BALE SCORES IN GO GREYHOUND RACING 600 SEMIS AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
The semi finals of the Go Greyhound Racing A3 600 served as the highlight on Saturday night’s Limerick card and despite breaking a long-standing track record one week prior, Chestnut King was forced to settle for the minor placings this time around.
After posting a remarkable 32.14 in last week’s second round, it was hardly surprising to see Chestnut King installed as the 1/3 favourite to land the spoils and storm into the decider very much the one to beat. However, despite getting off to a flying start from trap two, his progress was halted somewhat at the penultimate turn after being impeded. Breaking smartly, it looked all over within a matter of strides as the Paraic Campion-trained charged marched into a solid lead over the fast-finishing Borna Flame in second. At this point, Ballygur Bale was stalking his rivals in third and was certainly edging closer at the midway point. Chestnut King continued to hold all the aces however, but after Borna Flame joined him at the penultimate turn, the complexion of the contest was to change. After a rather messy third turn, Borna Flame came through to take over but the mere presence of Ballygur Bale left patrons under no illusions that a thrilling finish was in store. Owned by William Hallion, Ballygur Bale, a 2/1 shot, showed fine determination up the Limerick hill and the son of Magical Bale and Ballygur Mel showed a will to win as he crossed the line with three parts of a length to spare over Borna Flame. Meanwhile, the final qualification spot was sealed by Chestnut King, who remains the one to beat after recovering brilliantly to finish just a further length back in third. The time was 32.72.
EARLY-PACED ECHO WINS THE DAY
As shown in the final of the BoyleSports Irish Derby at HQ, early pace wins greyhound races and this sentiment certainly applied to Larchill Echo as he landed the second semi final for Michael and Avril Donoghue.
A 4/1 chance heading into the contest, Larchill Echo is all about early gears and he bolted from trap four to pace up brilliantly and hold a three length advantage rounding the opener. Not breaking stride around the turn, the son of Pestana and Port West Pop opened a near ten length lead down the back straight and you would have needed a set of binoculars at this point to find her nearest rival. That rival was Fantasy Tuppence but there was no doubt that those in behind were competing for the two remaining qualifying positions. All over as a contest, this was a thoroughly dominant performance from Larchill Echo as he continued to set a relentless gallop all the way to the winning line where he had over seven lengths in hand from Fantasy Tuppence in second. The remaining qualifying position went to Rivervale Story and the time was a decent 33.14.
VELVET STINGS RIVALS IN JAG CONSTRUCTION DECIDER
Elsewhere on the card, there was terrific prize money on offer as the final of the Jag Construction ON3 525 went down for decision.
Offering a brilliant €2,000 for just two runs, the Jag Construction Novice 525 was a fantastic addition to the Limerick calendar and all credit must go to the sponsors for their generous support of the track. In terms of the final, it proved all one-way traffic as the Mike Buckley-owned Velvet Fern justified her 4/6 standing despite going down to defeat on her debut start. Clearly a bitch with plenty of potential, the March 22’ whelp was moderately into stride from trap four but she was the one showing all of the early pace to take over from Knockbawn Blond at the opening turn. Quickly manufacturing a healthy lead down the back, this was all over as a contest as the daughter of Deerjet Sydney and Velvet Spring set a powerful gallop to run to a virtual solo. Staying on well in the closing yards, Tromora Gal came through for second but was some nine and a half lengths adrift of Velvet Fern as she recorded a decent 28.95.
IN OTHER RACES
Race five saw Move On Dot produce a really impressive performance for Michael Fitzgerald and Sean Hunt. A recent finalist in O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel Tri-Distance, the September 21’ whelp has clearly taken plenty from that stake and the 2/1 shot implemented that brilliantly in this 550-yard contest. Breaking well from two, Move On Dot showed the best of the early gears to lead around the opener. From here, the son of Malachi and Darn Dot drew clear of his rivals and he was never under any pressure thereafter as he powered to a six and a half length success, in a fast 29.86.
Race six resulted in a cracking performance for Amigan Ulla (Broadstrand Bono - Amigan Rogue), who recorded a fourth career success for James Roche and Jimmy White. A 5/4 second favourite behind Grangeview Lolo, Amigan Ulla got first run on her rival with a ping break from trap three. After that, it was a matter of keeping her rivals at bay and she did so expertly to cross the line with three lengths in hand over Grangeview Lolo in second. The time was a rapid 28.56.
Pats Angela recorded a career best in race seven, the Limerick & Clare GOBA A1 525, as she made it back-to-back victories for owner Michael Keating. Running from trap three, the fawn went off as the 6/4 favourite and looked every bit of that as she led the field into the opening corner. Never under any pressure thereafter, the daughter of Ballymac Best and Colorado Josie stretched her advantage to come home five and a half lengths clear of Rocket Blake in second. The time was a brilliant 28.47.
The Carmel & Paddy Egan-owned Waveofthesea got back to winning ways in race eight as he recovered from a moderate start to see off Champagne Fever. Running from trap four, the son of Pestana didn’t take a flier but showed the superior gears early on to lead into the back straight. Nip and tuck between Waveofthesea and Champagne Fever for the remainder, the former pulled clear in the final yards to record a two length victory over Champagne Fever in second. The time was 28.74.
Race eleven saw a shock as 7/1 shock Valleymount Alf landed the spoils for Ted Curtin. Running from trap five, the son of Ballymac Best and Carmac Luna recovered from a poor start to assert off the second bend from Snuggie Jasper. From there, ‘Alf’ set a strong gallop and although coming under late pressure from Riverdale Doro, he displayed excellent determination to seal a short-head verdict. The time was 28.71.
The concluding race on the card saw the ever-consistent Wizard seal a fourteenth career win for Gary Pepper and Paraic Campion. Approaching his fourth birthday, he retains plenty of ability and he bolted from six to lead Drombeg Ten into the opener. From there, Drombeg Ten was never able to reel in his talented rival and Wizard stayed strong to cross the line with three parts of a length in toe. The time was a good 30.12.