Gone to the dogs: Four Offaly winners

This weeks's racing included the final of the Juvenile Derby in Shelbourne with two Offaly dogs taking their chance in that race and the third round of the Laurels in Cork with another two hotly fancied Faithful County dogs dominating the week’s racing. Plenty of sweepstake action around the tracks with some very decent Offaly winners.

Early Week Racing.

Enniscorthy, Monday, in the final of the September Open unraced stake, Azurite (Droopys Sydney - Ballybrack Gem) won the €2k first prize for Waterford trainer Peter Cronin in 28.74 (20 slow) by five lengths at 6/4 fav.

Thursday, Shelbourne, the final of the Time Record Breaker A5 stake final was the best race on the card with a cheque of €1.75k going to Saleen Mateo (Sonic - Chubbys Lara) and Patrick O’Connor in 28.44 by nine lengths at 1/2 fav.

Friday Racing.

Eight heats in the first round of the Time Greyhound Nutrition A3 stake dominated proceedings in Kilkenny. All won in top class times. Prime Rocket set the standard for Shaun Conway when stopping the clock in 29.09 (10 slow) by three lengths at 4/1.

A new stake got underway in Newbridge in honour of one of their greatest patrons, who sadly passed away earlier this year, the Bosco Gleeson Memorial A2 stake. Six heats with Da Quiet Syd going fastest for the Keep-It-Civil-Syndicate in 28.42 by six lengths at 6/4 fav. One Offaly winner in this very competitive stake as Glenlara Blue had his fifth career win when coming from off the pace to win in a super 28.65 by six lengths at 5/2 for Ballinagar owner Liam Kirley and nephew Thomas Garry.

Two finals in Shelbourne both worth €1.75k to the winners. In the Time Greyhound 28 A2 575 stake, Simons Cap (Droopys Sydney - Yahoo Doll) won in 30.92 by five lengths at 2/1 for Marie and Skip Gilbert. The second final was the RCETS A3 525 stake with Droopys Edel (King Sheeran - Droopys Hunch) coming out on top in 28.31 for Ian Reilly by eight lengths at 5/4 fav.

Saturday Racing.

Galway, first round of the Liam Brussels Memorial A4 Stake won last year by Birr owner Paul Pardy with So Its Rapid. Four heats with joint fastest winners in 29.50 (10 slow), Drumgeely Jim for Aidan Bennett by ten lengths and Move Over Ogie for Larry Enright by one length. 

In the Dock Road track in Limerick, they had the first round of the Arachas Corporate Brokers LTD A1 600 yard stake, five closely fought heats with Newport Pier setting the bar highest for The Mullins - Curtin Syndicate in 32.65 by three lengths at 2/1. 

Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, in an A8 contest, Mosstown Mill won for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in 30.20 by four lengths at a short 1/2 fav. 
In an A6 grade, Over The Top was first back in kennels for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch, in 30.46 by two lengths, at 3/1. In an A3 race, One Inallout had his second career win for Cappincur owners Charlie Colgan and the Glafo Syndicate, in a super time of 29.66, by five lengths. All races in Mullingar were rated .70 slow. 
Thurles staged the final of one of their main events of the year, the Kasco Dog Foods ON2 unraced stake, the €2.2k pot went to Two Slip Jig (Broadstrand Bono - Kilgowan Honey) in 28.99 (20 slow) by three lengths at 1/1 fav for Jason Fletcher. 
A brilliant nights racing in Curraheen Park in Cork with the quarter-finals of two of their top annual stakes. Four fantastic heats in the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels with champion trainer Graham Holland winning three of them. Holland provided the fastest heat winner aswell as Glory Baz stopped the clock in 28.21 by three lengths at 7/2. Heat three was won by Rathdown Molly for Marie Gilbert in 28.26.  Carrick Aldo was only a neck behind for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn and has a real live chance now heading into Saturday’s semi-finals. Glynns other Runner Carrick Fergie missed the kick at the start and was never really involved in this heat and was sadly eliminated. In the quarterfinals of the Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial A2 stake, Millridge Nadia went fastest for Stephen O’Mahony in 28.44 by five lengths at 6/4 fav. 
The best racing of the week was reserved for a full house in Shelbourne Park, with the final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby. It was so nearly an Offaly winner as Short Grip for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman was only beaten a length by Droopys Flytline (Laughil Blake - Droopys Curio) in the fastest ever final won over the 525 trip in Shelbourne in 27.93 at 15/8. No taking away from the winner as he's now won eight out of his nine races he has run, having won the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open unraced in Cork in July, and with the €25k first prize here has now amassed over €31k in his short career for Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson. Short Grip ran her heart out for Cocoman and was ahead by a length after the line – he has only has four dogs in his kennels, a brilliant achievement. The €6k second place prize is nice but expect this bitch to be back tackling major events next year as she’s still very young and only learning her trade. Our other runner in the final Highview Splash for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman was never really involved at the business end of the race and finished a gallant fifth. 
In the first round of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600, won last year by Bockos Crystal for Graham Holland. Four heats with Derby finalist Bens Teddy winning the first for Pat Buckley in 32.44 by three lengths. The second heat went to Jetstream Breeze for Marie Gilbert in 32.27 also by three lengths. Heat three was the fastest one with Glengar Elvis first over the whitewash in 32.22 by four lengths for Buckley again with the final heat going to Droopys Nice One for Murt Leahy in 32.43 by three lengths. Picking the winner of this stake an impossible task as the standard is so high. 

Sunday Racing.

No Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar which is a rarity.   At the evening in Clonmel, there was one final up for grabs, the John White Memorial A2 550 Perpetual Cup, with the €2.6k first prize going to Patrick Barrett as Da Councillor (Bull Run Bolt- Ranchers Rainbow) made it three wins from three starts in this stake when first home in 30.23 (10 slow) by two lengths at 1/2 fav. 

Upcoming Events.

Friday, quarter-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition A3 stake in Kilkenny and quarterfinals of the Bosco Gleeson Memorial A2 stake in Newbridge. Saturday, semifinals of the Liam Brussels Memorial A4 in Galway, quarterfinals of the Arachas Corporate Brokers A1 600 in Limerick, semifinals of the Yvonne Barry Bookmaker Open 600 in Shelbourne and semifinals of the Irish Laurels and the Bart Leahy Memorial in Cork. Plenty of top class action to look forward to this week. 

Tribune Offaly dog of the week.

Although not a winner, Short Grip gets the nod for finishing second in the Juvenile Derby, only beaten a length in 27.93 leaving her doing 28.00 flat which would have won all previous Juvenile Derbys. A great training feat for P.J. Cocoman and a well deserved winner this week. 

Offaly Winners.

In what was another great week of racing, Offaly dogs returned a credible four winners. Well done to all.