Ogie Tom’s blistering pace sets new record

THE inaugural running of the Vetsearch Recharge Open 525 at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium will be remembered for its exciting clocks and track records.
In the three rounds leading to the final next Saturday night, the track record was smashed on two occasions. Two weeks ago, the Graham Holland-trained and Mallow-owned Calling Spice (Ballymac Maeve-No Joe Spice) clocked a new 28.27 in his opening round beating his existing record of 28.30. He had a very exciting 28.31 in the second round and had another magnificient clock of 28.30 when winning his semi-final heat last Saturday night.
However, a short time later, the Tom and Sean Óg Fitzgerald’s Ogie Tom claimed a new record after completing the Dock Road circuit in a blistering 28.25.
In the opening semi-final, Calling Spice, in trap four, had a flyer of a start to lead Crossfield Star to the opening bend. Four lengths clear down the back, she stayed comfortably in front to beat Crossfield Star by three lengths. A similar distance back for third was Oh Johnny. Just outside the qualifiers in fourth place was Holly Wood, owned by Pat Carey, Cratloe.
In heat two, it was a ding-dong affair between Ogie Tom and Boherna House. Between the second and third bends, Boherna House edged in front but Ogie Tom (Black Shaw-Inslipsvalentine) rallied to regain the lead at the home bend and at the line had two lengths on Boherna House. Cashen Mafuma was third.
Trap draw for Saturday night’s final: 1. Cashen Mafuma; 2. Calling Spice; 3. Boherna House; 4. Ogie Tom; 5.Crossfield Star (m); 6. Oh Johnny (w).
Earlier on in the night, Parteen trainer Joe Collins, scored with  Killuran Blonde (Droopy’s Maldini-Killuran Premier). Owned by Richard Phelan, Limerick, Killuran Blonde showed good early pace from trap three to lead all the way for her one-length win over  Cragaknock Ciara, owned by John O’Kelly,Mullagh. The time was 19.54 for the S6 graded sprint.
In a later race, Money Go East, trained by Bernard Coffey, Sixmilebridge, challenged at the third and fourth bends to come within three parts of a length of the 32.55 winner, the Graham Holland-trained Travara Bound in a grade A0 600.
The Mary Crotty-trained Trefnant Girl, owned in O’Briensbridge by Terry Roberts, was third in  the opening race of the night, the Vetsearch Recharge A3 over 525 yards.

Double for Killaloe trainer

KILLALOE trainer Michael Downes, came away with a double from the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium on Friday night.
Ascot Race (Ace Hi Rumble-Floating Lass) landed the first part of the double in the fourth race for A2 graded runners over 525 yards. Leading at the home bend and finishing well, Ascot Race had a winning distance of two and a half lengths in a time of 29.30 for Quin owner John Hourigan and Pat Reeves.
Two races later, the Killaloe trainer and members of the Vodka and Pyjamas Syndicate from Ennis were in the winners’ enclosure with Calling Belle. Leading at the first, the daughter of Head Bound-Outcast Cynget moved well throughout and with as lively finish had a length and a half on Control Yourself. The time was 29.15.
There was another Killaloe success in the second race, an S3 graded 350, won by Cragghill Ash owned by John Healy. Also leading at the first and going well in the run home, the daughter of Duke Special-Corporate Group won the race by three lengths in 19.00 from Tallyo Princess.
Gort owner, Philip Mullaney, also made it a useful trip from South Galway with his Astroair winning an S5 graded sprint. He also held the upperhand at the opening bend and went on to win by three lengths in 18.95 from Blaze Shadow (Tony Brigdale and Margaret Byrne, Ennis).
Saleofknockbrack, owned by William Keane, Shannon, was third in a heat of the Bennett Oil A5 and also third in another heat of the same event was Rallying Rumble (Dan Flynn, Meelick and Liam Costelloe).
Placed in other races were Wellstone Impact (Patsy Riordan, Shannon) and Hawks Hill Rose (Christine Hopper, Liscannor).

