QUIN-based owner-trainer Frank Browne shared in the night of doubles at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Friday night. He won races with Mine Chanelle and Mine Rocket, while trainer Ger O’Reilly also doubled up with Mottos Rogue and Pretty Tokens.

It was also a good night for Gort owners, with wins for litter brother and sister Carrowgarriff and Whiplash Willie.

Mine Chanelle (Slip the Lark-Mine Cash) was the first winner for Frank Brown. In trap two for the second race of the night, an S9-graded sprint, the even-money favourite secured the inside berth early on to lead at the opening bend by three lengths. At the line, it was still Mine Chanelle by two-and-a-half lengths from Fitzler Monnie (Colm Fitzgerald, Kilrush) in a time of 19.68. Third spot went to Manus Droopy, owned by Eoghan McInerney, Manus, Clarecastle.

The Browne double was achieved in the seventh race with Mine Rocket winning the A3-graded 525-yard race by two-and-a-quarter lengths in a time of 29.41. Tiermana Streak (Noel Moroney, Mullagh) led by a neck at the opening bend from Tyrur Maggie. With bunching among the lead runners at the second-last bend, Mine Rocket (Hades Rocket-Classical Moment) came through on the inside and from this to the finishing line, the trap six runner was in control to score a good win from Tyrur Maggie. Third home was Tiermana Streak.

The card also featured two semi-finals of the New Year A4 event and in the opening heat, the early pacemakers were Doonbeg Panther and Tyrur Ella, who edged in front after the opening bend. As they approached the back straight, Whiplash Willie (Westmead Hawk-Wicked Marita) began to challenge the leader and managed to take over the number one spot as they passed halfway. It was all Whiplash Willie from this to the finish, winning by five lengths in 29.16 from Doonbeg Panther, owned by Jimmy Normoyle, Doonbeg. Tyrur Ella was third home, three-parts-of-a-length back.

The second semi-final went to Ennis owners Sean Heeney and Tony Quinn with their Cahercalla Risk, who has been featuring well at this venue in recent weeks. Unknown Sally in trap three and Cahercalla Risk in five held a slight advantage at the opening bend. The pair were still in front as they entered the back, closely followed by Feed Me Cherrys. When they made their way from the back, Cahercalla Risk (Scarty Lad-Risk Everything) was now the one to catch. He was leading by a length and at the line had a length-and-a-half on Feed Me Cherrys, owned by Kim Knell, Mountshannon. The time was 29.39. In the all-Clare finish, third place went to Tommie Gallagher’s Good Slick.

Frank Browne’s Ebony Blitz finished third in the opening race of the night, an A4-graded 525 won in 29.48 by Heathlawn Blaze.

The Ger O’Reilly-trained Mottos Rogue, owned by Brendan O’Reilly, Annacotty, won race three, an S7-graded 350. The winner made good progress at the opening bend and was helped by bunching behind to record a seven-length win in 19.55 from Comely Maiden, owned by Martin J Keane, Kilmihil.

Annagh Bridge (Swords Prince-Glenbrack Nancy), owned by Sean Cooke, Kilbeacanty, came good at the home bend to take over and win an S6-graded sprint by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 19.49.

The Flanagan family from Russa, Ennistymon, also came away happy from the College Road venue after their Dromoher Snoopy (Droopys Kewell-Coldwar Baby) was first to cross the line in an A5-graded 550-yard race. Setting the pace from trap four, the winner led from Garryowen Hawk in trap six and with bunching behind them, Dromoher Snoopy was four lengths clear down the back. Despite going wide off the home bend, Dromoher Snoopy was not to be beaten, winning by two lengths in 31.04 for Megan Flanagan.

The first part of the double for the Westmead Hawk-Wicked Marita litter was achieved by Carrowgarriff winning an A2-graded 525 for Gort owners Eleanor Mullins and Eimear Curtin. With the aid of the inside lane, Carrowgarriff led by a length at the opening bend. She moved well clear of the rest of the field at the third bend to win by five lengths in a fast 28.93, the best of the night. The runner-up was Unknown Tornado and third place went to Tiermana Buss (Noel Moroney, Mullagh).

The Lisnagry-owned Pretty Token (Ballymac Maeve-Mottos Dawn) won the second part of the double for trainer Ger O’Reilly. She won an A3-graded 550 by a short head from Forthill Juno in 30.98.

 

Crowe wins with Endoftheline

ENNISTYMON native, Paudie Crowe from near Gort, won the featured race in Galway on Saturday night, the A2-graded 550, with Endoftheline.

