JEMEIRAH IMPRESSES AS FRENCH LANDS THE FEATURE AT GALWAY

JEMEIRAH IMPRESSES AS FRENCH LANDS THE FEATURE AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

Multiple sweepstakes got underway last night at Galway Greyhound Stadium and the standout performance was that of Jumeirah Dasher who went fastest in the opening round of the 90th Birthday July Festival A5/A6 525.

There were four opening round heats of the €1,100 to the winner A5/A6 525 but Jumeirah Dasher has already put down a major marker as Jimmy Buckley’s 4/5 chance went some nine lengths quicker than his nearest heat winner. Only an October 20’ whelp, Jumeirah Dasher came into the contest having drawn a blank on two previous starts but after a slick exit from trap four this time around, the son of Ballymac Best and Jumeirah Charm outpaced his rivals on the run to the opening bend. Setting a strong gallop down the back, Jumeirah Dasher raced into a four length lead over Alittlekindness and the promising black maintained that lead as he stormed up the home straight to win by five lengths. The time was a rapid 29.05 .20s and barring incident, he will take some stopping going forward.

HEAT WATCH

In heat one, Mounvoor Lad finished at speed for the Freckle-Five-Syndicate to land a first career win. Slowly into stride from four, the son of Ballymac Best and Ridgedale Martha was well off the pace early on but he flew up the inside in the closing stages to cross the line with one and a half lengths in hand. The time was 30.01 .20s.

Heat three saw Courancove Peg justify favouritism as Patrick Leahy’s bitch held off Darla The Queen in the dying strides. A daughter of Droopys Sydney and Courancove Rosie, ‘Peg’ came out best in a nip and tuck buckle between the dup throughout as she crossed over with a neck in hand, in a time of 29.83 .20s.

The final heat saw Medicine Bow produce a strong finish to win at odds of even money. Drawn in six, Thomas Burke’s charge came away well and nestled in behind Crokers Dream early on. Taking charge at the penultimate turn, the son of Droopys Sydney and Fire Height Brid kept on well to cross the line with one and a half lengths in hand over Kern River in second. The time was 29.69 .20s.

LITTLE TO SPLIT TOTO AND CENTURION

Prior to that, the first round heats of the 90th Birthday July Festival A7/A10 got underway and this proved very close in terms of the clock.

The opening semi final was landed by Crafty Toto as Shane and Johnnie Divilly’s bitch broke her maiden tag in style. Only a March 21’ whelp, the daughter of Jaytee Jet and Boylesports Joy broke best of all from four and she took a one length around the opening turn with Bat Outtahell  closely following in second. However, Crafty Toto never looked under any real pressure as she maintained a strong gallop throughout, before crossing the line with two lengths to spare. The time was 29.48 .20s.

In the second semi final, Da Centurion went narrowly quicker as the December puppy justified her 4/7 starting price. Owned by the Lucky-Last Syndicate, Da Centurion tasted success on her last outing over the sprint distance but she was only moderately into stride this time around to sit third early on. However, after showing good track craft to go second, Da Centurion made her move between the bottom two bends and she stayed on strongly to score a one and a half length success over Lisk Robin in second. The time was 29.46 .20s.

FRENCH LANDS SPRINTING FINAL

Elsewhere on the card, the final of the €700 to the winner WGOBA Members & Friends S7 350 was down for decision and this went the way of the Francine Jestine-owned French Flo Jo.

A 4/1 market chance at the off, French Flo Jo made virtually every yard in the semi finals prior to being chinned close home, however, she wasn’t to suffer the same fate this time around. Rocketing from trap four, the lovely fawn showed a clean pair of paws to her rivals early on as she took a commanding lead into the opener. Tracking brilliantly around the bottom two turns, the daughter of Azza Azza Azza and Rampant Razzle stuck to her guns well close home to hold off the fast-finishing Feed Me Mcflurry in second. Just one length in it at the winning line, the time was 19.56 .10s.

RUBY PUTS DOWN MARKER IN A4

The final sweepstake to get underway on the night was the 90th Birthday July Festival A4 525 and it was Ballygarry Ruby who set down the early marker.

Owned by Enda Corcoran and trained by Gerard Quigley, Ballygarry Ruby was without a win since March but she duly scored with a fast finish in the opening heat of the night. After being the meat in the sandwich from trap two early doors, Ballygarry Ruby showed fine early dash to nip around the inside and it was curtains for her rivals thereafter. Setting a strong pace for the remainder, the daughter of Superior Panama and Creevy Charm was two and a half lengths better off than Cascade Raven crossing the line. The time was 29.43 .20s.

In heat two, High Heels (Laughil Blake - Brides Honey)showed good determination to score back-to-back wins for Marie McDonnell and Mark Geraghty. Running from five, High Heels didn’t come away too fluently but she took charge at the penultimate turn before holding off the strong finish of Krystalise in second. Just a neck in it at the winning line, the time for the 6/4 chance was 29.62 .20s.

In the concluding heat, 4/5 chance Three Canons overcame an early bump to score a first career win for John Browne and Conor Keating. Slowly into stride from trap four, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Spice trailed the field early on but showed an eye-catching turn of speed down the back to move into contention. Staying on strongly late on, Three Canons stormed to the front where she ran out a half length winner over Mount Bernadette in second. The time was 29.66 .20s.