Clare greyhounds in flying form

Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium once again proved to be a good hunting ground for Clare owners, who had a big strike rate at two meetings last weekend. They had four winners at the College Road venue on Friday night when trainer Gerry Holian had a treble and they paid five visits to the winner’s parade ring the following night.
Quin-based owner-trainer Frank Browne had a double on Friday night, starting off with his Mine Moment in the very first race of the night, an S9-graded sprint. In her debut race, the daughter of Hades Rocket-Classical Moment was installed the 6-4 joint favourite in trap three, with Killea Lark in trap two. However, it was Stumpa Bea who set the pace from trap one but after dominating matters for most of the way, he was caught near the line by Mine Moment, who got the verdict by a short head in a time of 19.75. Killea Lark took third spot, three-and-a-half lengths back.
The Quin owner had to wait until the sixth race for the second half of his double. He had Ebony Blitz (Droopys Kewell-Rathorpe Baby) in trap six in an A4-graded 525 and she set the pace after a lively start. She continued to hold the advantage to the line, where she remained two-and-a-quarter lengths in front of Grenanstown Ama in trap two. The time was 29.31.
The spotlight was on trainer John Browne after the outcome of the second race on the card, another sprint affair, this time for S7 graders. Showing good early pace from trap five, the 5-4 favourite led from trap five for a 29.46 win. The son of Hondo Black-Maybe Classy won by a length and three quarters from Knockmeale Lad. The winner is owned by Clare members of the Rineanna syndicate.
The Agenes (Hometown Boy-Inca Queen) was a first-time runner and winner for Gort owner-trainer Maurice Mullaney in an A8-A9-graded 525. He had a winning distance of two lengths in 29.36.
It was back to the Banner in the next race, an A7-graded 525, and the winner was Aulton Robby (Droopys Scolari-Loclar Cia), trained by Michael Enright for Pat Hogan, Templemaley. He was money-on favourite in trap four,  drew clear after the first bend and raced on to register an easy five-lengths win in 29.31.
The West Care-owned Ballyegan Lad finished third in an A5-graded final, which went to Danmar Harry in 29.40. Ballyegan Lad is owned by Anne McInerney.
The first of Gerry Holians’s three winners was Goodnight Kate (29.51), who beat Tommie Gallagher’s Good Slick by one length. Third home was the Stephen Murray-trained and Ennis-owned Bees Wing (Frankie Sheehan and Michael Lillis).
Successor (29.07) also obliged Gerry Holian in an A2-graded 525 in which  he beat Tyrur Ella by two lengths with Cragbrien Hondo (Martin Cronin and Jack Markham), taking third place, a similar distance away.
The three-timer was completed by Starry Messenger in the final race of the night, an A1-graded 525. His time was 29.00 when beating Bypass Blackie (Paddy Darcy, Ennis) by almost four lengths. Third home was Pat Hogan’s Aulton Ron.