ALL runners with Clare and South Galway connections survived for second-round heats of the ETS Derby in Shelbourne Park last week.

Pat Curtin’s interests came through, as did the brilliant Paradise Madison, his litter brother Mall Brandy and the Gort-owned Carrowgariff from the first-round heats of the classic last Thursday and Saturday nights.

The spotlight was on the great Paradise Madison (Head Bound-Paradise Allana), who got the classic off to a thrilling start last Thursday night. The recent Champion Stakes winner, trained by Ollie Bray for Dave Buckley in County Wicklow and Sean Meade, Annagh, Miltown Malbay, was involved in heat three and he got off to a flying start from trap two to lead by a few lengths at the opening bend from Sidaz Eagle and Qualil Hollow.

Three lengths clear going down the back, Paradise Madsion released the handbrake at the final bend and scorched home for a brilliant 29.37 win, beating Sidaz Eagle by five-and-a-half lengths.

His litter brother, Mall Brandy, trained by Martin Fahy for Michael Casey, Mullagh, was also in superb form, winning heat two easily in 29.99. Drawn in five, he was not the first away but nonetheless it did not take him long to take over and by halfway, he was well in command with a five-length advantage. He extended that lead before crossing the line eight lengths in front of Kilgraney Tomson.

Trainer Pat Curtin has high hopes for Kereight King (Droopys Maldini-Quam Celerrime), owned by Mullagh’s Paul Montgomery, well-known jockey Tony McCoy, two Galway enthusiasts and Pat himself. The 5/4 favourite for a very competitive heat 12 on Saturday night did not disappoint.

Although the County Tipperary-owned Borna Gem in trap three was away like a rocket, the favourite was not too far behind him. It looked like it would be between the pair as they entered the back straight until the English-owned Holdem Spy unleashed his familiar burst to get much closer by the third.

However, by this time, Kereight King had moved closer to Borna Gem to get his derby challenge off to a great start by beating Borna Gem by one length in 29.69. Holdem Spy was one length back for third place. Johnny’s Star, trained by Pat Curtin for Johnny Lowe, Oldham, took fifth place to have his name included in the second-round draw.

Whizzing Around, owned and trained by Pat Curtin, was a qualifier from heat 15, as was Carrowgarriff, owned by Eleanor Mullins and Eimear Curtin, Gort. In trap two was the Owen McKenna derby favourite Roxholme Bully, who held the slightest of leads on the run-up but it was Whizzing Around (in trap one) who got up to lead at the first where the favourite was baulked and went back to the rear of the field.

Whizzing Around was clear down the back from Carrowgarriff, with the Conor Fahy trained and PJ Fahy-owned Tyrur Amelia and Alterra disputing third place.

In the run to the line, Tyrur Amelia came with a powerful run on the inside to win the heat by two lengths in 30.06 from Carrowgarriff. Whizzing Around was beaten by a neck into third place. Alterra and Roxholme Bully finished in fourth and fifth places respectively to qualify for the second-round heats.

However, it was reported during the week that Roxholme Bully had to be withdrawn from the derby due to injury. It was stated that he sustained a dislocated toe. Paradise Madison and Skywalker Puma are now the big names in the derby.

Skywalker Puma, a 29.41 winner last Saturday night, is drawn in trap one in the final heat on Saturday night next with 2. Isabel’s Boy; 3. Clydal Jack; 4. Rochchase Bullet; 5. Tyrur Sugar Ray and 6. Universal Dream.

There will be eight second heats of the derby this Thursday night. Two of Pat Curtin’s hopefuls, Whizzing Around and Johnny’s Star, as well as the Gort-owned Carrowgarriff are drawn in the opening heat.
The draw is 1. Ringtown Snowy; 2. Whizzing Around; 3. Carrowgarriff; 4. Bouncy Bocko; 5. Lookoutforbrodie (m); 6. Johnnys Star (w).
Paradise Madison is drawn in trap two in heat two with 1. Holycross Gerry; 3. Locnamon Royal; 4. vacant; 5. Jaxx on Fantasy; 6. Skywalker Star.
Mall Barnady is in trap three in heat four with 1. De Dixie Chick; 2. Linwood Peter; 4. Melody’s Sonic; 5. Ciara’s Spain; 6. Oneco Impact.
In the final heat on Thursday night, Kereight King gets a trap one slot with 2. Graduation Day; 3. Trur Annaleen; 4. Willow Man; 5. Ballybough Hawke; 6. Cabra Buck.
Heats 9 to 16 will be decided on Saturday night.

