OREO SETS THE STANDARD IN CLONMEL BITCH STAKE

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Deerjet Sydney & Glengar Bale @ Stud Unraced Bitch stake got underway at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium last night and it was Deelish Oreo who set the standard for owner Mary Kennedy.

After coming into the event with some eye-catching qualifying form, Deelish Oreo was expected to go close in heat four and she was installed as the 6/4 joint favourite alongside Riverside Lisa. From a level break, Deelish Oreo disputed the early running with Shes Non Stop and she briefly surrendered the lead upon entrance to the back straight. However, showing big gears down the back, Deelish Oreo came back for more and took back control rounding the penultimate turn. Staying on powerfully thereafter, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Shirley galloped to a convincing three and a half length victory over Riverside Lisa in second. The time was a fast 28.70.

ROUNDING UP THE HEATS

In the opening heat of the night, the Graham Holland-trained Hovex Gracie (Skywalker Canny - Dower Bud) justified her 1/2 starting price. Owned by Graham Ashe, Hovex Gracie was expertly into stride from trap one and she quickly developed a four length lead over Crossfield Maxi midway down the back straight. The latter kept the leader honest thereafter however, and she stayed on strong to go down by a mere one length as Hovex Gracie did enough to score. The time was 28.73.

Declan Byrne ensured he notched a winner in heat two as Tory Aria produced a dominant display to win at odds of 5/4. Owned by Lisa Reid, Tory Aria came away racing from trap three and she railed tightly to take a slender lead into the opener from MIndies Sue in second. Quickly opening a three length advantage on her rival, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Ava stayed on strongly to cross the line with four lengths to spare. The time was 28.86.

Another short-priced winner landed heat three as Quivers Magic (Droopys Sydney - Quivers Manor) ensured she made a winning start to her career. Heading to traps a 4/6 shot, the Adam Dunford-trained runner, owned by Charles and PJ Sugre, didn’t come away too fluently from trap one but showed immediate acceleration on the fence to lead around the opening bend. A two-dog affair at this point with Epic Diva in second, it was nip and tuck all the way to the line as Quivers Magic held on to secure a half length victory. The time was 28.85.

In the final heat of the night, Good April again justified favouritism to win for John Kennedy in Thurles. A daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet and Hugh Dream, the blue and white took charge of the contest early from trap three but was joined briefly down the back straight by Saint Maxi. However, within a matter of strides Good April had shot clear once again and she took off around the bottom bend to storm to a four length success over her rival. The time was 28.90.

KAT QUICKEST

The fastest performer over the standard trip last night was Ballybrazil Kat and this proved the first part of Adam Dunford’s double.

Jointly owned by Derek Larking and Jamie Power, Ballybrazil Kat was running in the Sean Organ 10th Anniversary Memorial 525 and she was installed the even money favourite after impressing in defeat last time out. Quickly intro stride this time around from trap five, there was no stopping Ballybrazil Kat on this occasion as she put daylight between herself and her rivals to win by a convincing seven and a half lengths. A very smart performance from the March 21’ daughter of Droopys Sydney and Pretty Jet, the time was a rapid 28.68.