The money-on favourite was the Michael Downes-trained and Janet Downes (Killaloe) owned Ascot Ace in trap three and he was prominent in the long run to the first bend with Ealu West and Endoftheline (trap four), who went two lengths in front as they made their way towards the back straight. He was still that distance ahead at halfway point but at this stage Ealu West was beginning a big challenge.

Endoftheline (Kiowa Sweet Try-Express Vintage) was still a length to the good as they turned for home but with Ealu West coming nearer with every stride, there was very little in it at the line. Endoftheline got the verdict by a short head in 30.42 from Ealu West, trained by Martin Fahy for Michael Sheedy, Darragh. Ascot Ace took third place, three-and-a-quarter lengths back.

The fastest clock of the night went to the Claremorris-owned Bondi Babe (Premier Fantasy-Deerpark Rachel), the winner of the final race of the night, an A3-graded 525 29.09. She won by nearly three lengths from Glass of Guinness with Knockdine Black (Michael O’Brien, Miltown Malbay) taking third place.

The first to visit the winner’s arena was Darren O’Donoghue from Gort whose Destroyer (Astronomic-Parkside Edel) won the first race of the night, an A4-graded 525. From early on, the fawn was tracked by Bumblebee Rosie but moved into a different gear down the back to go well clear of the rest and win by six-and-a-half lengths in 29.34 from Clune Girl (Geraldine Ryan, Killimer). Another West Clare runner, Glasheen Sally (Brendan Browne, Moyasta) was third.

John Browne, Ballyea, had to be delighted with the display of his first-time runner, Rathmeehan Bob, in winning the second race on the card, an A8 affair over 525 yards. The evens favourite led at the opening bend and escaped the huge trouble behind him as a result of the trap two runner, Group Hi Class, running wide off the bend.

Now six lengths clear, Rathmeehan Bob went on to win by a handsome nine-and-a-half lengths in 29.76 from Helen O’Brien’s Knockdine Holly. Third spot was filled by Maria Browne’s Burnpark Alice.

The Miltown Malbay owner, Helen O’Brien, fared better with her Knockdine Za, a 29.28 winner of an A8-graded 525. Rocken Mo went off the 5/4 favourite but missed her break from trap two, giving the advantage to Knockdine Zac in three and Willing Listner in the inside trap. Cutting inside to the rail at the opening bend, Knockdine Zac built up a lead of three lengths by halfway and the son of Westmead Hawk-Knockdine Lady stayed on well to win the contest by almost three lengths in 29.28 from Bling Bling Mars, owned in Newmarket-on-Fergus by Áine Quigley and trained by Maurice Mullaney, Gort.

Leading at the opening bend, the Claremorris-owned Clogher Mike (College Causeway-Deerpark Angel) remained the frontrunner for the rest of an A6-graded 525 and win by three-and-a-quarter lengths in a time of 29.55. The runner-up was Scariff Bound, owned in Killaloe by Janet Downes, while third home was the Stephen Murray-trained Jason’s Princess, three-parts-of-a length away.

After his double the previous night at this venue, Quin owner-trainer Frank Browne returned for more success, this time with Mine Echo (Hades Rocket-Jumeiran Jess) in an A5-graded 525 yard race. Both Tyrur Dutchy in trap three and Mine Echo in four were best away, with Tyrur Dutchy edging it at the first bend. He was two lengths clear down the back but Mine Echo came much nearer as they approached the home turn.
With Tyrur Dutchy moving to the centre of the track, Mine Echo came through on the inside to win, going away by a length and three-quarters in a time of 29.59. Tyrur Dutchy took the runner-up spot and third home was Glenfort Dusk, owned by Ballyvaughan native, Brigid D’Arcy.

Limerick double for Portdrine kennels

THE Portdrine (Cratloe) kennels of Liam Carroll landed a double at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night. Both wins were in second-round heats of the Shane O’Brien/Barbara Reeves Memorial A2 event over 525 yards.

Portdrine Bobby (Hades Rocket-Jumeirah Jess) won the opening heat of the event for the Portdrine owner in a time of 29.31. He challenged well down the back to lead at the home bend and win by half a length from Glenside Evens, trained by Donal Cooney for the Green Leaf Syndicate from East Clare.

Running under the names of Meia and Ben Carroll, Portdrine Dodo (Hades Rocket-Classical Moment) was a 29.23 winner of heat two. Even though she led all the way after a fast break from trap two, she came under pressure in the final stages but held out to beat the fast-finishing Tyrap Tital by a head. Third pace went to Rallying Raider (Dan Flynn, Meelick), three lengths back.

Heat three was won in 29.01 by the Crecora owner Action Breaker (Droopys Scolari-Droopys Addie), who beat He’s Brave by a short head. Third place went to Terry’s Gift.

