Gone to the dogs: Ten Offaly winners

Getting down to business this week were the Leger in Limerick and the National Sprint in Dundalk with the running of the semifinals. After Saturday’s semi’s six dogs remained for finals of two of the biggest stakes of the year. The Time Juvenile Derby got underway in Shelbourne with a super Offaly winner. The final of the valuable Cork Derby also topped the bill in another super week of racing. Usual top class sweepstakes action around the country with plenty of Offaly dogs to the fore as is the norm.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, semi-finals of the Kiltrea Kennels Open Unraced Stake. Hopes Kitty won the first for Pat Buckley in 28.99 (20 slow) by five lengths at 6/4 fav with the second going to Proper Heiress for Willie O’Connor in a fine 28.69 (20 slow) by two lengths at 6/4. 

One final on the night, Allforthebest @ Stud Goodbye Stakes A4 with the €2.3k pot going to Bisto Duke (Dorotas Wildcat-Jet Stream Pearl) in 29.41 (20 slow) by three lengths at 5/1 for owner Liam Kavanagh.

Thursday, also in Enniscorthy, in the semifinals of the Slaneyside Kennels A2 Tri-Distance stake over 550 with next weeks final over the 575 trip, De Big Champ set the standard for James and Johnny Nevin in 30.13 (20 slow) by three lengths at 3/1.

Friday Racing

Clonmel, the best race on the card was the final of the Fr. Jerry Condon Memorial ON2 unraced stake, the €1.25k purse was won by Fastnet Supreme (Dorotas Wildcat- Fastnet Ace) for Adam Dunford in 29.16 by four lengths at 5/4 fav who won all three rounds of this stake with considerable ease.

The top race in Kilkenny was the final of the Boylesports A3 Bitch Stake. Edward Walsh provided the winner here as Laskarina (Droopys Sydney-Cunnigar Spice) won the €4K first prize by a neck in 29.28 (20 slow) at 6/1.

First Offaly winner of the week was in Newbridge as Parkrun won an A2 race in commanding style by five lengths for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman in 29.14 by five lengths at 1/1 fav. 

One of the biggest stakes of the year for younger dogs got underway in Shelbourne The Time Juvenile Derby won last year by Droopys Flytline for Robert Gleeson. Six heats with Callaway Knegare clearly the fastest winner when stopping the timer in 28.14 by four lengths at 6/4. Owen McKenna was the trainer here. One super heat winner here representing the Faithful County as Breaghmore Dice won for Kinnitty trainer M.J. Corrigan in 28.25 by a head at 4/1.

One final on what was a decent card in Shelbourne, the conclusion of the Talking Dogs ON2 unraced stake was won in impressive style by Tinnock Lynx (Ballymac Best-Ballymac Lynx) for Naas owners Orla and Michael Deveraux in 28.78 by three lengths at a decent 8/1 with a cheque of €2.25k going their way.

Saturday Racing

Waterford, final of the John Fitzgerald Memorial Open Bitch Stake, the €5k prize was won by Barefoot On Song (Grangeview Ten-Jaytee Osprey) for Paul Hennessy in 28.68 by one length at 1/1 fav.

Two  Offaly winners in Galway, in an A4 contest Baby Firefly won for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.16 (10 slow) by one length at 1/1 fav. In an S2 325 sprint Kilbride Tractor was first back in kennels for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in 17.99 (.05 slow) by three lengths at 7/4.

In Curraheen Park in Cork, in the final of the Kasco A1 Derby, class won out here as Remeo Control (Romeo Recruit-Fabulous Verona) was an easy three length winner for Graham Holland in 28.35 at 4/6 fav with a decent cheque of €6k going his way.  One other final in Cork, in the Pat O’Driscoll Memorial A4 decider I’m An Exile (Burgess Bucks-Trusted Exile) won the €2.5k purse for Andrew Lynch in 28.53 by one length at 5/4.

Three more Offaly winners in Mullingar, in an A4 race Carrick Rooney won for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 29.58  by five lengths at 5/4 fav with David Murray training. In an A7 grade Lahinch Violet stopped the clock in 29.93 for Clara owner P.J. Cleary winning by eight lengths at 2/1. In an A6 grade Killeshill Wonder won for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 29.75 by one length also at 2/1. All races in Mullingar were rated .50 slow. 

The two best races in Dundalk were undoubtedly the semi-finals of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup. Track record holder Broadstrand Syd won the first for John Linehan in another super clock of 20.60 winning by six lengths. The second semi went to Road Exile who was winning his twenty fourth race for Pat Buckley in 20.89 by two lengths. Last years winner of this competition Carrick Aldo finished third in this heat for Thomas Glynn and will now take his chance in Saturday's final and is certainly not without a shout of retaining his trophy for the Edenderry owner.

Tralee held the final of a new competition on the Greyhound calendar the MCP Group Open 750. The €7k first prize went to champion stayer Tuono Charlie (Good News-Farronrory Bonny) who equaled his own track record of 40.76 (40 fast) winning by six lengths at 1/2 fav for Sharon Hunt. This was his nineteenth career win and has now amassed of €30k in winning prize money. 

Super crowd turned up in Limerick for the semi-finals of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger open 550. The first went to Clonbrien Treaty for Graham Holland in 29.50 by two lengths at 11/4 looking to add this valuable prize to the €142k he has already won in his career. The second semi was half a length faster was Ventry Faith crossed the line in 29.47 by two lengths at 5/1 with Owen McKenna at the helm. Should be a cracking finish to the Leger on Saturday.

Four valuable finals were decided at Headquarters with plenty on money being won. In the final of the RCETS App AO Dual Distance stake over the 550 yard trip, Seven Beach (Pestana- Whitings Gift) won the €2.5k pot for Jennifer O’Donnell in a fine 29.18 by four lengths at 4/5 fav. Probably straight to the Derby with this fella now.

In the A1 Go Greyhound Racing Bitch final, Croghan trainer Gerry Merrimans fine form continued as Highview Jasman (Pat C Sabbath-Highview Ivy) won in 28.28 by two lengths at 1/1 fav with a cheque of €2.5k heading to his north Offaly kennels.

In the final of the Barking Buzz App A2 Dual Distance stake over the 600 yard trip the €2k first prize went to Dave Bourke as Totilas (Droopys Sydney- Clonbrien Millie) won in 32.94 by three lengths at 5/1.

The last final was the Upcoming Yvonne Barry AAO Daul Distance again over the 600 trip, the €3.5k winners prize went to Ower Cracker (Deerjet Sydney-Nice Mystery) for Pat Buckley again in 32.14 by three lengths at 6/4 co fav. All races in Shelbourne were rated  .20 fast.

Sunday racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. In an A6 contest Killeshill Devine won for in-form owner  Vincent Lynch in 30.47 (50 slow) by a neck at 11/4.  Our final winner of the week was Lahinch Rover who was having his first career win for P.J Cleary in 30.28 (50 slow) by four lengths at 4/1. 

Upcoming Events

Thursday, also Enniscorthy, final of the Slaneyside Kennels A2 Tri Distance stake. Friday, quarter-finals of the Time Juvenile Derby in Shelbourne.  Saturday, final of the Bar One National Sprint in Dundalk and final of the Willwego.com St. Leger in Limerick.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Breaghmore Dice gets the nod this week for winning his heat in the first round of the Puppy Derby in Shelbourne on Friday in a magnificent 28.25 for Kinnitty owner M.J. Corrigan. Bright future ahead for this young dog.

Offaly Winners

There were ten Offaly winners this week. Well done to all involved.