DALCASH Dvinsky staked a major claim for the Sporting Press Irish Oaks when she scored another thrilling win in the quarter-finals in Shelbourne Park last Saturday night. So far unbeaten in the classic, Fr JackMeade’s brilliant black now leads the qualifiers for the semi-finals next Saturday night.
The Miltown Malbay native and Rockwell College president was in no doubt over the moon as a result of the latest performance from his daughter of Ace Hi Rumble- Dalcash Diva. She was drawn in huge company,which included ante-post favourite, the Owen McKenna-trained Tooquicktocatch, last Saturday night but when the traps lifted, she thundered into an early lead from trap five. Down the back, she was still the onc to catch, leading Mystique Rosa and Shelbourne dawn after Tooquicktocatch missed her break. By the third bend, Skywalker Queen, the reigning champion in trap six, had moved into second place and was now posing a danger. However, she drifted wide at the last and in the run in Dalcash Dvinskey held her at bay to win by three parts of a length with a great clock of 28.59. Third place went to Shelbourne Dawn with Tooquicktocatch finishing infourth place.
Only a spot separated the Clare-owned winner and Clearview Kelly who won heat four in 28.58.
There are now 12 bitches remaining in the hunt for the Oaks and on her flawless performance to date, Fr Jack’s young heroine must stand a great chance of adding the classic to her Olympic Bee Puppy Oaks win.
Trap draw for the semi-finals
Heat 1, 1. Mossend Folly; 2. Dalcash Dvinsky; 3. Dropys Kina; 4. Cartier’s Dazzle; 5. Clearview Kelly; 6. SkywalkerKim (w).
Heat 2, 1. Freedom Seacrest; 2. Shelbourne Dawn; 3. Casual Steps; 4. Piercetown Pet (m); 5. Tyrgal Lola (m); 6. Skywalker Queen (w).
Dalcash Dvinsky was not the lone Clare star performer in Shelbourne Park last Saturday night.  The Malachy’s Bar syndicate from Quin also had a memorable night at the dogs after their Kennedy Cup winner in Limerick, Hurry on Black, bright off a shock win when winning the final of the Shelbourne Open 525 final. Tyrur Enda in trap three was the even-money favourite but the Seán O’Brien-trained Hurry on Black set a lively pace from trap five.The son of Boherduff Light-East Point was in front from the start, led all the way and crossed the line in 28.77, two and a half lengths in front of the County Limerick-owned Movealong Tony with  PJ Fahy’s Tyrur Enda a further length and a half back for third place. This was another brilliant win for the Quin contingent and trainer Seán O’Brien.
The Lone Clare winner in Limerick over the weekend was was the Denis O’Malley-trained Egg Ruan. Owned in Fanore by Dominic Lipper and Pat O’ Donoghue, the daughter of Honcho Classic-Killonaghan Lark won an A5 graded 525 in 29.19 with a length and a half to spare.

 