Consequential, owned by Tom Flanagan from near Ennistymon, was a qualifier from the fourth and final heat won by the Pat Buckley-trained Bookie Buster (Tullymurry Act-Westmead Zippy). Consequential was the runner-up, four lengths back and the final qualifier was Ould Flower in third place.

The first of two semi-final heats of the Timor Blue@ Stud D4 750 was won in 42.58 by Oakfield Babe from Portroe Craic and Ballymac Tact.

Heat two went to the Waterford-owned Zulu Scolari in 42.53, who beat Nans Pet, also Waterford owned, by a head. Beaten by a short head into third place was Pegswood Girl, owned in Cratloe by Pat Carey.
Six first-round heats of the Christy Daly Memorial A4 event over 525 yards were also decided, two of them going to Clare owners.

The third heat was won in 29.24 by Contentious (Droopys Kewell-Coldwar Baby), owned by Tom Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon. The favourite led from the third bend to win by three lengths from Move On Tiny.
The winner of the final heat was Steragel Mine (Westmead Hawk-Sarges Beauty), owned in Newmarket-on-Fergus by Brendan Caroll. A stronger finish saw the black gain the initiative as they headed towards the line to win by three parts of a length in 29.33 from Athlacca Husky.

Mickys Scolari, trained in Gort by Maurice Mullaney, finished third in the opening heat won in 29.46 by Clogheen Bucko from Kish Lowry.

The other heat winners were After Liz (29.23), Miss Tapper (29.03) and Kish Chopin (29.16).
There were two Clare winners from the Limerick card on Friday night.

Killaloe owner Michael Kennedy won the opening race, an A5-graded 500, with Egmont Lassie (Big Daddy Cool-Egmont Beauty). She went clear after leading at the opening bend to claim a three-and-a-half length win in 33.73 from Racenight Dan.

Inislosky Booth (Nobooth for Gary-Forest Diva) won an A9-graded 525 for O’Briensbridge owner, Mary Crotty. In a very exciting finish, Inislosky Booth claimed the race by a head from Final View. The time was 29.49.
Jenody, owned in Gort by Jennie Griffin, was third in an S6-graded 350.

Cragaknock Sonia qualified for the final of the Almightgyjack@ Stud A6 525 when finishing third in the second semi-final heat.

Parteen trainer Joe Collins is into the final of the Red Mills A3 600 after Scariff Hawk was the runner-up in the second semi-final heat won in 33.38 and by half-a-length by Zoo Two. The runner-up is owned by members of the Shanakyle Syndicate from Parteen.

The first semi-final went to the Jerry Griffin-trained Plutos Rena (33.10).

Davern the leading owner

WITH a total of 22 winners, Pat Davern was the leading owner at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium. Next was Mary McNamara with 17 winners and third was Maura Casey with 15.

Graham Holland was the leading trainer, bringing 78 winners to the track, followed by Denis O’Malley with 37 and Pat and Con O’Connor with 20 each.

Michael Shine, with 10 winners, was the leading private trainer ahead of Bernard Coffey, Sixmilebridge, who had seven and Donal Cooney, Broadford, who had six.

The Hegartys from County Cork, Tony and Stephen, had a great year in Galway, ending up as the leading owners and private trainer respectively with 41 winners. Tony was followed by Rynal Ruane, with 28 winners and Tom McDonagh, with 22 winners.

Private trainers also fared well at the College Road venue. Stephen Hegarty finished sixth, ahead of John McDonagh, who had 35 winners and Donie Duggan from near Tulla, who had 27 winners.

The top public trainer was Seamus Fahy with 30 wins, followed by Pat Guilfoyle with 20 and Pat Conway with 20.

Vetsearch Feramo-D launched

THE first major event of the new year at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium will be the Vetsearch Feramo-D Open 525, which commences on January 26.

The 48-greyhound event will be run over four rounds, with the final taking place on Saturday, February 16. This will be the third year in-a-row that the state-of-the-art stadium will host the Vetsearch sweepstake.

John Dowling of Shanagarry Greyhound Products said they are delighted to once again be associated with the Vetsearch Feramo-D. He said he has many fond memories from when he was younger of going along to the Market’s Field, so it is a great honour for him to be linked to this stake.  He also said he is looking forward to watching some exciting racing throughout the competition.

Imelda Cahalan, sales, commercial and operations manager at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, said they are delighted to welcome Vetsearch International and Shanagarry Greyhound Products back to Limerick Greyhound Stadium in 2013. “It’s fantastic to see this kind of support from a local business in the greyhound racing industry,” she said.

The winner of the 2012 Vetsearch Sweepstake, Cashen Mafuma, went on to win the Irish St Leger final 2012. Entries are now being accepted and the closing date is Tuesday, January 22.