Gone to the dogs: Good week for Offaly greyhounds

The final of the richest juvenile race in the world took place in Limerick on Saturday. A packed house to witness the final of the Con And Annie Kirby Memorial where over €150k in prize money was up for grabs and racegoers weren’t left disappointed after a cracking final.

The final of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks in Shelbourne and the semifinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes in Waterford featured strongly during a super week of racing.

Early Week Racing

Nothing much to report with no Offaly winners during the first four days of the week.

Friday Racing

First Faithful County winner came in Clonmel as Kevin Pardy made the trip from South Offaly with Birr Bomber to win an S6 300 yard sprint race in 16.50 by four lengths at 4/6 fav. Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton brought Kelpie to Galway and won an A5 525 in 29.36 (10 slow) by six lengths at 6/4.

The best race in  Kilkenny was the final The Georgie Leahy Memorial A3 stake. The €2k first prize went to Deadly Crusader (Droopys Sydney-Mysterious Ways) who was winning his fifteenth race for Stradbally trainer Karol Ramsbottom in 29.06 (20 slow) by four lengths at 3/1. Newbridge staged the final of the Hawkfield Ozark @ Stud ON2 Unraced. A shock here as 10/1 Winner Doonanes Franco (Ballymac Anton-Old Treasure) broke smartly and was never threatened when winning by three lengths for Dennis Smyth with €1.6k going his way. 

In Shelbourne, in the final of the Talking Dogs A5 stake, the €1.75k first prize went to Norristown Daisy-Droopys Sydney-Barntick Smokey) for Seamus Begley and Rickie Doyle in 28.93 by one length at 4/1.

In the semifinals of the RCETS Open Unraced Stake, the first heat went to Torpedo Turtle for Jack Kennelly in 29.27 by one length. The second semi was much faster as Syd Zafiro stopped the clock in 28.37 by eight lengths at 4/5 fav with Owen McKenna at the helm. One Offaly winner on the supporting card as Highview Annie won an A5 race for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.14 by a head at 5/4 fav.

Festival night in Tralee with all races sponsored by the Dowling family culminating with the final of the John And Mary Killeacle Dowling A1 570. Millridge Bryce (Bickerton Boom-Sign On Katie) took the honours and the first prize cheque of €2,275 for Donal O’Mahony in 39.93 by two lengths at 2/1.

Saturday Racing

A huge evening of racing nationwide saw  the best dogs in the country all vying to win some serious money and more importantly add to their growing reputations.

Con And Annie Kirby Memorial Final

A capacity crowd in the Dock Road track in Limerick for the final of the most valuable Juvenile race in the world. Sponsors Noreen and J.P. McManus once again backed up this stake in honour or Noreen’s late parents who were big supporters and lovers of the Greyhound industry.

It was a super night of racing with the final not alone being  worth €130k to the participants but eight races worth €2k to the winners and one worth €5k. Clonbrien Treaty won this last year for champion trainer Graham Holland however this year's final was probably the most wide open since its inauguration in 2013. There was support and claims for all six in the final but this stake was over at the traps as Knockeen Dazzler (Laughil Blake-Love Island) rocketed out of trap six and was never in danger on his way to lifting the €80k first prize when winning in 28.10 by four lengths at 5/2 for Castleisland owner Daniel O’Rahilly.

The second most valuable stake in Ireland was kept in the south and a worthy winner as Knockeen won four of his five rounds with his blistering early pace and improved on his winning time weekly. Expect to see this fellow heading to headquarters later in the year for the Derby and there won’t be many out the to stop him doing this unprecedented double.  Merits Inclusion was second for Brendan Mathews and received a cheque for €20k with Scooby Pacemaker third with €10k heading to Killenaule and his trainer Jennifer O’Donnell. The three remaining dogs each got €4.25k for their efforts. Also in the Treaty City track was the final of The Sean O’Connor Memorial A1 Stake with the €5k pot going to Tinahue Pappone (Toker Forest-Tinahue Lady) for John Fox in 28.27 by three lengths at 2/1.

Curraheen Park in Cork staged the first round of the 2024 A2 Spring Derby won last year by Montana Fantasy for John  Linehan. Eight heats with Seek The Kingdom setting the bar highest for Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy in 28.49 by two lengths at 4/6 fav.

First two Offaly winners on Saturday were in Mullingar. The first race on the card, an ON2 unraced went to Croghan owner Mick Lynch as Sallagh Swing won in 30.52 (60 slow) by two lengths at 2/1. In an A9 525 Horseleap Mandy was first over the whitewash for Sean McGuinness in 30.86 (60 slow) by one length at 2/1. 

A great nights racing in Shelbourne Park with ten open grade races on view and again plenty of prize money was on offer. In the final of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks the €10k first prize went to the hot favourite as Ballymac Danica (Ballymac Cooper-Ballymac Arminta) won for Liam Dowling in 28.46 by three lengths at 4/5 fav. Crafty Bondi was second for Peter Divilly winninga purse of €3k.  The  first round of the Shelbourne Open 600 won last year by the great Ballinabola Ed for Pat Buckley got underway. Four heats with Ballymac Gizmo going fastest for Dowling again in 32.33 by three lengths at 2/1.

Two great Offaly winners on the under card. In the final of the This Runs Deep AO Dual Distance Stake over the 550 yard trip Carrick Keano (Dromana Bucko-Droopys Zero) came home like a train to just get up on the line and win the €2k prize and trophy for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 29.83 by a head at 2/1 with Robert Gleeson training.  In an A2 525, another Edenderry owner was on the winners podium as Trinity Bella won for Timmy Slevin in 28.94 by three lengths at 1/1 fav from the Peter Cronin kennels. 

Two finals in Thurles, in the Maurice Ryan ON2 Unraced decider, there was a dead heat finish as Borna Bono (Broadstrand Bono-Borna Blossom) for the Borna Syndicate at 3/1 and Bogger Una (Black Parachute-Bogger Megan) for Liam Peacock at 2/1 couldn’t be separated in 29.18 (20 slow) with both receiving  €1.54k for first place. In the final of the Simon’s Bar Clonoulty A2 stake, the €2.15k winners cheque went to Splendid Fellow (Confident Rankin-Vivara Sansa) in 29.28 (20 slow) by one length at 2/1 for Paraic Campion.

The best two races in Kilcohan Park in Waterford so far this year were the semifinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes. Jacktavern Bolt won the first for Holland in 28.28 by one length at 5/4 fav with Timmy Slevin’s Trinity Junior in second running a big race. Droopys Fidget won the second semi for Gleeson in 28.23 by six lengths at 7/4 fav. Don’t rule out the Edenderry dog in Saturday’s final as he has drawn the red jacket on the rails  and the rest will certainly have to be on their toes to beat him. Hopefully another big win for the Faithful County.

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at Mullingar's matinee meeting. In an A4 contest White Toe Butler won for Mount Lucas owners Anthony and Elaine O’Grady in 29.74 (50 slow) by three lengths at 5/2. Our final winner of the week was in an A2 grade as Lahinch Blaze had her tenth career win  for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.02 (50 slow) by one length at 6/4 fav. 

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the RCETS Open Unraced Skake in Shelbourne.
Saturday, second round of the Spring Derby in Cork, semifinals of the Open 600 yard stake in Shelbourne and final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes in Waterford. 

Tribune Offaly dog of the week.

Easy decision this week as Carrick Keano gets the nod for the second week in a row when winning the final of The This Runs Deep AO Dual Distance stake in Shelbourne on Saturday night in a super 29.83 over the 550 yard trip for Thomas Glynn. Quality performance.

Offaly Winners

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