BADLY BEHAVING DOMINATES IN GALWAY OAKS FINAL

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by the Mulrooney family, the €10,000-to-the-winner On Faya Galway Oaks reached its conclusion on Saturday night and the final went against script as Badly Behaving stormed to victory.

The competition had already delivered weeks of enthralling action at Galway, with Glengar Martha and Droopys Faithful setting the standard in the earlier rounds. But when it mattered most, the spotlight belonged to Badly Behaving, a runner who had caught the eye in defeat in recent weeks, delivering a career highlight for trainer Shawn Conway and the St-Patricks-Valencia-Crew-Syndicate.

Drawn ideally in trap one, Badly Behaving broke sharply and matched strides with Blundel Lizzie into the opening bend. In contrast, favourite Droopys Faithful missed the break and then clipped the back of Rallyingairfield at the opening bend, effectively ending her chances before she had found her stride.

At the head of affairs, Badly Behaving seized the rails advantage and quickly asserted, turning with a three-length cushion over Blundel Lizzie. From that point on, there was only one winner. By the three-quarter mark her lead had stretched to six lengths, while behind her Droopys Faithful was making up remarkable ground from last place to stake a claim for the minor placings.

There was no catching the leader, however. Badly Behaving powered clear to cross the line seven lengths to the good in a scintillating 28.55. Droopys Faithful finished second after a tremendous recovery run, with Blundel Lizzie was forced to settle for third.

It was a superb display from a greyhound who has been knocking on the door in recent weeks, now rewarded with a big-race triumph. Congratulations go all connections on a dominant Oaks victory, and thanks are extended to the Mulrooney family for their generous sponsorship of this prestigious event.

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STICK WITH ME LEAVES IT LATE

The final of the Stephen Molloy Memorial A1/A2 525 also featured on the card and this €1,400-to-the-winner decider went the way of Stick With Me for the Mullins-Curtin-Syndicate.

This tracker has made plenty of headlines in the weeks previous, however, looked to have cooked his goose early on when slowly into stride from trap five. While both Derrymoyle Bono and Rinnwood Leo exchanged the lead at different stages of the contest, Stick With Me was allowed to rev his engine in behind and he was to make rapid progress as a result. A powerful staying prospect, which should come as no surprise given he hails from Dana Point, Stick With Me finished with a wet sail up the home straight and he went on to score by two lengths from Rinnwood Leo in second. The time for the 6/4 chance was 29.02.

LEWIS DELIVERS IN STYLE

The final of the Crafty Kennels ON2 525 was also on offer in race three and this went the way of Brickhill Lewis, who finally delivered on the massive promise he had shown in rounds one and two.

Sent to traps as the 7/4 second favourite behind Crafty Elegatto (5/4), Brickhill Lewis was much sharper at traprise this time around as he broke just marginally behind the favourite from trap tree. The duo served up a thrilling run to the opening bend, however, ‘Lewis’, while holding the inside line, powered into a one and a half length lead entering the back. In doing so, the son of Dromana Bucko - Brickhill Sharon showed no signs of any pressure from Crafty Elegatto taking its toll as he strengthened his position to cross the line with three lengths in hand. The time was a fast 28.81 and expect to hear more from both these trackers in the coming months.