky Pied Piper a further one and a half lengths back in third.  A thrilling finish to what has been another exceptional renewal, the time for the daughter of Newinn Taylor and Rural Maui was a 28.81 .10s. Many thanks and congratulations are extended to Helen O’Dwyer for her continued sponsorship of the event and no doubt we will be hearing more from her talented tracker in the coming months.

ROUNDING UP THE FINALS

The supporting act on the card was the final of the Tommy & Bridget Dunford Memorial A3/A4 525 and this was landed by the 6/4 favourite, Miss Mini Star. Owned and trained by Classic winning handler Tommy O’Donovan, the daughter of Droopys Jet and Miss Mini Marvel built on her semi final victory as she came out the right side of a judge's call to land the €2,200 stake. It was Insidethehuddle who broke in front from trap five but despite missing the break from four, Miss Mini Star displayed electric acceleration to take control rounding the opener and hold a two length advantage down the back. Continuing to set a strong gallop rounding the bottom two turns, Miss Mini Star looked home and hosed despite Busters Odyssey improving into second. However, the latter really upped the ante on the run for home and Miss Mini Star was all-out to hold onto her advantage and cross the line with a short-head in hand. A determined victory to hold off Busters Odyssey, who ran a cracker in second, the time was a rapid 28.78 .10s.

The opening final on the card was the Rural Kennels Consolation 525 and Salmic Fitz made it back-to-back wins for Pat Guilfoyle as he fully justified his 4/7 billing. Jointly owned by Michael Mackey and Mick Fitzpatrick, the son of Slippy Cian and Roscrea Lilly won his semi final in emphatic style and he was just as impressive as he ran to a virtual solo to land the €900 first prize on offer. Running from trap five, Salmic Fitz was fastest into stride and he was to make every post a winner thereafter as his rivals made little impact on the leader. Racing to a facile four and a half length victory, Salmic Fitz stopped the clock in 28.70 .10s and no doubt we will be hearing more from the February 21’ whelp in the months to follow.

The O’Rourkes Quality Greyhound Meat A2 Dual-Distance was next to follow in race two and it was the heavyweight performer, Granard Thunder, who took home the €1,000 first prize. Run over the extended 575-yard distance, this contest also proved to be all one-way traffic as the Joe Anglim-trained tracker led from the outset. Jointly owned by John White and Tom Lambert, Granard Thunder was quickly in stride from trap two and he was followed around the opener by Tarsna Soda. It was as you were thereafter as the mighty son of Ballymac Best and Granard Storm set a scorching gallop and he appreciated every yard of the 575 trip as he sauntered to a four and a half length victory. The time was a brisk 31.56 .10s.

With €1,700 on offer, the final of the Elite Canine Transport AO/A1 Bitch Stake came next in race five and the 2/1 favourite, Glenbervie Rosy, came through late to turn the tables on Aghaburren Bonny, who had led her home the week prior. Running from trap two, Damien O’Regan’s bitch sat third early doors as Aghaburren Bonny took a narrow lead around the opener from Scooby The Comet in second. However, the strong finishing Glenbervie Rosy was close enough if good enough and she certainly was as she stormed alongside the leader approaching the penultimate. Coursing around the outside upon entrance to the home straight, the daughter of Ballymac Best and Tullig Bonnie delivered a power-packed finish to cross the line two and a half lengths clear of Aghaburren Bonnie in second. The time was a rapid 28.55 .10s.

There was a brilliant €2,400 up for grabs in the final of the Sporting Press Online Edition A1/A2 550 and this was landed by the popular Bloodsweatnbeers. Owned by Nigel Quinn and trained by John Browne, Bloodsweatnbeers was a winner of his semi final contest but had plenty to find on the clock and as such, was installed as a 7/2 shot to land victory. However, fast starts win greyhound races and he was pinpoint at traprise to fly from five and take a two length lead around the opener from Sparta Max in second. The local hope set a good gallop down the back and Sparta Max couldn’t get on terms, however, the improving Laughil King looked a potent threat back in third. Bloodsweatnbeers wasn’t to be denied however, and the son of Sh Avatar and Nutty Beth stuck to his task brilliantly to stick his neck out and score by one length from Laughil King in second. The time was 30.02 .10s.

ONE-OFF RACES

Elsewhere, there were some fantastic performances in the one-off races and the first of those came in the O’Connor Vets Open 525, won in emphatic fashion by Shane Divilly’s, Crafty Jayko. Sent off the 4/6 favourite from trap two, Crafty Jayko came away like the wind and after running a terrific opening bend, she shot into a three length lead from Clona Rocky in second. The daughter of Priceless Boris and Jaytee Charlie extended her lead thereafter and she was four and a half lengths clear of her rival crossing the line. The time was a superb 28.46 .10s.

In the Deadly Kennels & Gavin Johns Open 550, Swords Fudge recorded a double for Graham Holland who later went on to train Rural Kihei. The even money favourite at the off, Swords Fudge gave himself plenty to do as both Burgess Bolger and Petersburg broke smartly to dispute. Sitting third down the back, Swords Fudge was making little inroads on the pair as they battled it out for supremacy. However, Swords Fudge tracked expertly around the final turn and the son of Lenson Bocko and Riverside Honey, owned by Barbara Lowndes, flew up the rail to record a neck victory over Burgess Bolger in second. The time was 30.05 .10s.

It was fantastic to see an Open 790 on the card in race eight and Pablo Escobark made every inch of the running for Karol Ramsbottom and the Glamdog-Millionaires syndicate. The 4/6 favourite at the off, Pablo Escobark pinged the lids from trap three and he immediately displayed big early zip to take a two and a half lead around the opener. Jacktavern Bella gave chase in second at this point and it was already apparent that this was to evolve into a two-dog contest. Pablo Escobark, in truth, was never under any threat however, and despite steering a wide course around the bends, stayed every inch of the 790-yards to win comfortably. Two and a half lengths clear crossing the line, the time was 43.95 .20s.

The concluding race on the card was the Greyhounds Make Great Pets Open 525 and Outdoor Pearl sprung an 8/1 shock to score for Don Hayes and Frank Courtney. The eventual winner looked to have plenty on her plate early on after a poor start from three but she benefited from early traffic to nip around in second, behind the leader Burgess Cutie. Outdoor Pearl is known for her strong running abilities and she looked a potent threat at this point as he joined Burgess Cutie at the penultimate turn. Storming to the front at this point, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Hawthorn Pearl stayed on well thereafter as she crossed the line one and a half lengths clear of Bob Oliger in second. The time was a good 28.71 .10s.