Colossal victory for Gallery Kennels

THE Rockmount kennels of George Gallery made a welcome return to winning form at the Ennis-Clarecastle coursing meeting at Manus last Sunday. Colossal Impact (Kyle James-Cillowen Grá), which he handles for the Colossal Syndicate was impressive throughout to become a  worthy winner of the Reserve Derby Trial Stake.

 

Uptown Bliss, a litter sister of Colossal Impact, was also  in flying form when wining the Oaks Trial Stake (32) for the Kilmallock kennels of John Browne and owner, Ashling Browne.

Cuine Boy was a hot favourite to win the HJ Murphy and Ryan Memorial Cup for all-age dogs (16) and land his third cup of the season. However, in his absence, bookmaker Denny Gould had to make alterations to the odds with Cuddley Man the likely one to make more news for members of the Jamie Dodger Syndicate from Dromina.

As well as Cuine Boy, Kilkeale Hero (a Derby qualifier) and Ballard Kuiza, who were due to go to slips together in the first round, were also absent as was Mengrai.

With the departure of Cuddley Man in the opening round, the odds now favoured Vacume Cool Dude and Fortfield River. Cuddley Man was in front in his his buckle against Cooga Alonso but eased up in the late stages to let the Doon-owned fawn through and get the flag in a straight run.

In other contests on Saturday, Vacume Cool Dude had five lengths on Gortfitjohnny, who came in as a reserve for Cuine Boy; Kermadec had a bye through the absence of Mengrai; Clearcascade beat Donnellan’s Cross by a length; Seannick had six lengths to spare when beating Monveen Badger; Tock Tick got the better of Lismadine Leroy by three lengths, while in the final buckle of the cup on Saturday, Uptown Abu had a slight advantage before losing out to Fortfield River, who won by half a length.

Vacume Cool Dude (even money) and Fortfield River (6/4) were the market leaders on Sunday with Kermadec and Seannick (2/1), Cooga Alonso (3/1) and Clearcascade and Tock Tick (4/1).
Vacume Cool Dude advanced to the semi-finals after a two-length win over Kermadec. Cooga Also had a bye run. It was very tight between Seannick, the winner and Clarecascade, while Fortfield River had five lengths on Tock Tick.

While Vacume Cool Dude had a  clear-cut three-length win over Cooga Alonso in the opening semi-final, there was controversy surrounding the second semi-final. The Knocknagoshel-owned Seannick appeared to have the upperhand in his run against Fortfield River but  the judge  waved the  white flag in favour of the Ballybunion-owned Fortfield River, a decision which was a big talking point among punters.

It was now down to a Cork-Kerry final with Vacume Cool Dude (Bexhill Eoin-Vacume Blonde) leading by two lengths as they reached the halfway mark. However, a fresher looking Fortfield River (Eoin Rua-Fortfield Blonde) came flying through to win by four lengths for Ballybunuion owner, James McMahon. The runner-up is owned and trained by Dermot O’Sullivan, Kinsale Road, Cork.

Max, Karl’s Rushe and Frontara (all at 3/1) were the market leaders before coursing in the Reserve Derby Trial Stake (16). Of the three, Max was the only one not to make it to the second day when beaten two lengths by Burnpark Wallace.
Colossal Impact, 6/1 before coursing, and Karls Rushe, owned by Noel Hehir of Inagh and bookmaker, Denny Gould, Cree, were the 6/4 favourites on Sunday.

In the top half, Colossal Impact went through to the semi-finals after accounting for Killerk Jewel by a few lengths, while four lengths was the winning distance for Burnpark Wallace when putting out Rodgers Codger.

In the bottom half,  Karls Rushe advanced at the expense of the Ennis Syndicate-owned Can You Talk, winning by a length, while the West Clare-owned Fear Rua had a close tussle with Frontara but got there by half a length.
Betting before the semi-finals: 1/2 Colossal, 6/4 Karl’s Rushe, 3/1 Burnpark Wallace and Fear Rua, Impact, 3/1 Burnpark Wallace,
Colossal Impact booked a place in the final after seeing off Burnpark Wallace by four lengths, while Karl’s Rushe joined him after beating Fear Rua owned by Jack and Michael Keating, Kilmihil by two lengths.

