VINCENZO STARS IN GOLDEN MUZZLE OPENER AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
The opening round heats of the Greyhound & Petworld Golden Muzzle A1 550 featured on last night’s Limerick card and it was the Pat Guilfoyle-trained Vincenzo who took the competition by the scruff of the neck.
Just six spots separated the fastest heat winner from the slowest right up until the final heat, however, this all changed with a stunning performance in heat five as Vincenzo showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in dominating from the outset.
Representing the same connections as Explosive Boy, the Peter Sutcliffe-owned Vincenzo came into the event after suffering a luckless passage in the opening round of the National Produce Stakes at Clonmel. However, the son of Droopys Sydney and Alien Nipper put things right in emphatic fashion as he showed brilliant early dash to overcome a mediocre start.. Quickly taking control of the contest, Vincenzo drew clear of his rivals down the back and he stayed every inch of the tough 550-yards that Limerick had to offer. A very telling performance from Vincenzo, he crossed the line seven lengths clear of Hazelhill Hazard in second, while Boylesports Dash took third. The time was a fantastic 29.56.
HEAT WATCH
In the opening heat of the night, Whats Up Jack (Candlelight King - Balance Sheet) recovered brilliantly from a sluggish start to make it two wins from his last three starts at Limerick. Owned by the O-L-Syndicate, Whats Up Jack broke poorly from trap two as Adamant Approach set the early standard with a fast start from trap one. However, Whats Up Jack displayed fine acceleration to move third down the back and he continued his improvement on the approach to the bottom two bends. Staying on powerfully in the closing yards, Adamant Approach was a sitting duck up front as Whats Up Jack motored past his rival to win by a head. Bright Dream taking third spot, the time for the 2/1 shot was 30.09.
In heat two, Corca Dhuibhne (Ballymac Vic - Coolavanny Chloe) got the nod for Gavin Johns and Patrick O’Connor. After a very poor start from trap five it was in fact Priceless King who shot out in front and his black jacket led the field into the opening corner. Indeed, the even money chance set a blistering gallop down the back and he looked sure to double his career tally to two wins. However, Circa Dhuibhne had other ideas and the 3/1 shot made rapid inroads in the closing stages to claim a neck victory over Priceless King crossing the line. The time was 30.15 as Larchill Port took third.
Loxley is never too far away from victory when lining out at Limerick and Sean Stack’s runner recorded his thirteenth win in heat three. Loxley is much better when drawn away from the fence and he broke swiftly from trap four to sit a narrow second in behind Second Captain who dictated the pace. However, quickly taking control entering the back straight, Loxley showed brilliant determination and the son of Laughil Blake and Rallying Way kept on well to cross the line with one length in hand over Second Captain in second. The time was 30.10 as Darrig Mia claimed third.
Speedie Syd is a greyhound whose stock continues to rise and Padraig Fannin’s runner made it three wins on the spin in the final heat of the night. Running from trap four, Speedie Syd showed a nice turn of early gear to take charge rounding the opening corner. Holding a one length lead into the back, the son of Droopys Sydney and Urban Time maintained a powerful skip throughout and despite the best intentions of the fast finishing Grouchos Cain in second, Speedie Syd crossed the line with a half length to spare. The time for the 3/1 shot was 30.10 as Ganja Gun took third.