The Red Mills Irish Laurels got off to a great start at Curraheen Park, Cork on Saturday night when Gort owner, John Quinn, was among the first round heat winners with Fast Fit Dan.

The well backed and Niall Dunne trained son of Swords Prince- Ballydaniel Hare took full advantage of his inside draw to qualify for round two. Showing great early pace, he led from the opening bend to gain a two lengths win in a good 28.76. The runner-up was Forty Winks and beaten a short head into third spot was the Kieran Lynch trained Madam Shaw.

Sixmilebridge trainer, Bernard Coffey will also be represented in the second round of the Irish Laurels. Owned by Mrs. Helen Coffey, O’Garney Rock finished fourth in his heat won by the Paul Hennessy trained Money Talks in 28.37.

The Graham Holland trained Knockglass Billy, Irish Sprint Cup finalist, was the fastest of the first round winners completing the circuit in a blistering 28.15 and finishing nine lengths in front of the Listowel-owned Vegas Strip.

Second round heats of the Laurels will be decided next Saturday night. Fast Fit Dan is drawn in trap five in heat four with 1. Cambushmore, 2. Bua Tommy; 3. Happy Hermit; 4. Confident Rankin; 6. Vegas Strip.
O’Garney Rock is in trap three in the eighth and final heat with 1. Murralli Junior; 2. Liveanddangerous; 4. Forty Winks; 5. Prima Vera; 6. Ballybough Hawke.

 

Two wins for Clare trainer

Clare trainer, Donie Duggan from near Tulla accounted for two of the four Clare wins at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Friday night.

The Quin owned Craggataska Flash, a reserve runner in trap five in race three, gave Donie Duggan the first part of his double.

This was in an A4-graded 525 yards race which saw the Kay Lynch owned white and brindled in full flight at the home bend and coasting home to an easy seven and a half lengths win. The son of Greenwell Storm-Class Time had a clock of 29.70. Runner-up was the Frank Browne trained Chrisola (Michael Browne and John Moran).

The result of the final race on the card, an A1-graded 525,secured the second part of the double for Donie Duggan. First to cross the line in this race was Bypass Blackie (Royal Impact-Ardavagga Dazl) owned in Ennis by PaddyDarcy. Smartly into the race from trap two, Bypass Blackie was up and gone by the opening bend and had the fast clock of 28.86 for his seven lengths win over Mine Chariot, trained and owned in Quin by Frank Browne.

However, the Quin based trainer had a win earlier in the night with his Mine Rocket in an A5-graded 525. In a thrilling finish, Mine Rocket (Hades Rocket-Classical Moment) just got in front to take the race from Movealong Kenny. The winning distance was half a length in 29.51.

Another Clare man who made a rewarding trip from his base near Shannon was Don Gallery whose Ballycasey Star was first to cross the line in an A2-graded 525. The son of Hondo Black-Money Go Lucky was slow away but came with a strong finish to win by three and a quarter lengths in 29.16 from Jumeirah Joe.

In four first round heats of The Masters Restaurant A3 525, Kays Class, trained by Donie Duggan for Kay Lynch, was runner-up in heat one. Aulton Robby, trained by Michael Enright for Pat Hogan, Templemaley,Ennis was also runner up in his heat while Wood Leo (Carl Maquire, Kilrush and Adrian Ennis, Kilkee) and Kilcorcoran Manu (Master Conor Cleary, Miltown Malbay) finished second and third respectively in heat three.

The judge was called to establish the winner of the opening race that produced the tightest of finishes. The Tuam owned Vicarsview Anna was declared the winner after getting up to win by a neck from Kylea Ruby, owned by Irene Barry, Inagh. Beaten a neck into third place was Frank Browne’s Mine Moment.

There was another rousing conclusion to the eight race on the card, an A3-graded 575. Rockmount Eskimo, owned in Ennis by Shane Flanagan, appeared to be on his way to claim victory but Locnamon Megan, who led at the first, came with a late renewed effort to claim back the lead and win by a neck in 32.40.

Noel Moroney from Mullagh was the sole Clare winner in Galway on Saturday night. His Tiermana Cross (Head Bound-Tiermana Hawk) got off to a flyer in an A8-graded 525 and was full value for his 29.40 win. Beaten a length and threequarters into second place was Faithful Pearl, a slow starter but a good finisher. Third place went to Pinnacle Hero owned by Douglas Culligan, Ballyvaughan.

The top-graded race of the night, the A0/A1 550, was won by reserve runner, Forest Sam(Royal Impact-Forest Swallow), trained by Maurice Mullaney and owned by Philip Mullaney Gort. A strong finisher, he won by three and a half lengths in 30.42.

John Quinn from Gort and Peter Connolly won an S4-graded sprint with their Sellout Fast Fit in 19.40.
Theagenes, owned by Maurice Mullaney, was third in an A4-graded 525 won by the Gerry Holian trained Wings of Glory in 29.35.

Hawk swoops for buster final

The Ann Wade-trained Pool Hawk landed the St Senan’s RFC A2 Buster final in Limerick on Saturday night.
Hitting the front at the third bend, the son of Westmead Hawk-Blue won in style with five lengths to spare in a time of 28.68, the fastest of the night.

Also among the winners were Sean Stack from Sixmilebridge and John Healy, Killaloe, whose Cragghill Elm was winning for the fourth time at this venue. The daughter of Crash-Corporate Group never looked back after a lively start from trap five. Quickly drawing clear of the rest of the field, the black had a seven lengths advantage at the finishing line with a clock of 29.97.

With three firsts and a runner-up spot to his credit, Upland Chill, owned by Harry Galvin, Cratloe and Sean Dineen, Kerry, was slow off the mark from trap five in an A1-graded 525 but managed to take third place.
In a thrilling finish, the Doon-owned Varra Swallow won the race by a neck in 28.83 from the Mallow owned reserve runner, Haughty Oscar. Upland Chill was six-lengths back for his third place.

Blakes All-Star Set Standard In Turbo Stake

First round heats of the Farley Turbo@ Stud A2 575 got underway in Limerick on Friday night.
The fastest clock, 31.00, was in heat two won by the Listowel-owned Blakes Allstar. The wining distance was six lengths from Scariff Hawk, trained by Joe Collins, Parteen for the Shanakyle Syndicate.

The other heat winners were Bua Paprika (31.24), Kilmessan Header (31.38) and Cherrygrove Cool (31.28).
Gortglas Suzie, owned by Michael Kennedy (Killalloe) was placed third in the opening race of the night, an A4-graded 525 affair won by Saleen Alfie in 20.07.