Tornado carrying Clare’s Oaks hopes

CLARE’S hopes for glory in the Sporting Press Oaks has been reduced to just one challenger, Shes a Tornado, following second-round heats at Shelbourne Park last Saturday night.

Trained by Paul Henessy for Michael Hogan and Peter Mulligan, Ennis, she is returning to the form that saw her win five of her seven races in Shelbourne Park Park earlier this year with very fast times.
She performed well in the opening round of the Oaks and followed up with a fine win in heat two of the second round last weekend. The daughter of Droopys Scolari-Forest Holly was fast away from trap two to lead the trap-one runner, Killinan Dancer, to the opening bend. She remained in command for the rest of the trip to win by two lengths in 28.60 from Ilikeyou, who made a great recovery after a slow start. She was a superb 28.56 winner in the opening round.
Paradise Siesta, owned by Sean Meade, Miltown Malbay, just failed to qualify from heat six after finishing fourth. The money-on favourite Cabra Millie was slow away behind the fast breaking Milldean Tally, who led from Paradise Siesta and Rosiemac. At the line, it was Milldean Tally by six and a half lengths in 28.77 from Rosiemac. Cabra Millie improved greatly to snatch third place, three parts of a length in front of Paradise Siesta.
The other heat winners were Droopys Ida (28.89) from Millbank and Rockburst Delta; College Maybe (28.53) from Glenwood Pixie and Domestic Lily; Smoke Pixie (28.31) from Drummer Vixen and Ballverry Girl; Tantallons Kay (28.69) from Tyrur Monica and Oran Rossi; Highview Idol (29.17) from Exciting Poppet and Rios Girl and Borna Gem (28.90) from Solo Star and Crossfield Tina.
The big shock of the second round was the elimination of Airforce Diva after failing to recover from early traffic trouble.
The draw for the third round is as follows: Heat 1: 1. Ilikeyou; 2. Millbank Lola; 3. Exciting Poppet; 4. Oran Rossi; 5. Borna Gem; 6. Tyrur Monica (m).
Heat 2: 1. Rosiemac; 2. Rios Girl; 3. Shes a Tornado; 4. Milldean Tally; 5. Solo Star Star (m); 6. Smoke Pixie (w).
Heat 3: 1. College Maybe; 2. Domestic Lily; 3. Crossfield Tina; 4. Tantallons Sky; 5. Ballverry Girl; 6. Glenwood Pixie (w).
Heat 4: 1. Drummer Vixen; 2. Droopys Ida; 3. Killinan Dancer; 4. Highway Idol; 5. Rockburst Delta; 6. Cabra Millie.

 

Celebration time for Gort contingent

IT was a good night for the Gort contingent in Galway on Friday night. The winner of the top graded race of the night was County Hurlers, trained by Noel Mullins for Sean and Mike Mullins.
In the A3 graded 525, County Hurlers was fastest away from trap four to lead by two lengths at the opening bend. Down the back, Barbersfort Bobo and Glasheen Queen came closer and over the last two bends Glasheen Queen threatened most. However, County Hurlers responded well and the son of Bree Lee-Ellas Pride held out to win by a neck in 29.52. The runner-up, Glasheen Queen, is owned in Kilkee by Brendan Browne.
Jim McLoughlin, trainer and the JDD syndicate from Shannon Airport won the chief supporting race with Blue Tarquynn. In the A4 graded 550, Orbsen Myth and Slim Away disputed the lead in front of Garryowen Hawk and Blue Tarquynn in two. Slim Away went on by two lengths at the opening bend but Blue Tarquynn (Hondo Black-Money Go Lucky) had joined him in the inside as they approached halfway. As they came to the third bend, Blue Tarquynn moved out in front to take control and win by nearly four lengths in 30.80 from Garryowen Lisa. Third home was Sean Hehir’s Dunsallagh Lisa.
There was a tremendusly exciting finish to the opening race of the night, an S8 graded sprint in which Coolarne Billy and the Miltown Malbay-owned Nells Fantasy dead-heated for first place. Breaking fastest, Coolarne Billy (Razldazl Billy-Coolarne Holly) broke smartly to lead by three lengths approaching the opening bend, around which the red-jacketed Nells Fantasy (Premier Fantasy-Knockdine Lady) went a clear second. Racing up the straight, Nells Fantasy closed with every stride on the leader and as they crossed the line, they were as one, with the judge calling a dead heat in 19.69.
Ballyvaughan owner Douglas Culligan was on the ball in the second race, an A7 graded 525 yards affair, with his Pinnacle Star in trap one. For her maiden success, the daughter of Tyrur Ted-Utorquealot was smartly away from trap one to lead Karalla Stase in trap two around the opening bend. The winner railed superbly all through to win by a length in 30.09 from Brigid D’Arcy’s Glenfort Fantasy.
The Girls’ syndicate from Kinvara won the next race, an S6 graded sprint, with Castle Jack in trap five. Showing good early pace, the son of Tynwald Smokey-The Other Sense led Wilbrook Jake by a length going to the first bend. Both runners went wide to give the advantage to Ollys Nifty. However, Castle Jack regained the lead to win by a length in 19.85 from Boherash Torpedo, owned by Frank Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
TJ McMahon’s Roo Story finished third in an A5 graded 525 won by Glensaul Alfred in 29.41.
Burnpark Alfie (Mary Browne) was a trap-one runner in an S5 graded sprint and, although breaking well, found his way blocked on the inside at the opening bend. On the run home it was a great battle between Wrong Dog and Burnpark Alfie but the locally-owned dog got there by a neck in 19.44.
Doonbeg was on the map in the next race, an A6 graded 525 which won by the trap-one runner, Evelyns Fancy owned by Michael Finn. Glenfort Dusk and Kilara Blonde (T3) went stride for stride in the run to the opening bend just ahead of Tintreach Wolf. However, as they rounded the bend Evelyn’s Fancy came through on the inside to take the lead and go clear down the back straight. Railing well again around the final two bends, the daughter of Killahan Phanter and Gold Rumble had an impressive winning distance of eight-and-a-half lengths in 29.81 from Tinreach Wolf.
Donie Duggan from near Tulla made it another win for Clare in the next race, which was the final of the Galway Camogie A5 over 525 yards. The trap-five favourite, Last Lap, was in third place rounding the bend, behind Glanbrack Paul. Turning down the back, Last Lap switched inside his rivals to challenge and striking the front passing halfway he looked set to score. However, Donal Duggan’s Knoppogue Green in trap one started to move in quickly from the third bend, challenging wide up the straight. The daughter of Greenwell Storm-Class Time went on to score a great win by half a length in 29.24 from Last Lap.