Special deal win for Rathkerry Lad

MEMBERS of the Kilmaley contingent were in full voice in the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night when cheering ont their Rathkerry Lad to win the big race on the card, the Thursday Night Special Deal A2 final.
The Gerry Holian-trained Cash Dream, no stranger to big time racing, went off the 4/5 favourite from trap four and as expected, he was first away to lead by half a length as they approached the opening corner from Sarge’s Amy in trap one. However, as they went down the back, Sarge’s Amy got in front to lead by a length from the market leader. At this stage, Rathkerry Lad (trap five) was well positioned behind them after railing beautifully at the opening two bends. And as they approached the second-last, Sarge’s Amy was still out in front but by then, Rathkerry Lad had made up ground on the inside. Kilmaley hearts were beating faster when Rathkerry Lad surged ahead on the crown of the home bend and while son of Tyrur Ted-Burnpark Jenny gave his connections a few more anxious moments when he moved slightly off the rail, he was in a good position to hold off the fast finishing and Noel Mullins-trained Lorenzo’s Magic to win by a neck in a time of 29.13. It was a great win for trainer Johnny Maher and owners Michael Maher, his two daughters, Rachel and Gráinne Barry, Michael Martin and Noel Gavin. Cash Dream came in to fill third spot,a length and a half behind.
In the first race of the night, the Clare-owned Fountain Duchess (Myles Cummins) and the reserve runner, Milliebang, were prominent for most of the way. At third, the Ballyhaunis-owned Milliebang took the advantage but he stumbled and the fast-finishing Peg’s Beauty swept by on the outside to claim the race by a neck from Foiuntain Duchess with a clock of 30.51 for the A7 graded 525.
Snuggie Boy, owned by Breda Casey from Clare was well supported in race two, which was an A5 graded affair. However, from the start, the spotlight was on the Kilrush-owned Fitzler Zion who led at the first bend from Outback Susieand Class Time. However, down the back, the Rynal Ruane-owned Outback Susie took over the number-one spot from Fernpark Gold and they moved three lengths clear of the rest at midway. This was the order in which they finished: Outback Susie winning by a length and three quarters in 29.70 from Ferbpark Gold owned byAnne Carey, Cooraclare. Snuggie Boy was third home.
The locally owned Glasson Pride made most of the running to win an S3 graded 350 in a time of 19.64 and by a head from MoonMaeve. Third placed was BuffaloBash owned by Anna Carey, Cooraclare.
In the early stages of an S2 graded 350-yard race, Master of Chase was away well with Kilbannon Magic and Flying Dart also trying to get involved as they approached the opening bend. At this stage, the reserve dog and favourite, the John Browne-trained Brickhill Frank (Ballymac Maeve-RathmeehanMaura) was just behind the leaders as they approached the opening bend. Kilbannon Magic went a length clear of his rivals as Brickhill Frank improved gradually out wide. Off the home bend, the Bogey Boys’ Syndicate-owned Brickhill Frank edged to the front and went on to beat Kilbannon Magic by half a length in 19.35.
The ninth race on the card, an A3 gradede 550, was a pretty open looking affair but from the start,  it was obvious that the trap five runner, Knockbrack Yeman was going to take beating and make it a good night for owner, Margaret Nestor, Miltown Malbay. He had a flyer of a start and was two lengths clear as they raced to the first bend. The son of Yeah Man-DalcashMaxie had gone eight lengths clear by the back straight affer crowding at the first and while Tyrur Andrew made inroads between this and the finishing line, there was no denying the West Clare-owned black who won by a length and a quarter in 29.71.
Cragbrien Kewell, owned by Martin Cronin, Ennis, and Robbie Marklham,was three lengths behind the front runner and eventual winner, Ardera Royle in anA2 graded 525. However, the Ennis-owned white and black had to settle for third place after Ardrea Royle stayed in front to claim first spot in 29.29, four and a quarter lengths in front of Tyrur Hayley.

