FUTURE STARS IMPRESS AT ENNISCORTHY
Ian Fortune
There were a number of eye-catching displays at Enniscorthy on Thursday night as the Future Star & Michael Fortune Memorial Unraced Stake got underway.
So many wonderfully fast greyhounds have emerged from the competition in the past and this year’s crop looks as good as any before.
PASHA POUNCES TO GO FASTEST
Honour of gong fastest went to Front Pasha as she came home clear in Heat 8.
Coming through the bars, the Robert Gleeson trained daughter of Droopys Jet and Droopys Berry quickly built a decisive advantage. Effernogue Oak stayed on to take second but Front Pasha was in a league of her own as she recorded a facile seven length victory for owner Kevin Proctor in 28.79.
RUN FINISHES FAST TO SCORE
Incredibly, the three fastest times were all recorded by bitches.
Just behind Front Pasha on the clock were Ballymac Run and Roanna Storm. Ballymac Run stormed home to collar long-time leader Satellite Syd on the line in Heat 5.
The latter set a blistering gallop but could never shake off Ballymac Run. Liam Dowling’s daughter of Bull Run Bolt and Jaytee Pearl stayed close to the fence and ran on well to lead close to the line for a three parts of a length victory in 28.81.
A SUPERB ROANNA DOUBLE
Roanna Storm completed a wonderful double for Adrian Maher and Robbie O’Neill.
The daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Elite was always close to the pace, which was set by Jim Be Slick, before making her move at the third turn. Slipping up the fence, she hit the front before staying on well to see off Jim Be Slick by a length and a half in 28.81. One suspects both the winner and the runner-up are very useful.
Earlier, Roanna Scooby initiated the Maher/ O’Neill double. The son of Pat C Sabbath and Slaneyside Asher shot to the corner to dominate in Heat 4. He eventually saw off Melling Road in 28.90, leaving a fine impression as he did so.
After reaching the final with Stefans Rocket twelve months earlier, Shea Campbell has another challenger in the form of Stefans Rock. The son of Ballymac Vic and Avongate Nova was razor-sharp in the final heat, flashing from trap three to lead throughout. Paradise Moldova was never too far away but Stefans Rock stayed on well to emerge a four length winner in 28.96.
TOMMY ARRIVES LATE
One of the tightest finishes of the night came in Heat 3 where Hello Tommy stayed on well to deny Elite Crystal in the final stride.
The latter made virtually all the running but Hello Tommy was just too strong. Trained by Paul Hennessy for his better half Susan, the son of Jaytee Yankee and Hello Diva came home fast to claim a short head success in 29.01.
MAID LEADS EARLY
The well-bred Kilgarran Maid came home in front in Heat 9.
Owned by Craig and Conor Heffernan, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Badminton Maid just got the better of her rival to turn in front and she then held the late charge of Whitewood Pia or a length verdict in 29.21.
CRACKER OBLIGES
The opening heat of the round saw David Morris send out Lola Cracker to come home clear.
She recovered from a moderate start to lead before the corner and James Colfer’s daughter of Cushie Jet and Liberty Marie proceeded to see off Saunders Hitman in 29.27.
Pronto Noah took her chance in Heat 2. Staying tight to the fence on the turn she avoided traffic on her outer and was left clear entering the back straight. Brendan Barnes’ son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Fifi went on to score b six and a half lengths from Tomahurra Robin in 29.43.
Dysert Queen rode an early bump to win Heat 6 for Nicky Turner and the Global Racing Syndicate. The daughter of Ballymac Best and Cherry Lane moved of the rail in the early yards but was soon in front and she duly went on to score by a length and a half from Ballymac Darcia in 29.55.
Coolavanny Nanni came home a long way clear in Heat 7. The Garry Dempsey trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Perlena was always close to the pace before easing on to win by nine and a half lengths from Coolavanny Bale in 29.75.