More success for Duggan

CLARE trainer Donie Dugan had a good night at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday, coming away with a double, which included the feature race of the night won by Fanore Mac, owned by Fanore publican, Pat O’ Donoghue.
This was in the last race on the card, a mini-open 525, which saw all six runners lined across the track as they came to the opening bend. Here Fanore Mac in trap three edged out in front of Peadar’s Touch, also trained by Donie Duggan for Shannon owner, Peter Russell and the East Clare-owned Varra Polly.
Although Fanore Mac led by four lengths down the back, Varra Polly began to make up ground from the third bend and in a hectic finish, Fanore Mac (Elite State-Lake Lodge) held out to win by three parts of a length in 29.03 and record the second part of the double for Donie Duggan. The runner-up, Varra Polly, is trained by Donal Cooney for the Boys’ Club syndicate.
The first part of the double was initiated through the Donie Duggan-owned and trained Knoppogue Mate in trap one in an A3 graded 550. There was nothing between Knoppogue Mate and Hanover Maeve in trap six in the long run to the opening bend.
Hanover Maeve went half a length in front as they raced down the back but with the benefit of the inside run, Knoppogue Mate captured the lead at the third bend. Now in control of matters, Knoppogue Mate (Kinloch Brae-Climates Kewell) raced to the line two lengths ahead of Hanover Maeve. His time for his eighth career win was 30.46.
Rynal Ruane’s Outback Hotchner won the chief supporting race, an A2 graded 525. He was in front by four lengths at the halfway stage and after railing well over the two final bends, Frank Browne’s Mine Echo came closer. In the run for the line Outback Hotchner stayed on for a one-length win in 29.39.
From the start of an S2 graded sprint race, PJ Fahy’s Tyrur Johnfrancis and Sean Hehir’s Dunnsallagh Pride set the pace. As they rounded the home bend the pair were neck and neck but in the long run in, Tyrur Johnfrancis gained the initiative to win the race by a length and a half in 19.12.
In the opening race on the card, an A7 graded 525, PJ Fahy’s Tyrur O’Reilly finished the stronger to beat Brigid D’Arcy’s Glenfort Fantasy by over three lengths in 29.46.
The Ennis-owned Bypass Joe (Paddy and Kevin Darcy) showed the way until the home bend in an A4 graded 525 and at that stage the Loughrea-owned Ballaugh Gift came through to win by three and a half lengths in 29.56 from Wood Nina. Third home was Cahercalla Risk, owned by Sean Heeney and Tony Quinn, Ennis.
Woodlawn Rumble, owned by John Conway, Kilrush, was the first of five Clare winners on the night. After an even break, Woodlawn Rumble and Knockdine Ash moved a few lengths clear of the rest. They swung wide off the home bend but were still well clear and in the close finish, Woodlawn Rumble (Ace Hi Rumble-Ferryside Miss) just got there by half a length in 19.79 from Knockdine Ash, owned by Helen O’Brien, Miltown Malbay.
Bernard Coffey, trainer and John Whelan, Sixmilebridge, owner, made it win number two for the Banner with their Mad For Money (Hondo Black-Money Go Lucky) in an A4 graded 525. Bumblebee Rosie in four was first into the front and as they rounded the first bend, she had two lengths on Mad For Money in five and Haveweanine in six. As they rounded the third bend, Mad For Money made her move to challenge for the number one spot and quickly went clear to beat Bumblebee Rosie by three and a half lengths. Her clock was 29.39.
North Clare owner Mark Shannon also made his mark with Hold It Hades. A reserve runner in trap two in an A4 graded 550, Hold It Hades and Killuran Rocky were the ones to watch after the traps lifted. It was Killuran Rocky who was the three-length leader as they raced to the first bend. Still two lengths in front as they came to the third, Killuran Rock, also a reserve runner, was now being pressed more and more by Hold It Hades, who joined the early leader at the home bend.
It was from here that the daughter of Hades Rocket-Glenfort Rumble got on top as they raced for the line. The North Clare runner went on to win by a length and three quarters in a time of 30.83. The Darren Cooney-trained Killuran Rocky was runner-up.