Thursday night double for Quin trainer

QUIN-based trainer, Frank Browne, had a rewarding trip to Galway last Thursday night when he pulled off a nice double with litter sisters, Mine Echo and Tommy’s Tippy.
Mine Echo, in trap three in an A7 graded 525, gave him the first leg of the double. She was three lengths to the good after negotiating the opening bend and the race was as good as over at halfway stage when she was well clear of the rest of the field. The daughter of Hades Rocket-Jumereiah Jess, also owned by Frank Browne, had gone seven and a half lengths in front when she crossed the line in front of Brigid D’Arcy’s Glenfort Ash with a winning time of 29.31.
Tommy’s Tippy, owned in Quin by Tommy Corbett and Patrick Hassett, gave Frank Browne the second part of his double. This was anA4 graded in which the winner led all the way. At the opening bend, she led by a length from Clone Mettle Rum and Hoffman’s Mega and had extended her lead by the second bend and at the line had two and a quarter lengths on the second placed and Noel Mullins-trained Twist Magc. The winning time here was 29.50.
In the opening race of the night, an A9 graded 525, three dogs crossed the finishing line together but the camera showed that the Galway-owned Bridgepark Turbo had won by a short head from Coolcahir Ja in 30.36. Beaten another short head into third place was Cathal’s Flame owned by Frank Dirivan, Carrigaholt.
The Clare-owned Mias Don’t Know (Denis Torpey) was runner-up in the second race on the card, an A8 graded 525.The winner, Hanover Jackson, owned by Martin McDonagh, Headford, led by a few lengths early on. Keeping in control all the way, he held out to beat Miss Don’t Know by half a length in 29.99.
Another Clare owner, Fergie O’Loughin, also had to contend with runner-up spot for his Collar Bone in an S8 graded 350 race. Kilanin Annie in trap five broke in front of Collar Bone in two and Jumeirah Ted in the inside trap. At the opening bend,  Jumeirah Ted (Tyrur Ted-Droopy’s Just Hot) slipped through on the rail to lead but he ran very wide off the home bend carrying Collar Bone with him. On the run to the line, Jumeirah Ted just held out to beat Collar Bone by a neck in 197.
Goneinahurry, trained by Stephen Murray for Laura Murray and Donald Devaney, was third placed in an A6 graded 525 won in 29.70 by Berlioz.
It was the turn of Gort trainer Gerry O’Donoghue, to visit the winners’ enclosure after the outcome of race five which an S4 graded 350-yard race. It was won by Louise’s Delight, owned by Louise O’Donoghue. From traps, Get Smart in trap five  had half a length from Lousie’s Delight (T6) as they raced towards the opening bend. Lousie’s Delight (Top Savings-Backdoor Delight) edged out in front on the outside at the bend and although running wide, she led by a length from Chill The Jets (T4). Up the straight, Chill The Jets closed with every stride but Lousie’s Delight held out to win by a neck in 19.17.
Inch Catch, owned by Tony Daffy, came third in an A6 graded 525 which went to Kinnick Star in 29.64.This was a trap-to-line success.

Ezfrank denies Clare challengers

THERE was just one Clare winner in Galway last Friday night when the Seamus Fahy-trained Ezfrank deprived Nudder Dynamite and Sands of Time in the featured A2 graded 525.
There was an even break to the ace, which saw Ezfrank and Nudder Dynamite just shade it from Sands of Time heading towards the opening bend. Switching inside, Nudder Dynamite just led going down the back and she battled it out with Ezfrank until the second-last bend, when Seamus Fahy’s charge began to take charge. Off the home bend, he was well clear and went on to win by nearly three lengths in 29.21 from Nudder Dynamite, trained by Frank Browne, Quin for Dylan and Darragh Browne, Quin. Third placed was Sands of Time, carrying the hopes of Frank Casey, Stonehall.
Nells Fantasy, owned in Miltown Malbay by Helen O’Brien and Michael Mahony,was prominent until the halfway mark in the opening race, an A6 graded 525, when Mary’s Lass shot to the front. She stayed in front for the remainder of the race to chalk up a 29.40 win, beating Nell’s Fantasy by four and a quarter lengths.
Matt’s Jet, trainedby Joe Collins, Parteen for the Shanakyle syndicate was third home in an S6 graded 350 won by the Paddy Guilfoyle-trained Magical Bruce in a time of 19.20.
Frank Casey from Stonehall had the only Clare winner of the night, Tiermana Vieri (Droopys Vieri-Sincerely Yours). This was an A4 graded 525 race and from the start, Harmony Dream (trap five) led from Tiermana Vieri in trap one but with the advantage of the inside lane, the winner led by one length going down the back. As they rounded the second-last bend, the winner was challenged by Harmony Dream and Jules Flyer but Tiermana Vieri held out to win the race by half a length in 29.78 from Harmony Dream.
The Clare-owned Rathorpe Texas (Martin Kelly) was unlucky when he met trouble in an A5 graded 525 and was beaten two lengths into runner up spot by Killeany May, the 29..29 winner.
An A4 graded 575 race went to Shakira who led in the long run to the opening bend from the Miltown Malbay-owned Kilcorcoran Manu and Scattery Sallty owned by the Scattery syndicate from Killimer. The race was between these three as the rest of the field got into trouble and coming from the backstraight, Shakira was in front by three. Lengths. Kilcorcoran Manu pulled back the lead to one length but the winner went on again to win by almost three lengths in 31.77 from Kilcorcoran Manu owned by Master Conor Cleary. Third spot was filled by Scattery Sally.
An A3 graded 525 yards produced a thrilling finish when Pat Guilfoyle’s Ms Chatterbox got up in the final few strides to force a dead heat for first place with Master Slick, owned in West Clare by Tommie Gallagher. For the first two bends, Lady Richmore was in control but on the crown of the home bend, Master Slick (Slick Leo-Bodyshop Flight) joined the leader as Ms Chatterbox was forced to switch to make her challenge. At this stage, Tommie Gallagher was odds-on for a win but Ms Chatterbox lunged forward to share the spoils.