Galway double for Cooraclare family

THE Carey family from Cooraclare scored on the double at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night, while East  Clare trainer, Donal Cooney had the fastest clock with Glitter Freeze (29.10) in the last race of the night.
The first part of the Carey double was in race three with Fernpark Rocket owned by Anna Carey. This was an S6 graded sprint in which Bumlblebee Cora and Sprucey Bonus were in front on the inside and outside of them the pace maker was Fernpark Rocket. As they rounded the opening bend, Fernpark Rocket snatched the lead despite going wide and from here the the son of Hades Rocket-Express Wish galloped clear to win by two and a quarter lengths in a time of 19.58.
Fernpark Express (Crash-Express Smasher) completed the double in the following race, an A5-A6 graded 550, for which traps five and six were vacant. In the long gallop to the opening bend, Fair Exchange in the inside lane led by two lengths from Fernpark Express in trap three. As they made their way down the back, Fernpark Express gradually came closer to the leader and snatched the lead as they came from the back. Owned by Anne Carey, Fernpark Express raced on for a 31.00 win, beating Oranmore Kate by a length and a quarter.
Taking an early lead, the Rynal Ruane-trained and Westport-owned Jumeirah Joe (Brett Lee-Droopy’s Just Hot) justified his favouritism in an A2 graded 525-yard race by scoring a 29.28 win and beating Rathorope Blanco (Martin Kelly, Tubber) by two and a half lengths.
Newmarket-on-Fergus owner, Breda Casey, also made it a worthwhile trip to Galway with her Snuggie Babe who was winner of an A2 graded 550-yard race in a time of 30.76. Drawn in trap two, the joint 6/4 favourite showed good early pace to lead to the opening bend from the Clare-owned runners, I Remember Paddy and Good Slick. Flandy’s Rose in trap five was forced wide but still managed to share in the lead as they made their way towards the half way stage. Coming from the back, Snuggie Babe regained the lead and from here, the daughter of Group Rooster-Christain’s Lady went on to record her 11th career win by beating Flandy’s Rose (Conor Flanagan, Ennistymon) by four and a half lengths. Third place went to Tommie Gallagher’s Good Slick.
The sixth contest was an S2 graded 350-yard affair and following a fairly level break, both Paris Jane in trap three and Sellout Fast Fit in five dominated the early exchange. Owned in Gort by John Quinn and Peter Connolly, Sellout Fast Fit went a few lengths clear from the opening bend and the son of Killahan Phanter-Posh Again went on to win by half a length in 19.38 from the Seamus Fahy-trained Quarter Poet. A half length in arrears for third place was Paris Jane, trained by Donal Cooney for John Doyle, Ennis.
East Clare trainer, Donal Cooney had the fastest winner of the night in Glitter Freeze in the concluding A3 graded 525. The son of Scarty Lad and Ham Ram, who came in as a reserve in trap one, disputed the early lead with Blaze Ken in trap four. He moved clear to lead by four lengths from Cragbrien Black at the halfway stage. Now well in front and running well at the final bend, Glitter Freeze moved on to win the race by six and a quarter lengths in a time of 29.10. The runner-up was the Ennis-owned Blaze Ken (Anthony Brigdale and Margaret Byrne) and a length back for third place was another Ennis-owned runner, Cragbrien Black (Martin Cronin and Robbie Markham).
Bugsy’s Shambo, owned in Kinvara by John O’Sullivan, was third home in the opening  race of the night, an A8 graded 525, won by Unknown Lolain 30.25.
In an S8 graded sprint, Loyal Sue, owned by Michael Donnelly, Loughrea, came with a late burst to take the lead near home and win by half a length from Fast Fit Lar (John Quinn, Gort). Third place was filled by was Corker’s Soviet (Kevin Fahey, Kiltartan),. The time was 19.80.
Inagh owner, trainer Irene Barry, also had a rewarding trip as her Kylea Dreamer in trap six was an impressive six-length winner of an A4 graded 525. The daughter of Droopy’s Scolari-Cathy of Inagh led the rest of the field by one length in the early stages. With a lot of bunching behind her, the winner was on her own  down the far side. She raced on for her eight career win  a clock of 29.46. The winning distance was six lengths from Varra Polly, trained by Donal Cooney for the Boys’ Club Syndicate in East Clare.
A lof of bunching at the opening bend resulted in a five-length lead for Heathlawn Snow at the halfway mark of an A5 graded 525. Knockalton Ellen made up ground from here until the finishing line but Heathlawn Snow still had a two-length advantage for his 30.17 win. Third place was reserve runner, Tyrap White, owned in Shanon by Sean McAllen.
Approaching the opening bend in an A4 graded race, Willrose Jack in trap one led by over two lengths and increased it to four lengths over Dromoher Snoopy rounding the second bend. From halfway, Dromoher Snoopy began to get closer with locally owned Unknown Whiskey also making ground from rear. Off the home turn, the Tony Hegarty-owned Unknown Whiskey (Boherduff Light-Whiskey Dancer) challenged out wide and striking the front close  home defeated Dromoher Snoopy, owned by Megan Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon by a length in 29.58.