Limerick to host heats of Con Kirby Memorial

FIRST-round heats of the Con Kirby Memorial Open 550 will get underway at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium on Friday night. The stake is worth €5,000 and a trophy to the winner.
The night is also a fundraiser for St Kieran’s GAA Club with the feature race being the final of the Johnny Duggan Memorial A2 525.
Saturday night will be a fundraiser for Inagh National School and the card will feature first-round heats of the Sales at Limerick A3 525 sweepstake.
There will be Monday night racing in Limerick next week with the semi-finals of the Limerick and Clare GOBA Novice 750, A3 Dual Distance 550/575 and N2/N3 Unraced 525. The next sale will be on Tuesday, July 10 and entries close on June 26 at 12 noon.
On the racing front, in Limerick on Friday night Steves Duke (Dukes Special-Corporate Group) scored another win for owners John Healy, Killaloe and Sean Stack, Sixmilebridge. With his good early pace from trap two, Steves Duke was always in front but at the end had to fight off the challenge of Hidden Jester to win by a short head in 28.89 in the first semi-final heat of the Johnny Duggan Memorial A2 over 525 yards.
Psychic Sam was also a trap-to-line winner of the second semi-final heat, beating reserve runner, Portdrine Bobby, owned by Liam Carroll, Cratloe, by four lengths in 28.68.
Sixmilebridge trainer and Clare owners, Frankie Sheehan, Ennis and Michael Lillis, Cooraclare had another winner with their Bees Wing (Nobooth for Gary-Mona the Minx) in Limerick on Friday night. Leading from the second bend, Bees Wing went on to win the S2/S3 sprint race by a head in 19.00 from Slippy Daly.
Mary Crotty’s Inislosky Ruso was runner-up in an A8 graded 525, while the Michael Downes-trained Sailing was also second home in an A4 graded 525. The Killaloe trainer also took runner-up spot with Bearhaven Gale in an A4 graded 550. The half-length winner in 30.34 was Bright Sandy.
Peadars Touch, trained by Donie Duggan for Peter Russell, Shannon, was placed third in an A1 graded 525.
Owner-trainer Tom Flanagan from Ennistymon, scored once again with his Contentious. Running from trap five in an A2 graded 550 in Limerick on Saturday night, the daughter of Droopys Kewell-Coldwar Baby took over the lead at the second bend and went on her way to a one-and-a-half length win in 30.19.
In the following race, the final of the Limerick-Clare GOBA mini open 525 grade A0, Bua Tommy, owned by Paul Dillon, was bumped at the first bend, led at the second and went on to win the race by three lengths from Rallying Raider, owned by Dan Flynn, Meelick. The winning time was a fast 28.76.
Call Me Sarah, owned by Noreen Lillis, won an S4 graded 350 yards race in 19.20.
In an open 525, Maureen Casey’s Varra Captain (Head Bound-Varra Lark) was a five-length winner in 28.57 from Ocean Crash (Tom Fitzgerald, Parteen).

Inaugural national gathering planned

THE Irish Greyhound Board, Irish Kennel Club and GAIN Food have announced the first National Greyhound Gathering Day on Saturday, July 28 from 11am to 3pm at the IKC National Exhibition Centre, Cloghran.
Retired racing greyhounds from across the country will be celebrated in an event that will showcase them as loving and low maintenance pets, while offering an entertaining day out for spectators. The Greyhound Gathering offers a platform for owners and trainers to introduce both their active and retired greyhounds to the general public, greyhound adopters to trade tips and those interested in adopting these much loved animals will be introduced to owners of active and retired greyhounds on the day.
Throughout the day there will be greyhound shows and novelty classes such as Best Handled by Gent, Best Handled by Lady and the most coveted, Best Available for Adoption. Other events on the day will include flyball and agility. These spectacular events will be open to all greyhounds but will need IKC training prior to the event. Training for the events will be at the IKC Centre, Cloghran, Dublin, near the airport.
Barry Coleman, welfare and racing operation support manager of the Irish Greyhound Board said IGB are always looking for ways to ensure retired greyhounds are looked after in the best way possible and endeavour to find the right greyhound for every family that is interested in adopting a retired animal. The National Gathering Day is a great way to showcase greyhounds as pets and great fun.
Willie Rigney from GAIN said, “It is a pleasure to work in conjunction with the IKC and IGB and great to see the concerted effort that is made by all involved to create awareness around retired greyhounds as pets.”
Members of the public are urged to come along on July 28 for a fun day out and to see these greyhounds enjoying a new aspect of retirement. There will be trade stands and representatives from GAIN, IKC and IGB to answer queries.