QUICK NEWS SETS THE STANDARD IN BURGESS OPENER

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Burgess Bucks @ Stud Novice Bitch Stake got underway at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and it was Quick News who set the standard for Owen McKenna.

With three opening round heats on offer, the favourites were to prevail in all three contests, however, it was Quick News who was the only debutant to break the 29-second barrier. Trained by Owen McKenna for Una O’Sullivan, the daughter of Laughil Blake and Next Stop Dublin came into the event with a bit of age on her side and that was to prove crucial as she popped out to make-all. Leading early from trap three, the 4/5 jolly displayed fine early dash before drawing clear to record a six and a half length victory over Wilderness Dream in second. The time was 28.97 .10s.

IN OTHER HEATS

As mentioned, the favourites landed the other two heats but Good Sahara (Good Cody - Jaytee Sahara) was made to work hard for victory in the opening heat. 4/5 at the off, Maria Kennedy’s charge was shuffled back to fourth early on as Sinbolina led early on from trap one. However, ‘Sahara’ displayed explosive speed down the far side and showed the superior stamina up the home straight to snatch victory. Just half a length between herself and Sinbolina, the time was 29.37 .10s.

In heat two, Favouritism (Droopys Sydney - Droopys Matilda) lived up to her name with an accomplished victory at odds of 4/6. A May 22’ whelp trained by Adam Dunford for Paul Horig and Paul Reid, she broke only moderately from six but showed fine track craft to slip into second rounding the opener. Shanahee Ava was setting the pace at this point, however, she was a sitting duck as Favouritism took charge rounding the penultimate turn before going on to win convincingly. Four and a half lengths clear of Emers Molly crossing the line, the time was 29.31 .20s.

Elsewhere on the card, the opening round heats of the B & T Sports A5/A6 Bitch Stake also got underway and it was Thats It Caoimhe who set the standard.

Jointly owned by Liam Cahill and Tony Lacey, Thats It Caoimhe was the 4/5 favourite at the off but was headed early on by Pavalova. Tracking the leader into the back however, the daughter of Ballymac Best and Express Wonder took over between the bottom two bends before going on to score easily by five lengths. The time was a good 28.94 .10s.

In the opening heat, Allstar Xola made every inch to score a first career victory for J O’Connor. The 2/1 favourite at the off, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat broke best of all from trap four and was never under any pressure as she prevailed by five lengths from Tullovin Annie in second. The time was 29.06 .10s.

Borna Silk was installed as the 2/1 joint favourite in the concluding heat and she took charge late on for Kate Dwan. Running from trap three, Borna Silk didn’t come away well but showed lovely early speed to turn second. Showing all of the back straight pace, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Borna Bula took charge entering the penultimate and went on to score by one and a half lengths from Skydeck in second. The time was 29.19 .10s.