HARRY AND ROCKET CLAIM GOBA FINALS AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
Limerick Greyhound Stadium were forced to contend with some tough conditions on Saturday night but two sweepstakes were decided nonetheless in fine style.
The first of the stakes on offer was the Limerick & Clare GOBA A6 525 and this was landed by Montore Harry, who built brilliantly on his semi final performance to make-all. With €1,400 on offer, the James Treacy-owned charge went to traps as a 3/1 shot with Let Me Fly installed as the even money favourite and he made his intentions clear from the off as he broke swiftly from his outside berth in six. From here, the son of Farloe Blitz and Montore Sally opened up a five length advantage over ‘Fly’ in second and although the latter chased hard, especially in the closing stages, ‘Harry’ stayed on stoutly to secure the win. Two and a half lengths clear crossing the line, the time was 29.90 .60s.
Shortly after, the Limerick & Clare GOBA A4 525 concluded and this went the way of Tally Ho Rocket who sprung a surprise to win at odds of 4/1.
Owned by the Walls-Of-Tally-Ho-Syndicate, Tally Ho Rocket won his semi final assignment by the shortest of heads as he saw off Ocean Tesla and he was once again paw-perfect at traprise as his black jacket showed first to lead Athlacca Arteta into the opener. The son of Ballymac Bolger and Tally Ho Dawn was to show fine pace from bends two to three thereafter as he held a comfortable lead over the favourite entering the penultimate turn. Showing seldom sign of being reeled in, the advantage of ‘Rocket’ was halved in the closing stages, however, he still crossed the line one length clear of Athlacca Arteta, in a time of 29.60 .60s.
DUSTY WINS AGAIN
Elsewhere on the card, there was yet another victory for Bogger Dusty as he made it an incredible fifteenth win for 2023.
Owned by Liam Peacock, Bogger Dusty can only be described as a winning machine and the 4/5 chance duly obliged at Limerick despite not taking one of his better starts. Proving he was a class above his rivals, the son of Droopys Biker took charge at the back straight point and from here, he was two lengths better off than She Did It crossing the line. Another polished performance from ‘Dusty’, his time was 29.84 .60s.
GURTNACREHY DOUBLE
The kennel of James Kelly also had reason to celebrate on the final meeting of 2023 as both Gurthnacrehy Kuba and Gurtnacrehy Winx, litter companions, crossed in front.
The first of the litter double to win was ‘Kuba’ in race three. Sent to traps at odds of 3/1, his blue jacket emerged first at traprise and he quickly excelled into the opener to opener a two length advantage. Extending his lead down the back, the son of Droopys Sydney and Gurtnacrehy Rose powered to the winning line to win by four and a half lengths from Killeanauledasher in second. The time was 29.91 .60s.
Just two races later, ‘Winx’ really caught the eye when taking control late on. Running from trap one, the even money favourite was hung out to dry early on but showed fine improvement down the back to move into a clear second. Taking charge rounding between the bottom two bends, ‘Winx’ absolutely took off in the closing stages to win by an extending ten and a half lengths from Shanakyle Sally in second. The time was 30.13 .60s.