Three Clare runners in trackside final

THERE will be three Clare-owned runners, Clonmore Duke, Knockdine Black and Snowey Princes, in the final of the Trackside Advertsing A5 525 final in Galway this coming weekend.
They qualified from the semi-final heats at the College Road venue last Friday night.  
In the opening heat, Outback Delboy set the pace but he went slightly wide off the opening bend, giving an opportunity to Tony Hegarty-owned Unknown Marina to go through on the inside and challenge for the lead at the  halfway stage. As they came to the third bend, Unknown Marina (Royal Impact-Brookline Silver) moved out in front to go clear for a four-length victory in 29.20 from Outback Delboy. Two lengths back for third place was Clonmore Duke owned by Mary Kennedy, Ballynacally.
The Seamus Leahy-owned Headford Deck was defending an unbeaten two from two record in heat two and the son of Ballymac Maeve and Teddy Hoe maintained his good winning  form, this time beating Knockdine Black (Michael O’Brien, Miltown Malbay) by three parts of a length in 29.17. Third qualifying spot went to he Lahinch-owned Snowey Princess (Enda O’Gorman).
Another Miltown Malbay owner, Tom O’Gorman, won the first race of the night, an A5 graded 525, with his trap-one runner, Giftfromhelen (Razldazl Billy-Knockdine Lady). First to show were Georgia’s Girl and Oisín’s Gent Girl but Oisín’s Gent Girl went wide at the opening bend carrying her rivals with her .This allowed Giftfromhelen to gain control. He stayed in front for the remainder of the trip to record a 29.53 win, beating Combo Ellie by nearly four lengths.
In an S5 graded 350 Derrylough Socks, owned by JJ O’Dea, Derrylough, finished in third place. The 19.66 winner was River Boss.
Well-known Clare and Clarecastle hurling personality Ger O’Loughlin won the A4 graded 350 with his aptly named Sparrow’s Monty. This was three wins from six outings for the  John Browne son of Head Bound-Barntick Live. After the traps lifted, he was headed for a few strides by the Ennistymon-owned Wilbrook Fawn in trap five. However, Monty soon took over and  while he was well challenged in the closing stages, he held out to win by a neck from Clonfeigh Dream, owned and trained in Kilmaley by Johnny Maher. The time was 19.51.
The next four races were first-round heats of the 1890 269 969 A6 525 yards stake. Triggs of Inagh in trap two and owned in Inagh by Aislng Arthur made her usual fast start along the inner and she led by a length from Garryowen Hawk and Melodious Mai rounding the opening bend. Down the back, the order remained unchanged until the third bend where the Paul O’Brien-owned Garryowen Hawk (Westmead Hawk-Semper’s Girl) became the new front runner and stayed on to defeat the staying on Kilcorcoran Dan, owned in Miltown Malbay by Eoin Cleary, by a length and three quarters in  29.83. Third home was Triggs of Inagh.
Heat two was won in 29.61 by the Roscrea-owned Leonie’s Leeds from Unknown Havoc and Davris Ria. Clare owner, Kay Lynch, was third in heat heat three with Moya Mae. The 29.59 winner of the heat was Ardera Rambo from Triangle Gisela.
Clairwell Ruby won the final heat in 29.87 from Kilara Blonde and Thurlesbeg Fagin.