From his Ballinteskin Stud kennels near Enniskerry, Pat Curtin reported all his charges in good form for the second-round heats. He said Kereight King needed the run badly and would improve from now on.
He added that he was well drawn in his heat for this Thursday night’s action.

 

Jacksies Roar injured in Pet World final

WHILE there were three impressive Clare winners at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Friday night, the big race of  the night, the Greyhound and Pet World A1 Final escaped them after the even-money favourite and Quilty-owned Jacksies Roar picked up an injury after leading by two lengths at the opening bend.

After his impressive semi-final win, the Frank Cleary-trained Jacksies Roar was sent off the even-money favourite from trap two. He was smartly away to lead to the opening bend and go two lengths clear.

However, it was then that he picked up the injury and Crafty Yolo (Ace Hi Rumble-Noelles Magico), owned by Peter Divilly, Claregalway then took up the running from Lismadine Jack (trap three) and Mr Consistent (trap four). After passing halfway, Tyrur Yolo was in front by five lengths and stayed on strongly to win by that distance in a good 28.84 from Lismadine Jack, owned by Paddy Troy from near Kilkee and Conor McInerney, Clarecastle. Three parts of a length further back for third place was Mr Consistent, trained by Donie Duggan for members of the Millstreet Racing Club syndicate from Galway.

A disappointed Frank Cleary said they later discovered that Jacksies Road had broken his hock. The dog was never in better form for the final and was in a great position to win the race in a fast time, he added.
Later this week, the dog was bought to County Wexford to be x-rayed and his future in racing will be determined by the outcome.

However, the chief supporting race of the night, the Online Bookings Open A1 went to the Donie Duggan-trained Fred The Pilot for Tulla owner Aishling Hannon. Showing his usual early dash, Combo Taylor, the even-money favourite, showed the way from trap one to lead Fred the Pilot by one length as they rounded the opening bend. As they raced down the back, Fred The Pilot came on terms with the leader but he responded well and it was a great battle between the pair from this until the finishing line. As they rounded the home bend, the Tulla-owned black started to get the upperhand to gain a 29.07 and three-parts-of-a-length win. Third spot went to Movealong Power.

Another good winner on the night was Mine Rocket, owned in Quin by Frank Browne. The 6/4 joint favourite was slow off the mark from trap one with trap six runner, Tiermana Cross, owned by Noel Moloney, Mullagh, setting the pace with a two-length advantage coming to the first bend. Crowding at the bend put him further in front but from the third, Mine Rocket started to motor and in the final few strides, got up to beat Tiermana Cross by three parts of a length in 29.32. Third home was the Sarah Browne-owned Burnpark Cashen.

Clare owners claimed three places for the final of the Gain Feeds A4 event. In the first of the semi-final heats, Move Over Neale (trap three) led the way from Clombodian (trap five) and reserve runner, Cragbrien View in trap one as they entered the back straight. Clombodian was still the one to beat at the final bend but as they straightened for home, Cragbrien View (Black Shaw-Rachel’s Picture) came flying through on the inside to snatch the lead and win, going away by three parts of a length for owners Martin Cronin and Jack Markham, Ennis. The runner-up was Harbour Lark from Move Over Neale.

While the Athenry-owned Jumeirah Hondo (Hondo Black-Jumeirah Duchess) won the second semi-final heat, Glynnscross Maya and Ballycasey Star also qualified for the final. The winner was third placed for most of the way after Glynnscross  Maya (trap two) and French Blaze (trap one) disputed the lead. As they turned for home, the Jimmy Buckley-owned Jumeirah Hondo (Hondo Black-Jumeirah Duchess) came into the reckoning and got up close to home to beat Glynnscross Maya (Tom Keane, Kilmihil) by half a length in 29.28. Third place went to Ballycasey Star (Don Gallery, Shannon), two and a half lengths back.

Placed in other races were Scattery Topps (Scattery syndicate, Killimer) and Glenside Tom (Cian Cooney, Broadford).

