CLEAN SWEEP FOR MANDOLIN IN FONEZ GALWAY OAKS
Peter Farrell
The final of the Fonez Galway Oaks took centre stage on Friday night and Droopys Mandolin completed her unbeaten run through the event with another flawless display.
Boasting a hugely impressive €7,500 to the winner, this event was kindly sponsored for the first time by Fonez.ie and they have been richly rewarded for said sponsorship with a thoroughly brilliant competition. Droopys Mandolin looked the standout bitch heading into the opening round and she proved just that, winning each assignment in sensational style, while amassing a winning aggregate of over fifteen lengths in the process.
Jointly owned by Jockey Pat Dobbs and his brother, Alan, Droopys Mandolin has been mightily consistent in terms of the clock throughout this competition and coming into the decider, she had plenty in hand of her rivals and her price of even money reflected this. Running from trap one, the choicely bred daughter of Laughil Blake and Droopys Curio took her slowest start to date when posting a 3.31 sectional, however, it mattered not as she quickly stormed past the fast-starting Role Model to the opening turn. Making the most of her inside berth in red, she proceeded to run a terrific opening bend and she already had two lengths in hand of Role Model in second, with the improving Glengar Jasmine next best in third. A two length advantage quickly doubled midway down the back as Droopys Mandolin sung a sweet tune to race into the penultimate bend with this contest well and truly sewn up. The battle was on for second in behind as Glengar Jasmine stayed on well to secure this particular spot, however, there was no doubt about the winner as Droopys Mandolin secured a thoroughly deserved victory as she stayed on powerfully to seal a four and three parts of a length victory over ‘Jasmine’ in second. The time was 28.49 .10s, an identical time from round one, and one spot faster than her semi final performance, once again detailing the model of consistency that this bitch is. Many thanks are extended to the Fonez for their generous sponsorship of this event and congratulations are extended to the connections of Droopys Mandolin.
DUDE CLAIMS STEPHEN MOLLOY MEMORIAL
A fitting supporting act on the card was the final of the Stephen Molloy Memorial 525 and it was Grangeview Dude built on a brilliant semi final display to land the €1,750 prize.
Owned by Jamie Hogan, the heavyweight December whelp landed his semi final assignment in a brisk 29.03 but he showed he is going in the right direction with a sub 29-second performance off the front. Running from three, the 5/2 shot was led by Fortune Sydney at traprise but this was short-lived as Grangeview Dude stormed to the front on the run-up. Opening a six length gap down the back, the son of Good News and Grangeview West held off the strong challenges of Colossal Venture in the closing stages to cross the line with one and three parts of a length in hand. The time was 28.94 .10s.
OPEN ACTION
There were some very nice contests on offer last night at Galway, all offering €1,000 to the winner, and the first of the opens was landed by Halo in the Mall Brandy Open 325.
A top-class performer over the standard trip, Halo was switching back to two-bends for this event and we may see more of this greyhound over this trip going forward as he produced a very smart display for Basil and Bernadette Holian. At traprise, it was the Fair Warrior runner-up, So Its Rapid, who showed first and he led into the opening bend from the improving Halo in second. The latter was forced to check at this point, however, this didn’t prevent him from finishing like a train to deny the wide-running So Its Rapid on the run for home. A comfortable two and a half length winner, the time was 17.75 .5s.
The Talking Dogs Open 550 was next on the agenda in race seven and this went the way of the ever-consistent stalwart, Annagh Bailey.
Trained by Rachel Wheeler for Dan and Peter Stackpoole, Annagh Bailey has been amongst the best for some time now and he justified his 7/4 joint favouritism with another professional display from his favoured striped jacket. Despite trailing the field at traprise, the son of Droopys Sydney and Bellmore Fantasy showed absolutely stunning early speed to get back on terms at the opener and he quickly swooped around Droopys Ailsa to take charge into the back. Setting a brilliant gallop thereafter, this greyhound stays all day and he crossed the line a comfortable, two and a half length winner over Droopys Ailsa in second. The time was 30.06 .10s.