Dramatic finish to Leger final

AS dramatic a finish to the final of the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger as was ever seen at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night deprived Bryan and Kathleen Murphy of the Cayman Islands of their third win in this classic.

Their hotly fancied Priceless Sky opened a three-length lead at one stage in the race but in the nail-biting finish, was caught on the line by the Chris Houlihan-trained Cashen Mafuma, who was crowned Leger Champion 2012.

The final was all about the clash between unbeaten Priceless Sky and Skywalker Puma, the Derby winner. While Priceless Sky had a good enough break from trap one to slip clear at the opening bend from Cashen Mafuma, Skywalker Puma had a lot to do after a slow start from trap three. He was baulked at the opening bend but showed fine pace to challenge for second place down the back. However, he was further hampered when forced to check coming to the third. Cashen Mafuma continued to eat into Priceless Sky’s three-length lead but he was still a long way off. However, from the start of the home straight, he came with a great effort and with the last stride beat Priceless Sky by a short head in 29.57. Skywalker Puma was third home.
The new Leger champion, owned in Tralee by Chris Houlihan and Pádraig Rowan, won the Macroom Motor Services Stake at Cuuraheen Park and was a Produce Stakes finalist in Clonmel.

The top-class card saw Upland Chill, owned in Cratloe by Harry Galvin and Sean Dineen of County Kerry, win the opening race, the Bloom Elite A1-graded 525. A winner of three races at this venue with fast clocks, the son of Bit Chilli-Fastaway Baby led the way from trap one and was one length in front at the opening bend. He still had that advantage down the back and was well in front at the home bend and on his way to a two-length win in a fast 28.64.

The Bruff-owned Solvita’s Queen was all the rage in the second race, the Kerry Group A2-graded Bitch 525 final and went off the money-on favourite from trap three. She was first away followed by Cragghill Elm (trap five) owned by Sean Stack, Sixmilebridge and John Healy, Killaloe. While she challenged well at the third and home bends, she was not able to catch the hot favourite who won by a length and a half in 28.59.

Cotton Mill (Head Bound-Lake Lodge) was a 29.17 winner of an A2-graded 525-yard race for Michael O’Donovan, Killaloe, in Limerick on Friday night. Also a winner was John O’Kelly, Mullagh, whose Cragaknock Zeno (Black Shaw-Cragaknock Gry) came out best in an A7-graded 525. Her time for the two lengths win was 29.67.

Also a winner in Limerick on Friday night was Gortown Bern (Eden Brett-Ecks Girl) owned by Willie O’Leary, Doneraile and a native of Gortown near Ennistymon. The time for the six lengths win in the A4-graded 525 was 29.51.