CADET SHINES IN O’CONNELL JULIAN VET OPENER AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel Tri-Distance got off and running at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and it was no surprise to see Oakfront Cadet take full advantage of his drop to class to set the standard.

Jointly owned by Christopher and John Morrissey, Oakfront Cadet had been running against some of the best trackers in the Country in recent times but a winless run, which stretched back to October of last year, had seen him down-graded to A2 class. Surprisingly installed as a 5/2 chance in heat six last night, the giant son of Belles Direction and Ferryforth Belle was to benefit greatly from his ease in class to emerge a most impressive winner. Breaking smartly from six, Oakfront Cadet was headed by first Dazzes Beauts in one and then County Minor in two. However, taking charge entering the back straight, there was only going to be one winner given his style of running. Taking a narrow lead into the penultimate turn, Oakfront Cadet galloped clear in the closing stages of the contest and he powered up the Limerick straight to cross the line with four and a half lengths in hand over Dazzes Beauts in second. The time was the fastest of the opening round, 29.73 for the 550-yard trip.

HEAT WATCH

Next best in terms of the clock came in seven as Turkish Delight ran to a facile victory for the Galler-Syndicate. Just a December whelp, this bitch impressed greatly on her last outing at Galway and she duly upped the ante last night at Limerick as she proved too hot to handle for her opposition. The 5/4 favourite at the off, Turkish Delight took a flier from trap four and she led All About Magic around the opening turn. Stretching clear at this point, it was evident that the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Mystical Luna was producing a clock out in front as she drew clear of her rivals. The result never in doubt rounding the bottom two bends, Turkish Delight raced to a nine length victory over Move On Dot in second. The time was 29.80.

The final tracker to dip under the 30-second mark for the 550-yard trip was Kilcolgan Comet in the seventh and final heat. Trained by Neilus O’Connell for Karen Geoghegan, this was another greyhound who took full advantage of a drop in grade as he showed a terrific turn of early speed to round the opener in charge. The white jacket of Kilcolgan Comet, a 7/4 shot, held a three length advantage down the back straight from Not Today, while Puckanes Player was also showing an eye-catching turn of speed to get involved in third. Always in charge however, was Kilcolgan Comet and the son of Pat C Sabbath and Razldazl Valerie duly obliged by two lengths from the most impressive Puckanes Player, who ran an extraordinary race to claim second. The time was 29.92.

In the opening heat of the night, Kelzomic Sprinks went to traps as a surprising 4/1 shot but Stephen Gough’s charge made every inch to score on his Limerick debut. A winner of his last outing in a decent 29.08 around the tough Enniscorthy circuit, the son of Premier Fantasy and Kelzomic Satnav was quickest into stride wearing the striped jacket and from here, he was always going to prove a tough nut to crack. Setting a powerful gallop heading into the back, Kelzomic Sprinks was always in charge as he came home two and a half lengths clear of Busters Odyssey in second. The time was a swift 30.10.

Another 4/1 chance was to land heat two as Airfield Bud secured a fourth career win for Kieran Murphy. Only moderately into stride from trap five, the daughter of Magical Bale and Bobsleigh Jet sat second early on but got swallowed up on approach to the opener as she rounded in fifth place. However, improving down the back, Airfield Bud was in full flow at the midway point and she duly took charge heading for home as she finished at speed to draw clear and win by eight and a half lengths. Malabar Jack in second, the time was 30.40.

Whats Up Jack was on the downgrade and he made that count in heat three as he emerged a narrow winner at odds of 9/4. It was Velvet Duchess who led early on from trap two but the Padraig O’Lore-trained tracker always looked a danger as Whats Up Jack turned in second. A son of Candlelight King and Balance Sheet, soon to be classed in veteran status, Whats Up Jack showed fine determination to reel in Velvet Duchess and get the nod by a head on the line. The time was a fine 30.10.

Heat five was landed by the 6/4 joint favourite, Raindrops. Trained by Jerry Griffin for joint owners, Michael Rowe and S. Buckland, the well-bred daughter of Droopys Sydney and Kiss An Angel was chasing a first win since April but she made light work of her rivals in the end. Running from trap five, Raindrops was led by Bright Dream early on but improved to turn narrowly behind the leader. Showing fine dash down the back, Raindrops quickly took control and from here, it proved a straightforward assignment. Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, Raindrops was three lengths too strong for Bright Dream, as she stopped the clock in a good 30.15.

LIMERICK & CLARE GOBA ACTION

Elsewhere on the card, the Limerick & Clare GOBA action took place and in the A5/A6 semis, Seaport Lass maintained her stranglehold on the event.

A winner last time out in 28.90, Seaport Lass improved further in the second semi to justify her 4/5 starting price. Trained by Pat O’Connell for James O’Sullivan, Seaport Lass was again quickest into stride from trap three and she immediately manufactured a four length lead over Bettyville Rocky early on. Already over as a contest, the daughter of Bull Run Bolt and Hazelhill Tess drew clear of her rivals as she emerged a six length winner over Bettyville Rocky in second. A fine display from the February 21’ whelp, the time was a rapid 28.73.

The opening semi final was landed by Ontheholding (Ballymac Best - Miss July) as she just held on to claim a short-head victory. A 7/4 market chance, Ontheholding was led early on by Carrigmore Jolly, however, she showed the superior early gears to lead her fancied rival. Setting a decent gallop down the back, Michael Ryan’s bitch came under late pressure from the aforementioned Carrigmore Jolly, however, she held firm to record 29.33.

In the A3/A4 Bitch action, the ever-reliable Beaming Becca went quickest for Corona Ryan in the second semi. Running from her favoured trap six berth, the 9/4 shot was only moderately away on the outside and rounded the opener with plenty of work to do. However, steering a wide course as she does, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Beechgrove Bell showed an eye-catching turn of foot down the back to race to the front approaching the penultimate turn. The outcome never in doubt thereafter, Beaming Becca stayed on stoutly to cross the line with some three and a half lengths in hand over Boherduff Susie in second. The time was 28.72.

The opening semi final was landed by another local runner, Mohane Maggie. Available at a massive 6/1 at the outset, the early-paced daughter of Ballymac Vic and Mohane Misty got off to her customary flying start from trap one to lead. From here, Cormac Davern’s evergreen tracker set a powerful gallop to see off late pressure from April Rain in second. The judge called into play, Mohane Maggie got the verdict by a short-head in 28.93. An eleventh career win for this brilliant bitch.