HUGE EFFORT FROM HUKUM
Peter Farrell
While four sweepstake finals dominated Sunday night’s card at Clonmel, there was a special performance that stole the show from Hukum as he clocked a sparkling 28.10 .10s.
A greyhound who has always boasted a massive engine, Hukum of course reached the final of the National Produce Stakes earlier this year at the Suirside venue and although he hasn’t tasted success April, he benefited greatly from a drop in class in the Paul Moloney/Stephen Goold AO/A1 525. Trained by Adam Dunford for the Fantasy-Syndicate, Hukum went to traps as the 5/4 favourite and in truth, once he broke in front from three, which can be his Achilles heel, this was all over as a contest. Showing a fine turn of early speed, the son of Good News and Early Rise turned with two lengths in hand over Splendid Fellow in second. From here, the gap opened within a matter of strides and Hukum stopped the third bend sectional at an impressive 16.00. Now entering the final two turns, which is were Hukum normally comes into his own, Dunford’s charge drew clear of his rivals to storm up the home straight to win by a massive fifteen lengths. A blistering effort from this top tracker, his clock was 28.10 .10s.
MAZL LANDS KILLEE TOWN DECIDER
The feature event on the night was the final of the Killee Town Novice 525, which carried a winner’s prize of €1,200.
The favourite at the off was Cooneen Mazl, who was bidding to remain unbeaten, and she went to traps 2/1 to make it three wins on the spin. However, she first had to negotiate a trick draw in five and this was evident in the early yards as she missed the kick from orange. Instead, all six finalists broke fairly level and a messy opening corner saw Painters Best narrowly turn in front. Cooneen Mazl, meanwhile, showed good courage to go second and Joseph O’Donnell’s bitch outpaced her rival down the back to swoop the penultimate turn and go clear. Showing good stamina thereafter, the daughter of Skywalker Logan and Cooneen Izzy proceeded to cross the line with two and a half lengths to spare. The time was 29.19 .10s.
ROUNDING UP THE FINALS
The first final down for decision on the night was Tomas O’ Murchu A5/A6 525 and this was landed by 5/2 chance, Palace Hill.
Trained by Paraic Campion for the New-Ballyboy-syndicate. Palace Hill chased home Lillys Pearl last time out but was to go one better in the €800 decider as she made every yard to prevail comfortably. A huge son of Ballymac Vic and Boozed Bubble, Palace Hill broke smartly from two and showed fine early dash to cut the nose off Group Starseeker at the opening corner. Setting a strong gallop down the back, he maintained his two length advantage throughout to win by that exact margin. Group Starseeker in second, with Lillys Pearl in third, the time was 29.06 .10s.
The final of the Tom Drohan & Nigel Quinn A3/A4 525 offered a winner’s purse of €900 and this was landed by the 6/4 favourite, Daring Bowie.
Trained by Michael Meade for joint owners, Stephanie and Peter Woods, Daring Bowie won his semi final in comprehensive fashion as he led home Deelish Ranger by five and a half lengths in 28.97 .10s. Coming into the final in red-hot form, he certainly didn’t disappoint as he broke swiftly from trap four to lead up. Taking a healthy lead into the back, the favourite looked in trouble down the back as Emers Bono emerged rapidly from the pack and looked a huge threat. However, forced to check at this point, Emers Bono was stopped in his tracks and this allowed Daring Bowie to swoop for home. Staying on well thereafter, the son of Ballymac Best and Libbys Pet crossed the line with two lengths in hand over the luckless Emers Bono in second. The time was 28.94 .10s.
Aside from the performance of Hukum, there was no doubt about the next best as Bogger Rambo powered to victory in the Paddy Flannery and David Lonergan A1/A2 525.
Boasting a first prize of €950, Bogger Rambo went to traps as a 5/2 shot and Liam Peacock’s charge made no mistakes as he built on his previous two victories in this stake in terrific fashion. Running from trap two, Bogger Rambo wasted no time in asserting his authority as he broke fast to lead his rivals a merry dance into the opening turn. Hugging the rails, the son of Skywalker Logan and Bogger Sunny was never under any pressure thereafter as he blitzed his rivals to run out a four and a half length winner. The time was a rapid 28.51 .10s.