BALLYMAC DANICA MAINTAINS FLAWLESS RECORD IN RURAL KENNELS SEMI FINALS
Peter Farrell
The three semi finals of the 2024 Rural Kennels Unraced 525 featured on last night’s card at Clonmel and once again it was Ballymac Danica who stole the show with another demolition job on her rivals.
A winner of her second round contest in a blistering 28.34 .10s, Ballymac Danica remains unbeaten in this event and it’s easy to see why as the classy July pup has a lovely mixture of early pace to coincide with an abundance of staying power. Running in a four dog affair last night, she was installed as the 1/4 favourite and the contest was put to bed at traprise with the daughter of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Arminita pinging the lids from trap three. Quickly opening up a healthy lead over both Serene Highway and Savana Alfredo, the gap was lengthening as she galloped into the third turn, posting a 15.97 sectional in the process. Getting stronger as the contest unfolded, this was another epic performance from the classy brindle as she drew clear to win by six and a half lengths from Savana Alfredo in second. The time was a blistering 28.34 .10s.
KEANO ON TARGET
Carrick Keano has been threatening a massive run in recent weeks and he duly delivered in the second semi final as he reversed the form with Epic Bella.
Trained by Robert Gleeson for Thomas Glynn, Carrick Keano has been showing terrific speed in behind in recent weeks and it certainly didn’t go unnoticed given his starting price of 11/10. Running from trap four, a level break saw Carrick Keano turn a narrow second in behind Epic Bella, however, this was short-lived as the son of Dromana Bucko and Droopys Zero quickly began to assert. Holding a one length lead down the back, both greyhounds were forced to check slightly at the penultimate turn but it was Carrick Keano who remained in the ascendancy and he powered up the home straight to win with ease thereafter. Crossing the line with four lengths to spare over Epic Bella, the time was an exceptional 28.42 .10s (Sec: 16.13)
TAYLOR BOUNCES BACK
In the last of the three semi finals, Romeo Taylor once again displayed his phenomenal early dash to bounce back from defeat last time out.
Second best in behind Ballymac Danica last time out, Romeo Taylor remains a real force in this stake and the 6/4 favourite outlined those credentials with a very accomplished performance for Dave Firmager and Graham Holland. Running from trap three, the son of Newinn Taylor absolutely blew the lids down to post a 2.77 early sectional and in turn, opened a sizable lead over Carefree Comet rounding the opening bend. The latter closed off the second turn as Romeo Taylor appeared to steady himself and it was still very much up in the air approaching the penultimate turn. Clocking a red-hot 15.89 sectional, ‘Taylor’ was searching for the line in the closing stages, however, he kept just enough in reserve to see off the fast finishing Toolmaker Bud in second, with Carefree Comet an unlucky non-qualifier just a neck back in third. The time was a rapid 28.61 .10s.
The draw for the final of the 2024 RURAL KENNELS UNRACED 525 was made shortly after and is as follows :
T1 - BALLYMAC DANICA
T2 - SAVANA ALFREDO
T3 - ROMEO TAYLOR
T4 - EPIC BELLA
T5 - TOOLMAKER BUD
T6 - CARRICK KEANO
IN OTHER RACES
Elsewhere on the card, the semi finals of the Ballymac Kennels/Newpark Stud Rural Consolation were also on offer and the quickest on the clock was Romeo Falco.
Owned and trained by the same connections as Romeo Taylor, ‘Falco’ was installed as the 11/10 favourite to land the spoils and he emerged from a messy start in trap one to show brilliant early speed and lead. Thereafter, he opened a sizable advantage over kennel companion, Untold Dollar’ in second and despite coming under pressure from this rival late on, held on to score by one length. The time was 28.68 .10s.
The opening semi final was landed by the John Byrne-trained Grouchos Blake as he justified his starting price of even money. Showing exceptional early speed to blast past Mags Star in the opening yards, ‘Blake’ powered down the back straight and in truth, the son of Magical Bale and Clondoty Amy proved a class above his rivals in running out a seven and a half length winner over Takeiteasytiger in second. The time was 28.75 .10s.
In the semi finals of the Sporting Press AO/A1 550, it was Daring Bono who set the standard ahead of Mustang Sally.
Running for James Maguire and Michael Millar, and trained by Michael Meade, Daring Bono was a 9/4 shot prior to the off and he recovered from a moderate start to take up the running from Short Again midway down the back straight. From here, the heavyweight son of Broadstrand Bono and Emers Diva stayed on stoutly to record a one and a half length victory over Short Again in second. The time was 30.28 .10s.
The last of the stakes on offer was the Orchestrate @ Stud AO/A1 Bitch 525 and Born To Perform went quickest from Miss Mini Holly in the second semi.
A 1/2 favourite for Jennifer O’Donnell and John Mitchell, Born To Perform was expected to make light work of this contest and he did just that with a polished performance from trap five. Only moderately into stride, the son of Malachi and Cheeky Chloe showed terrific early speed to bustle his way through runners and take up the running at the second bend. From here, it was a straightforward assignment for Born To Perform as he crossed the line with two and a half lengths to spare over Goldcash Ice in second. The time was 28.60 .10s.