Gone to the dogs: Great win for Rhode owner

Open class races were few and far between this week as many top trainers took their best dogs to Towcester for racing and trials in preparation for the English Derby which is just around the corner.

Stakes this week may not be as strong as other times of the year. However, there were still some valuable stakes on offer including the semifinals of the  Shelbourne Open 550, the final of the A2 Spring Derby in Cork, the final of the Limerick Oaks where there was a magnificent Offaly winner, the quarter-finals of the Champion Open Unraced in Kilkenny and the second round of the Lee Strand A3 550 in Tralee. After the high of eleven Offaly winners last week we had a more modest returns this week but still some quality ones in the mix.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Quarter-finals of the April Unraced Open Stake in Enniscorthy, Hogans Hawk set the standard for Willie O’Connor in a decent 28.80 (20 slow) by six lengths at 5/4 joint fav.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Newbridge in the quarterfinals of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 Derby. Leeloo won for the second week in a row in this competition for Croghan owner Nuala Lynch in 30.12 by three lengths at 1/1 fav. Fastest of the four heats was Victory Lane for Ken O’Neill in 29.88 by one length at 3/1.

Kilkenny, quarter-finals of the Champion Open Unraced Stake, joint fastest heat winners here as Broadstrand Syd for John Linehan and the classicly bred Neko Harbour (Droopys Sydney-Susie Sapphire) for Owen McKenna both won in 28.93 (30 slow). Other two winners were Hogan Stand for James O’Regan in 29.30 (30 slow) and Julies Gem for Murt Leahy in 29.25.

One Offaly winner in Shelbourne Park, in the semi-finals of an A4 sweepstake Highview Emer had her first career win for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 28.69 by a wide margin of thirteen lengths at 6/4.

In the second round of the Lee Strand A3 550, six heats with a double for Pat Buckley. The fastest of the sextet was Dashing Toro for the Twice-A-Day-Everyday Syndicate in 29.47 by seven lengths at 2/1.

Saturday Racing

The most valuable stake of the week was in Cork's Curraheen Park in the final of the 2024 A2 Spring Derby. The €7.5k first prize went to Katsumoto (Ballymac Bolger- Murlens Maura) for Gerry Holian who broke smartly and was never headed winning in 28.52 by a neck at 1/1 fav. Ballymac Slick was second for Liam Dowling and received a cheque for €3k. 

There was a very popular Offaly winner of the AAO  Clonbrien Treaty Limerick Oaks at the Dock Road track. Short Grip (Grangeview Ten-Mystical Luna) pinged the lids for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman and was never in any bother coming home two lengths clear of the field in a super 28.11 at 7/4. The €4K first prize here has now brought this super brindle bitch’s career earnings to over €12k, but more importantly proves that she’s one of the fastest females in training, and can now head back to Shelbourne knowing she has a real live chance in the Sporting Press Irish Oaks which is about to start in a couple of weeks. This is a great win for her very popular Rhode owners as generations of Cocoman’s have put their lifetimes in greyhound racing. There will be some fun with the offspring of this champion in years to come. 

Shelbourne Park staged the semif-inals of the Champion Open 550, Silverhill Adam won the first for Graham Holland in 29.81 by one length at 4/1, Offaly dog Carrick Keano was third in this heat for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn, comfortably making Saturdays final. The second semi was won in a faster 29.66 as Carmac King made all to win by eight lengths at 1/1 fav for Owen McKenna who had a magnificent four timer on the night.

Two splendid Offaly winners on the night, in an AO 525 Highview Splash stopped the timer in 28.25 by five lengths at 4/5 fav again for Merriman. In the final race of the night last year’s Champion Stakes and Consolation Derby winner Trinity Junior looks like he’s hitting form at the right time again for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin when winning an AAO 550 recording his fourteenth career win in 29.96 by one length at 4/5 fav. 

Sunday Racing

No Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar which is a rarity or the evening meetings in Clonmel and Lifford.

Upcoming Events

Friday, semi-finals of the Islandbridge Open Sprint in Shelbourne, Kilkenny semi-finals of the Champion Open Unraced, semifinals of the A1 Newbridge Derby and quarter-finals of the Lee Strand A3 550 in Tralee.Saturday, final of the Shelbourne Champion 550 at the Ringsend Stadium.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Easy decision this week again as Short Grip wins for the second week in a row for P.J. Cocoman when winning the very competitive AAO Clonbrien Treaty Limerick Oaks in a magnificent 28.11 by two lengths. Super performance.

Offaly Winners

Five Offaly winners this week. Well done to all connections.