GONE TO THE DOGS: High number of Offaly winners at racetracks nationwide

THE final of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced stake, the final of the Barking Buzz Kerry Oaks and the quarterfinals of the Tote Gold Cup were the highlights of the last seven days in a week where some of the country’s top dogs are starting to reappear in trials all hoping to win the big purses for the forthcoming season. Usual high number of Offaly winners around various tracks nationwide.

Early Week Racing

Nothing of note for the first four days of the week with just a few BAGS meetings on with no Offaly dogs participating.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in the Showgrounds in Galway as Crinkle Ranger won an S5 350 yard sprint in 19.28 (.05 slow) by four lengths at a well backed 1/1 fav for Birr owner Gerard Milne.

The first big open unraced final of the year took place in Clonmel with the conclusion of the Rural Kennels ON1 stake. The €7k first prize pot went to Killenaule in south Tipp as The Other Wild (Ballymac Wild-Whitings Gift) won for Jennifer O’Donnell in a super 28.49 by two lengths at 9/4. Expect to see a lot more of this bright young star throughout the year. Brideside Bill was second for sponsor Graham Holland and received a cheque for €2.5k.

The best four races in Kilkenny were the heats in first round of the Blackstone Kennels A2 stake with two dogs matching the fastest time of 29.10 (30 slow). Foyle Emma won her heat by six lengths at 6/4 for John Mackey and Tom Lennon and One Slick Jamie his for Mairead Corcoran and Jamie Bell also by six lengths at 5/2.

The final of the Barking Buzz A1 Kerry Oaks was the feature event on a decent card in Tralee with the first prize of €4.5k going to the class bitch throughout the classic Crafty Bondi (Ballymac Bolger-Coolavanny Bondi) who won the final by two lengths in 28.34 (10 slow) at a short 1/2 fav for Galway owner Peter Divilly. Ballymac Jade was second for local trainer Liam Dowling and received a purse of €2k.

Shelbourne held the quarterfinals of the A2 Dublin Cup with Skidrow Joe setting the bar highest for Owen McKenna in 28.52 by three lengths at 4/5 fav. One Offaly winner in the stake as Highview Daniel won heat three for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 28.83 by one length at 7/4.

Saturday Racing

A valuable stake that kicks off annually in February is the A1 Cork Cup, kindly sponsored this year once again by Time Greyhound Nutrition, always a hotly contested debacle won last year by Bambis Lady for Breda Boyle and Patrick Sheehy. Six heats on Saturday with Hollyhill Pad going fastest for local Cork specialist Kieran Lynch in a smart 28.09 by ten lengths at 5/2.

Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, in the first race on the card an S5 400 yard race Offaly Rover won for Birr owner Paul Pardy, in 21.85 (20 slow), also by ten lengths at 6/4 fav with Vincent McKenna training. In an A1 525 Killeshill Messi was on the winners podium for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 30.01 (60 slow) by one length at 2/1. In an A7 contest Lahinch Dolly stopped the timer in 30.60 (60 slow) winning by a neck at 6/4 for Clara owner P.J. Cleary.

Four brilliant heats in the quarterfinals of the Open Tote Gold Cup in Shelbourne where Offaly dog Carrick Aldo delivered the fastest run for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn when crossing the whitewash in a splendid 28.25 (15 slow), by three lengths at 6/4, with David Murray training. Other three heat winners were Kerogue Lady for Patrick O’Connor in 28.66, Phoenix Memphis for Ian Reilly in 28.52 and Hawkfield Blue for Ginger McGee and Newbridge owner Jerry Connors in 28.39. One final of note on the night was the conclusion of an A3 sweepstake with the €1.75k pot going to Droopys Jiver (Droopys Sydney- Droopys Dancer) for Murt Leahy in 29.40 by two lengths at 5/2.

Sunday Racing

For the second week in a row there was no Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar or the evening meetings in Clonmel or Lifford.

Upcoming Events

Friday, semifinals of the Blackstone Kennels A2 stake in Kilkenny and semifinals of the A2 Dublin Cup in Shelbourne.

Saturday, quarterfinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition A1 Cork Cup in Curraheen Park and semifinals of the Tote Gold Cup in Headquarters.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Easy decision this week as Carrick Aldo gets the nod for the second week in a row (and eleven times in total) for Thomas Glynn when winning in the fastest time of the four quarterfinals in the Tote Gold Cup in Shelbourne on Saturday in a magnificent 28.25 (15 slow). What a performance what a dog!

Offaly Winners

Six Offaly winners this week well done to all concerned.

DC.