CASH QUICKEST IN KASKO SEMIS

Peter Farrell

After the terrific opening round heats of the Kasko Dog Foods Unraced 525 last weekend at Thurles Park, last night promised more mouth-watering action and it didn’t disappoint as Keeperhill Cash raised the bar to post a hugely impressive victory.

A winner of his opening round assignment in 29.28 .20s last weekend, Nicholas Colton’s charge was one of a string of leading outright fancies heading into last night semi finals but the draw was heavily stacked towards a red-hot first semi where there would be little margin for error. Any Other News set the tone in the opening round as he posted 29.09 .20s and he was installed the 5/4 favourite, with Cluain Creed next best at 6/4 and Keeperhill Cash available at 2/1. At traprise, Any Other News completely fluffed his lines and it was Fairest Roxy who led up with Keeperhill Cash showing big improvement in behind. Running wide at this point, Fairest Roxy allowed her striped jacketed rival up her inside at this point and it was Keeperhill Cash who quickly turned a one length lead into four lengths as he stretched out brilliantly midway down the back straight. Cluain Creed improved into second entering the penultimate turn and the eye-catching Any Other News was making huge progress in third, despite being hung out to dry in the early exchanges. As a contest however, Keerperhill Cash had this in the bag. Powering around the bottom two turns, Colton’s son of Confident Rankin and Work Your Head stayed on stoutly close home and he was five and a half lengths too strong for Cluain Creed in second. Meanwhile, Any Other News was just one and a half lengths further back and it was the big three who will progress into what should already prove a red-hot decider in six days’ time. The time for Keeperhill Cash was a stunning 28.80 .20s.

GREEK REMAINS UNBEATEN

In the second semi final, Paul Brussels was doubly represented and it was Johnny The Greek who came out on top to also keep his 100% career record intact.

A trap-to-line winner of his opening round contest, Johnny The Greek is all about early speed and he deployed similar tactics this time around to make every post a winner. Sent to traps as the 6/4 second favourite behind kennel companion and litter brother, Greatdistraction, it was the duo who disputed early on with Johnny The Greek turning narrowly in front of his litter companion. However, Micks Strike was to emerge a huge threat entering the back straight and he was showing big speed down the far side in his attempts to take the contest by the scruff of the neck. Johnny The Greek showed fine determination at this point however, and the son of Pestana and Kilgowan Honey drove the penultimate turn to once again assume control. Staying on well thereafter, the pacey blue held off the eye-catching Micks Strike by one and a half lengths crossing the line. The time was 29.38 .20s and it was Roseville Sonic who booked the final qualification place in next week’s decider.

The draw for the final of the Kasko Dog Foods Unraced 525:

T1 - ROSEVILLE SONIC

T2 - CLUAIN CREED

T3 - JOHNNY THE GREEK

T4 - ANY OTHER NEWS

T5 - MICKS STRIKE

T6 - KEEPERHILL CASH