In the all-Clare final, Colossal Impact was still moving in top gear to win by three lengths from Karl’s Rushe (Matt Hyland-Chubby’s Accord) trained by Pat Curtin.
It was a win welcomed by George Gallery whose season has been hampered up to now because of a virus, which hit his kennels. The win was also welcomed by members of the Colossal Syndicate, Patricia and Leona Ryan, Ennis, and  Niall and Thomas Warren, Kilmaley.

In the Oaks Trial Stake (32) for the George Gallery Memorial Cup, the fancied runners were Miss Bohola and Glenrock Bex at 3/1 and Twobobsglory, Lone Óg, Baby Impact, Sparkle, Quarrymount Gaga and Cuckoos Dream, all at 4/1.
However, Miss Bohola fell at the first hurdle when going out by half a length to Miss Tompa and she was joined by an unlucky Glenbrock Bex, who was beaten by Uptown Bliss.

The market leaders after the opening round were Lone Óg, Uptown Bliss and Sparkle, all at 3/1.

On the second day, Twobobsglory was a length better than Miss Tompa; Scarlet Woman had two lengths on Niming Piminy; Quartet was one length faster than Lone Óg, while Randon Flower continued to impress by beating Corrie Jane by four lengths in the top half.

In the bottom half, Uptown Bliss and the locally owned Baby Impact were first into action and in an unsatisfactory short run, the verdict went to Uptown Bliss by half a length. The Abbeyfeale-owned Florel Times continued her good run with a two-length win over Jablyn Bliss, while Deirdre’s Delight upset the form book when beating Sparkle by half a length. In the final buckle of the second round, Cuckoo’s Dream beat Cleasaí by four lengths.

Betting for the second day: 6/4 Scarlet Woman and Random Flower, 2/1 Cuckoo’s Dream, 5/2 Quartet and Uptown Bliss, 3/1 Twobobsglory, Florel Times and Deirdre’s Delight, 4/1.

In the first of the quarter-finals, an unlucky Twobobsglory had the early advantage but eased up nearing the escape and the flag went to Scarlet Woman by half a length.        Random Flower had a narrow escape when coming from behind to beat Quartet by half a length, while Uptown Bliss had two lengths on Florel Times. In the last of the quarter-final buckles, Deirdre’s Delight again advanced with a length win over Cuckoo’s Dream.

In the first of the semi-finals, Scarlet Woman put out Random Flower, owned in Dundalk by Michael and Emer Heeney, by two lengths, while Uptown Bliss led all the way for her three-length win against Deirdre’s Delight owned in Ennis by Vincent Quinn.
In a very short slip in the final, the honours went to Uptown Bliss who was half a length in front of Scarlet Woman (High and Mighty), owned by John Flynn, Tarbert, for the turn.

The final of the Working Members’ Stake for the Haulie Daly Memorial Cup was divided between Harry’s Dilemma (Adios Alonso-Leigh Kanu), owned in Clarecastle by Terry Moloney and Doora’s Magic (Mafi Magic-Drimeen Delight), owned by Ennis-Clarecastle Coursing Club stalwart, Jerry Moloney from Doora, Ennis. The beaten semi-finalists were Cranny Coolmeen, owned by Ennis publican Ciarán Browne and Clonfeigh Jewel, carrying the colours of Johnny Maher from Kilmaley.

Conditions were perfect for coursing over the two days at the well-appointed Manus venue but unfortunately, members of the Ennis- Clarecastle Coursing Club had an uphill struggle after the hare stock was hit by a virus. The All-Age Bitch and Surplus Members’ Stakes were cancelled but in the circumstances, the club did very well to get through the remainder of the card, which produced some very good coursing. A welcome addition was the plentiful supply of carpeted board pallets for the comfort of spectators.

A Windfarm qualifier for Clonmel
CLARE qualifiers for Clonmel next February have been pretty thin on the ground so far. However, the situation improved somewhat last weekend with Windfarm Hill (Adios Alonso-Beyond Tivoli) winning the Derby Trial Stake (32) at the East Dongel meeting in Lifford.

Trained by Pat Curtin for Michael Eustace of Ennis and Kilrush and Kevin Barry, the greyhound trainer from near Clonmel, he beat the Dessie Kerrigan-trained What’s His Name in the final. This was the third outing this season for Windfarm Eiscir.