Gone to the dogs: Six Offaly winners this week including one in Shelbourne Park

Quarter-finals of valuable stakes were the order of the week, with the cream of our racing dogs vying to extend their run in valuable stakes around the tracks. Some quality Offaly winners added into the mix in another super week of racing.

Early Week Racing

Enniscorthy, Monday, quarter-finals of the April Open unraced stake, four top class winners with a double for Paul Hennessy. Dagingerbreadman was his first in 29.24 by five lengths at even money fav. Dairyhill Stella was his second in 28.95 by four lengths at 6/4 fav. Dubai Kid remains the only unbeaten dog in the stake for Peter Cronin in 29.98 by four lengths at 4/6 fav. Fastest of the four was Misterin Ger for Mary Galway in 29.91 by a short head at 8/1. All races in Enniscorthy were rated  .20 slow.

Thurles, Thursday, two finals of note, in the climax of the Sonny Butler Memorial A4 525, the €1.65k first prize went to Paleriva (Droopys Sydney - Strings Of Pearls) who went through this stake unbeaten  in 29.97 (20 slow), by eight lengths at 4/5 fav, for owner Shannon Smith. The second final was an A5 525, won by an Offaly dog, as Totos Farloe (Farloe Blitz - Rosmult Racer) for Birr owner Tony McCormack and Denis Fogarty, in 29.35 (20 slow) by one length, at 5/2 with a cheque of €1.3k going their way. One Offaly winner in Shelbourne Park, in an A4 contest, Moneygall Aaron won for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.32 by one length at 6/1.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner on Friday was in Dundalk as Carrick Aldo won an S4 400 yard dash in 21.44 by two lengths for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn with David Murray training. In the Marble City, it was quarterfinal night of the Kilkenny Champion Open unraced stake. Droopys Doughnut set the standard in 28.65 (20 slow) by eight lengths at 2/1. Another to impress was Clonroosk Sydney for Portlaoise owners Ray (Cookie) Conroy and Ollie Dunne in 28.69 (20 slow) by one length at 2/1. Both these look to have a bright future ahead of them. 

Newbridge hosted the quarter-finals of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 550 Derby, All About Magic went fastest of the four for Owen McKenna in 30.07 by five lengths at 3/1. In Galway, in an S6 350 yard distance, Cappaneale Lulu was first home for Birr owners Michael Pardy and Jack Carroll in 19.29 (.05 slow) by six lengths at 6/4.

In Shelbourne Park, in the final of the This Runs Deep A1 stake, the €1.75k pot went to Droopys Ailsa (Loughteen Blanco - Droopys Berry) in 28.66 by three lengths at 4/5 fav with Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson guiding.

In the first round of the Islandbridge Open Sprint won last year by Off The Pitch for Marie and Skip Gilbert. Three heats with top sprinter Gizmo Cash going fastest for Keeley McGee who was winning his twenty third race, in 18.59 by three lengths, at 4/7 fav. Having  won the Supersprint in Cork in 2022 and with Flashing Willow winning it this year it’s going to be some battle between the two of these for the prestigious Islandbridge trophy. 

In Tralee, in the quarter-finals of Lee Strand A3 550, Ballyard Oscar went fastest in heat three in 29.54 (20 fast) by two lengths at 7/2 for Micheal Daly.

Saturday Racing

Cork, quarter-finals of the Curraheen Park A2 Spring Derby, Ballymac Pete was fastest of the four for Liam Dowling in 28.39 (10 fast) by four lengths at 2/1.

The best race on a good card in Limerick was the final of the Epic Hero Limerick Open Oaks. Class won out here as Rafa Mofo (Droopys Sydney - Clares Queen) made all to win 28.23 by two lengths at 4/5 for Murt Leahy. The €2.8k first prize brings her career earnings to over €40k and she is now a treble Oaks champion having already won the National Oaks and the Galway Oaks. No doubt this top class bitch will be back to defend her National Oaks which starts in a couple of weeks. It will take something very special to stop her. 

No Offaly winner in Mullingar on a Saturday night which is certainly a rarity. 

In Shelbourne, in the semifinals of the Champion Open 550, Bens Teddy won the first for Pat Buckley in 29.63 by three lengths at 4/6 fav, while Sober Glory won the second for Karol Ramsbottom in near identical time of 29.64 by two lengths at 4/5 fav. One Offaly winner earlier in the card as Laughil Rocky won an A1 550 for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings in 29.83 by one length at 3/1 with David Murray training.

Sunday Racing

Just the one Faithful County winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, Lahinch Blaze won an A6 contest in 29.99 (50 slow) by three lengths at 3/1 for Clara owner P.J. Cleary. 

Upcoming Events

Friday, semi-finals of the Champion Open Unraced in Kilkenny, semifinals of the Newbridge Derby, semifinals of the Islandbridge Open Sprint and semifinals of the Lee Strand A3 stake in Tralee.

Saturday, semi-finals of the Curraheen Spring Derby in Cork and final of the Shelbourne Champion Open 550 in Ringsend Dublin 4.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

To win in Shelbourne on a Saturday night is always a tough ask and so Laughil Rocky gets the nod this week having won an A1 550 there in a super 29.83 for Mary and Paul Jennings. Well deserved. 

Offaly Winners

Six Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved in any way.