UNBEATEN HONEY MAKES ALL IN VALUABLE GALWAY DECIDER
Peter Farrell
The final of the €4,000 to the winner Galway A3 525 took centre stage last night at Galway Greyhound Stadium and it was Headford Honey who maintained her unbeaten status in the sweepstake with yet another terrific performance.
Headford Honey had set this valuable sweepstake alight in the opening round when posting an exceptional 28.78 .20s and the in-form bitch maintained that electric form coming into last night’s decider. However, a tricky draw in trap five meant that Headford Honey still had some questions to answer but she soon put those fears to bed with a flying start which enabled her to a fourth straight victory.
Owned by Seamus Leahy, Headford Honey is a very talented sort and she came into the decider with three sub 29-second clocks to her name when winning each subsequent round. Drombeg Ten, however, had gone quickest in the semi final and it was the August 20’ puppy who looked a major threat coming into this very handsome decider. Heading to traps a narrow 6/4 favourite, Headford Honey put any fears to bed early on as she rocketed from trap five to post a rapid 3.28 sectional clock. Galloping into the opening corner in full control, Drombeg Ten was next to follow in the red jacket and although two lengths adrift at this point, the promising fawn was making rapid inroads on the leader. However, despite the advances of both Drombeg Ten and Jaguar Gerry on the approach to the penultimate turn, Headford Honey tracked excellently to slam the door on her rivals, allowing Leahy’s charge to once again create daylight. A powerful stayer, Headford Honey was now under no threat of being caught thereafter as the daughter of Tyrur Big Mike and Headford Fantasy finished brilliantly to cross the line with two and a half lengths in hand over the promising, Drombeg Ten, in second. Jaguar Gerry was next best in third as the clock returned a swift 28.90 .20s.
OISIN & CLEO GO QUICKEST IN ANN CHEEVERS OPENER
The first round heats of the €1,500 to the winner Ann Cheevers Memorial A5 525 also got underway on last night’s Galway card and it was both Gortkelly Oisin and Lexis Cleo who set the standard when going quickest.
In the opening heat of the night, Gortkelly Oisin made it back-to-back wins for Andrew Murray. Fast away from trap two, Gortkelly Oisin was outpaced early on by Lissatouk Peggy, however, he shot up the rails down the back straight to dispute the lead rounding the bottom two bends. From here, the son of Shaneboy Lee and Gortkelly Lola railed like a cat to stay on well and seal a three parts of a length victory over Adamant Sol in second. The time for the 3/1 shot was 29.37 .20s.
In heat four, Lexis Cleo wasn’t to be outdone in terms of the clock as she matched the figures set by Gortkelly Oisin. Owned and trained by Owen McDonagh, Lexis Cleo was chasing three straight victories and she was quickly into stride from trap two where she sat just behind Springwell Nap entering the back. However, showing big speed at this point, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Hail Cleopatra took charge midway down the back and it was all one-way traffic thereafter. Galloping to a comfortable four and a half length victory over the fast-finishing Lingrawn Angie in second, the time was 29.37 .20s.
ROUNDING UP THE HEATS
In heat two, Fast Fit Drop came from off the pace to secure victory for John Quinn. Running from trap four, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Fast Fit Maeve sat in behind Peteles Countess early doors, however, he showed good speed down the back to take control upon entrance to the third turn. Sticking to his task well thereafter, Fast Fit Drop, a 6/4 favourite, crossed the line with a length and three parts to spare over Peteles Countess in second. The time was 29.54 .20s.
There was a routine victory in heat three as the 6/4 favourite, Blaze Bill, ran out a comfortable winner. Owned by Tony Brigdale, Blaze Bill was still searching for a first career win but he showed a lovely turn of early speed to head into the back straight in second place. Taking charge within a matter of strides, the impressive son of Rising Brandy and Drahbeg Princess drew clear of his rivals at this point and he stayed on stoutly to cross the line with six lengths in hand over No Shift in second. The time was 29.48 .20s.
The final heat of the night saw Paul and Paddy Burke get on the scoresheet as their even money favourite, Bumblebee Sally (Pat C Sabbath - Headford Sally), flew home to record back-to-back wins. Only an October whelp, Bumblebee Sally didn't enjoy the clearest of passages to the opening corner from trap four, however, she showed good determination to follow Shawnee Pass into the back straight where she sat three lengths adrift. Still with plenty work on her plate, ‘Sally’ wasn’t to be denied as she rallied in the closing stages to mow down Shawnee Pass and cross the line with a length and a half in hand. The time was 29.66 .20s.
GRANGEVIEW DOUBLE
Last night also proved fruitful for the Hogan kennels as both Grangeview Best and Grangeview Lady landed their respective contests.
Heading to traps a 4/6 market leader, Grangeview Best looked well-handicapped in race five and he put this contest to bed early on with a swift break from five. Owned by Jamies Hogan, the son of Ballymac Best and Portumna West maintained a frantic gallop thereafter and he crossed the line with a length and a half in hand over Lingrawn Junior in second. The time was 28.97 .20s.
The double was completed in race eleven as Grangeview Lady ran out a very convincing winner for Michaela Hogan. An August 20’ daughter of Grangeview Ten and Blastoff Khalesi, ‘Lady’ broke smartly from trap two and from here, it proved a routine night’s work for this progressive sort as she crossed the line with over six lengths to spare. The time for the 5/4 favourite was 29.23 .20s.