MAGICAL BLAZE SETS THE KASKO STANDARD AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the Kasko Dog Foods ON2 525 featured on Saturday night’s card at Thurles Greyhound Stadium and it was Magical Blaze that set the standard with a thoroughly impressive display in the second semi.

Jointly owned by Alice and Patrick Guilfoyle, Magical Blaze had no answer to Zenith Efendi in the opening round, however, exacted revenge on that same rival with a trap-to-line performance on this occasion. Flying from trap four, the impeccably bred son of Droopys Sydney and Amazing Alice immediately got to work as he paced up expertly to take control. Traffic in behind saw Zenith Effendi shuffled back into midfield as Wi Can Brenda emerged as the main threat to ‘Blaze’, albeit some five lengths adrift midway down the back. Indeed, Magical Blaze never looked back thereafter as he set a blistering speed before staying on stoutly to score by six lengths from Zenith Effendi, who recovered well to grab second. The final qualifier was Wi Can Brenda and the time was an excellent 29.26 .20s.

In the opening semi, Ballinalick Bono bounced back from a fourth place finish in the first round to seal victory for Pat Kennedy. Incredibly, despite this being an unraced stake, ‘Bono’ is fast approaching his third birthday and he made an electric start from six to course around his rivals and take control at the opening corner. From here, Voltereta gave chase in second and looked likely to take up the mantle entering the penultimate bend, however, the gaps would not appear for Javier Jarne’s charge. As a result, Ballinalick Bono stuck to his task well to cross the line with one length in hand. Voltereta and Lemon Thelma also advancing into the decider, the time was 29.79 .20s.

CARNEY’S QUICKEST

Aside from the unraced action, the performance of the night came in race seven as Carneys Goldmine took off for Dick Purcell and Frances Tobin.

Chasing a sixth career victory, the June whelp was without a win since May prior to this race, however, broke well from trap five to follow Cabra Kronk around the opening turn. Quickly outpacing his rival down the back, Carneys Goldmine was relentless in a quest for victory thereafter as the son of Cabra Firmino and Goldmine Lily powered to a three and a half length victory over The Other Boss in second. The time was a rapid 28.91 .20s.