IT seems Mullagh publican Noel Moroney does not believe in half measures. On a famous night eight weeks ago, he recorded an outstanding treble at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium and he returned there last Saturday night to stamp his name again, this time with a fine double.

Tiermana Joy started the ball rolling last weekend when he was first to cross the line in an A6 graded 525 to signal his maiden success. Leading by a length in the run to the opening bend, the son of Westmead Hawk-Tromora Queen was in a stronger position at the halfway stage when he had gone five lengths in front.

He was in full control for the remainder of the race and at the line had eight lengths on Donie Duggan’s Knoppogue Storm.The time was 29.02.

Tiermana Star, who was part of the famous treble, clinched the second half of Saturday night’s double, with success in the seventh race, an A1 graded 525 yards affair. Drawn in trap five, he also got off to a good start to lead by just over a length in the run to the opening bend from Oran Style and favourite, Rubber Bandit, in trap two.

Turning down the back, Rubber Bandit, the son of Droopys Scolari-Sharons Promise, started to draw clear and had the race in his pocket as he emerged from the back straight. Though easing up slightly in the run home, he still had two lengths on the runner-up, Tyrur Latoya. The clock was a very respectable 28.87, the best of the night.

The Mullagh publican had another winner with Tiemana Buss at the same venue on Friday night.

The big race of the night was the Masters Restaurant A3 525 final and carrying the Clare hopes was the Miltown Malbay-owned Kilcorcoran Manu (Conor Cleary) in trap four. After an even break, trouble at the opening bend could not be ruled out as all six runners were lined across the track as they approached it. The outside runners headed inwards and the one to take advantage of the pile-up was the inside runner, the Paul Burke-handled Snow Adam. By the halfway stage, he was eight lengths clear but Kilcorcoran Manu had not thrown in the towel yet.

With Snow Adam’s strides getting shorter from the home bend, Kilcorcoran Manu was absolutely flying home but his gallant effort just failed at the line, where Snow Adam was judged to be the winner by a neck in 29.60.

Disputing the lead at the opening bend and going clear down the back, the Pat Guilfoyle-trained Magical Bambi won the opening race of the night  for A3 graders over the 525 distance. The black won the race by three and a quarter lengths in a fast 28.84 from Cotton Mill, trained by Pat Conway for Michael O’Donovan, Killaloe.

Third place went to the Donal Cooney-trained Glenside Evans, owned by the  Green Leaf syndicate fron East Clare.
Martin Griffin from Caherea made it to the winners list in race two, an S7/S8 graded sprint with Nebraska Royal in trap six. All six were in with a chance after the even break but after the opening bend, the advantage was with Esker Stroke with a lead of one length from Nebraska Royal (Royal Impact-Nebraska). However, as they were negotiating the home bend, the Caherea-owned black had closed the gap and in a hectic dash for the line, Nebraska Royal got the verdict by a head in 19.56.

The fourth race on the card, an S2 graded 350, also provided plenty of excitement before Sellout Fast Fit (Killahan Phanter-Posh Again), owned by Peter Connolly and John Quin, Gort, was judged the winner.

Kilbannon Bertie in trap four was first to show but Sellout Fast Fit soon took over on the outside on the run to the opening bend. Cutting inside, he went two lengths ahead but in the run home Consequential, owned by Tom Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon, put in a great effort. However, Sellout prevailed by three parts of a length in 19.16. Third home was the Hughie Kelegahan owned O’Garney Princess.

Gort was again on the map in the following race, an A4 graded 575, won by Aeneas (Droopys Vieri-Flamingo Girl), owned by Gerard O’Donoghue. Forthill Juno and then Hanover Blaze were prominent from the start but as they came near halfway, Aeneas in trap 2 started to motor and overtake front runner, Hanover Blaze. It was one-way traffic from this until the end, with Aeneas drawing clear to win convincingly by eight lengths in 31.82 from Forthill Juno with Knockdine Dazl (Helen O’Brien, Miltown Malbay) in third place, a length and three-quarters back.

 

Farley Turbo win for Rathkeale owner

RATHKEALE owner-trainer, Paul Dillon, was a worthy winner of the €1,500 Farley Turbo@ Stud A2 575 in Limerick on Friday night with Bua Paprika.

Disputing the lead into the opening bend with Cherrygrove Cool, the son of Bit Chill-Ardera Gift was in front by a length and a half at the opening bend and had extended that lead to three lengths at the third. The Listowel-owned Blakes All Star came with a late effort but Bua Paprika was not going to be denied and held out for a two-length win in 31.32. Third home was Cherrygrove Cool.

Recovering from a slow start, Rebellious Deco (Nicola Downes, Killaloe) finished well to take the runner-up spot in an A3 graded 525, two and a half lengths behind Tyrap Titan, the 29.18 winner.

The Mallow-owned Haughty Oscar, a reserve runner, was the winner of an A2 graded 525 from Inislosky Pinny (Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge) and Canvas Dancer (D Waye, Mountshannon) in a time of 29.21. The distances were half a length and two lengths.

Cabra Buck records fastest clock

FIRST-round heats of the Greyhound and Petworld A0 graded mini open over 525 yards were decided in Limerick on Saturday night.

The fastest clock, 28.53, was recorded in the final heat by the Graham Holland-trained Cabra Buck for his three-and-a-half-length win. Other winning clocks were Night Smoke (28.90), Prop Joe (29.04) and Nicken Builder (28.76).

Mullagh owner, John O’Kelly, won the second race on the card, an A4 graded 525 with Cragaknock Hope in trap one. Showing good early pace, the son of Black Shaw-Cragaknock Grey was in control all through for his two-length win in 29.17.

Finishing as runner-up in an A4 graded 550 was Mad For Money, trained by Bernard Coffey for John Whelan, Sixmilebridge. The race went to Cortoon Dream in 30.39.