Martin Crowe from Ennis was back on the racing scene and was represented by the Donie Duggan-trained O’Gorman, the money-on favourite for the A8 graded 525. In his first race, the black was slow away from trap four but started to make up ground from the back straight. However, the Tuam-owned Kilbannon Kitten stayed in front to win by a length from O’Gorman. The time was 29.64.

More glory for Ennis-owned Bunnow

ENNIS owner Sean Heeney was in the winners’ enclosure on two occasions over the weekend at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium.

On Thursday night, he won the €800 to the winner final of the Fundraising at the Dogs A2 525 with Bunnow Glory, which he owns with Patrick Cronin and he was among the winners on Saturday night with Cahercalla Risk, which is jointly owned with Tony Quinn, also from Ennis.

The fundraising final was the feature race on the card and Bunnow Glory in trap four and the North Clare-owned Consequential in trap one had the best starts, with Swift Milo in trap two also prominent in the run to the opening bend. Despite staying a little wide off the rail, Bunnow Glory led by half-a-length from Consequential. Going towards halfway, Bunnow Glory had increased his advantage to two lengths before going well clear coming from the back. The son of Loyal Honcho and Sully’s Glory came flying home to decide the final by six and three parts of a length from Swift Milo. A neck back for third place was the money-on favourite, Twosugaralice. Bunnow Glory, who also won his semi-final heat last week and was having his seventh career win, had a 29.07 clock.

Kilmihil owner, Martin Keane also had a good win on Thursday night with his Work Ethic winning the first semi-final heat of the Galway Race Week A5 525. Leading by a length at the opening bend, the son of Kinloch Brae-Great Delight was three clear as they made their way down the back and while Fagan’s Vic tried to bridge the gap, there was no denying the Kilmihil-owned black, who recorded a fine four-length win in 29.28.

Doctor Bill, trained by Donal Cooney for Seamus McGrath, Feakle, was a qualifier from the second semi-final heat. The 29.09 winner, Springwood Award (Droopys Scolari-Express Award) was in control all the way and with bunching behind him at the third bend, he ran out a 10-length winner from Doctor Bill.

Ennistymon owner, Claire Davoren, was an early winner. Her Wilbrook Shivers (Sheepwalk Mac-Missouri Dame) did the business in the second race on the card, an S8 graded 350 yards affair. First to break was Nell’s Fantasy in trap one but she was soon overtaken by Wilbrook Shivers (trap five) and the wide running Can You Talk on the outside berth. Moving inside as they rounded the opening bend, Wilbrook Shivers started to move clear and was well on her way to a five-and-a-quarter-length win in 19.51 from Can You Talk with Nell’s Fantasy, owned in Miltown Malbay by Helen O’Brien and Michael Mahony, one length back for third place.

Wilbrook Fancy, a reserve runner and owned by Michael Davoren, Ennistymon, was third placed in the next race, an S7 graded sprint, won in 19.64 by the Tom Fitzgerald-trained Tomars Jamie (Ballymac Ruso-Teddy Rantogue).

The County Longford-owned Wagtail Whitesox (Bohema OnThe Air-Savings Book) railed well around the opening bend to put herself into the lead as they left the back. She railed well again over the last two bends to win the A6/A7 graded 525 by four and a half lengths in 29.41 from Glenside Terry, owned in Broadford by Gary Cooney. Pal Kylea, owned in Inagh by Colie O’Loughlin and Irene Barry, was third, three parts of a length back.

Inagh Ivy, owned by Joe Hurley, Connolly was runner-up in an A4 graded 525 won by the Belmullet-owned Erris Lady (Swords Prince-Jojesse) in a time of 29.63. Out in front as they moved towards halfway, Inagh Ivy lost the lead when  Erris Lady shot in front at halfway and went on to win by three parts of a length from Inagh Ivy with a 29.63 clock.

Feature race for East-Clare owned Glenside Evens

THE East Clare-owned and Donal Cooney-trained Glenside Evens recorded his second win in recent weeks to take the feature race, the Online Bookings A2/A3 550 in Galway on Saturday night.