Benefit meeting for Clare Crusaders at Galway

A BENEFIT meeting in aid of the Clare Crusaders Clinic in Barefield will take place at the Galway Greyhound Track on Friday, July 2. The highlight the meeting will be the final of the buster race with €1,000 going to the winning dog.
A special bus is being laid on to bring Clare supporters to the meeting. It will leave Shannon and pick up passengers en route.
The semi-final of this buster will take place the previous weekend and will be confined to Clare dogs.
Clare Crusaders Clinic, Barefield, is a registered charity dedicated to the provision of services to children living in County Clare with special needs. These services are free of charge to all children and their families. The Clare Crusaders running group was founded in 2005 by the late Howard Flannery, initially to help parents and families of children with cerebal palsy. He was joined by other parents and friends to form Clare Crusaders Charity for children. Howard was tragically killed in a road accident while training for a fundraiser for the Clare Crusaders in June 2007. Clare Crusaders opened their first clinic in September 2007 at the Tulla Road Ennis. In March 2009, they moved to a larger premises in Barefield.
The clinic is managed by Ann Norton on a voluntary basis. The clinic employs five full-time therapists who provide 35 hours of therapy each week to 130 children. They have also secured the services of senior reflexologist who provide 15 hours of reflexology per week.
This was  their first target and  their clinic opened for business in September 2007. Running and maintaining the clinic costs in the region €250,000 annually.
All  income comes from fundraising and personal donations and the clinic does not receive any Government help.
“We are mindful that we have a limited number of people to draw funds from each year, so we must explore all options to keep our clinic operating. With this in mind, we have put plans in place to keep the clinic going through 2010 and review our position at that time, and are confident we will meet that target,” said Ann Norton.Information can be had from her at 0876679340 or email candabrodie@eircom.net.

Derby to get underway with three nights at Shelbourne

THE first running of the Ladbrokes Irish Greyhound Derby is to get underway with a three-night festival of racing at Shelbourne Park in August.
The 32 heats of the first round of Europe’s richest greyhound race will be ran over three consecutive nights from Thursday, August 5 to Saturday, August 7. There will be an advance purchase festival ticket giving three nights’ admission for the price of two and the move has already been welcomed by English trainers and greyhound fans, who would be travelling to Dublin for the opening heats.
“This is a great idea, which will encourage even more entries and a bigger travelling group from Britain, as well as from around Ireland,” said four times Wimbledon English Derby winning trainer, Nicky Savva.
The new Aviva Stadium, which fills the horizon at Shelbourne Park, will have its first rugby and soccer matches in the days preceding the Ladbrokes Greyhound Derby Festival. An invitation will be extended to Sir Alex Ferguson to attend the first night after his Manchester United team has played at the stadium on the Wednesday night.
“We had a very successful Derby last year,” said Shelbourne Park manager, Patrick Flynn. “But 2010 will be the best yet and we believe the opening round of the festival will give the competition a great start,” he added.
Ladbrokes are putting up a bounty of €80,000 in addition to the first prize of €120,000, should last year’s record-breaking College Causeway come out of retirement and defend his crown.
“This is already shaping up to be one of the best competitions in Shelbourne’s long history,” said Ladbrokes spokeswoman Hayley O’Connor. “Thurlesbeg Joker heads our market at 16/1, while English Derby winner Bandicoot Tipoki and last year’s superstar College Causeway are both 25/1 chances.