MYSTICAL JET LANDS WHEELER AUCTIONEER DECIDER AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

The final of the Wheeler Auctioneers A2 525 offered up a €1,500 prize to the winner at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it went the way of the Pat Buckley-trained Mystical Jet as he produced a career best performance.

Just a December whelp, Mystical Jet had arrived in Limerick with some powerful form around Enniscorthy in an Unraced stake and he won his opening round task in a brilliant 28.45. The son of Ballymac Cashout and Mystical Luna had no answers last time out when handed a shock defeat, however, he duly got back to winning ways in superb style in the decider. Owned by Tim Murphy, ‘Jet’ didn’t come away too fluently from his trap three berth, however, quickly breezed past Gulleen Ina to assert on the run-up. In doing so, Buckley’s charge manufactured a three length lead into the back and this quickly became a two-dog affair with Gulleen Ina setting off in chase in behind. The leader was not to be outdone on this occasion, however. After setting a blistering pace throughout, Mystical Jet maintained an exceptional gallop on the run for home and despite Gulleen Ina keeping the leader honest, he answered every question with ease. Crossing the line two and a half lengths clear of Gulleen Ina in second, the time was a rapid 28.43 with a three and a half length gap back to the third place finisher, Lohort Lady.

ANOTHER CAMPION DOUBLE

Elsewhere on the card there was another fine double from the kennel of Paraic Campion as both Ballybawn Belle and Highview Bizarr scored in their respective contests.

It was Ballybawn Belle (3/1) that was the first to pass the post in front as the Ailbhe Cullen-owned runner made it back-to-back wins and eleven career wins in total. A winner in 28.93 last time out, ‘Belle’ was even sharper at traprise this time around as she pinged out from one to open a comfortable lead over Cabriol Billy. The latter pressed the leader throughout, however, in truth never looked like catching ‘Belle’ as she stayed on stoutly to win by two lengths. The time was 28.65.

The double was completed in race six as Highview Bizarr (2/1) bounced back to winning ways after a good third in a top-class contest last time out. Owned by the VHR-Syndicate, ‘Bizarr’ had to settle for third early on as his striped jacket followed both Abigails King and Snuggie Jasper into the opener. The former took the ascendancy at this point, however, Highview Bozarr quickly improved into second and was just two lengths adrift of the leader midway down the back. Shooting for a daring run up the inner between the bottom two bends, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Jayne was rewarded for his efforts in the closing stages as he hit the front and pressed home his superiority in the closing yards. Crossing the line two lengths clear, the clock stopped at a brisk 28.57.

IN OTHER RACES

The fastest time of the night was recorded by the Thomas O’Donovan-trained Radical Harry in race five. Owned by Gerard Hutton, ‘Harry’ was installed as the even money favourite and he followed the fast-starting Snuggie Bobby into the back after a moderate start from four. Showing huge back straight pace at this point, Radical Harry made his move approaching the penultimate and he took full control rounding the bottom two bends to assert. In doing so, the son of Epic Hero and Vita Bella pressed home his advantage to win by an extending seven and a half lengths from Ballygibba Sam in second. The time was a brisk 28.40.

The concluding race on the card saw a blistering performance over the 550-yard trip by the ever-present We Got This (Droopys Buick - Knocksouna Lady). A serial winner around Limerick, Sean Roche’s charge was chasing back-to-back wins and he took a flier from four to take a two length lead into the back from Foxwood Carter in second. In truth, this was all one-way traffic thereafter as We Got This never looked likely to surrender his advantage as he crossed the line one and a half lengths clear of the gallant, Foxwood Carter, in second. The time was a majestic 29.57.