Owned by Frank O’Meara and members of the Green Leaf syndicate from East Clare, the son of Kinloch Brae-Minnies Svetlana was in full flight by halfway and powering along by the rail, he hit the front at the second-last bend. Bumblebee Skippy came with a challenge but to no avail, as Glenside Evens held out for a fine one-length win in 30.68.

In second place and two lengths behind the leader at the opening bend, Feed Me Cherrys (Kim Knell, Mountshannon) was still in second place as they crossed the line.

However, the Mountshannon owner was on the winners’ podium after the result of the second race, which saw her Feed Me Cavier (Thurlesbeg Joker-Avonside Rioja) win the A7/A8 graded 525. For his maiden success, the trap-five runner led all the way and had two lengths on Dizzy Dancer at the opening bend. He went on to extend his lead and win the race by almost five lengths in 29.63 from the Limerick-owned Kiln Calero.

Clarecastle owner, Denis Torpey, won the next race on the card, an S6 graded sprint with Lissane Blue in trap one. First to show was Electro Shyboy in trap two but he was quickly joined on the inside by Lissane Blue with Rathmeehan Maeve also well placed. Although moving off the rail at the bend, Lissane Blue continued to lead from Rathmeehan Maeve, who went within a length of the winner as they turned for home. However in the run-in, Lissane Blue drew clear again and at the line the son of Black Shaw-Smooth Jean had two and a half lengths on Rathmeehan Maeve, owned by John Browne, Ballyea. The time was 19.36.

The next Clare winner was Cahercalla Risk (Scarty Lad-Risk Everything) in the seventh race, which was an S4 graded sprint. Harbour Duchess in trap two was first to show to lead by two lengths at the opening bend from Unknown Suzi in one and Cahercalla Risk in five, who was third despite taking a wide berth as they rounded the corner. Harbour Duchess was still leading the way as they rounded the home bend but in the race for the line, Cahercalla Risk came out tops to score a fine one-length win for Ennis owners Sean Heeney and Tony Quinn. The time was 19.30.

The next three races went to Clare owners. Mary Browne won The Big Red S2/S3 graded 350 with Mine Velvet. Glenside Evens won the feature race of the night and trainer Stephen Murray and members of the X In Bed syndicate, Feakle rounded off a good night for the Banner with their Ballymac Juice taking the final race on the card.

Mine Velvet (trap three) and Hanover Maeve (trap six) led the way from traps in the S2/S3 graded 350 but moving up a gear before they reached the first bend, the Quin-owned and trained black was out in front with a three-length advantage. The daughter of Slip the Lark-Mine Cash dominated proceedings for the remainder of the race and came home a four-and-a-quarter-length winner with a clock of 19.09.

Kilmurry (Sixmilebridge) trainer Stephen Murray and the X In Bed syndicate had the final say with their Ballymac Juice (Black Shaw-Coolavanny Minor) first to cross the line in the last race of the night, An A3 graded 525. Only a length separated all six runners in the early stages with Coopers Choice (trap four) just shading it.

With all six runners looking for the inside lane at the first bend, trouble was inevitable and Ballymac Juice came out best to lead by two lengths from the early leader. Ballymac Juice held a four-length lead at halfway and stayed on well for the rest of the trip to win by two and a quarter lengths in 29.20 from Coopers Choice.

Trainer Maurice Mullaney from near Gort also came away with a winner, Mickys Scolari taking an A3 graded 525. Owned by members of the Grow Up Fast syndicate from Newport, the son of Scolari Me Daddy-Sporty Woman made all the running to record a comfortable three-length win in 29.18 from Snuggie Blue, carrying the hopes of Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Rockmount the lone Clare winner
SHANE Flanagan from Ennis was the only Clare winner in Limerick over the weekend.

He was racing on Friday night with Rockmount Asnad in trap four in an A9 graded 525. Showing good early pace to record a trap-to-line win, the son of Head Bound-Cillowen Gra had three lengths on his nearest rival, Corn Crush (trap six), owned in Cooraclare by Anna Carey. The winners’ clock was 29.63.

First-round heats of a new stake, Senator Windows A2 525, got underway in Limerick on Saturday night and the heat winners were Turkey Trotter (29.14), Bellview Bandit  (28.76), Kyle Fire (28.90) and Millstreet Duke (28.91).