Duke dictates in Abigails treble at Limerick

TRAPRISE

The mother and daughter combination of Tina & Abigail Morrissey have shown a distinct preference for grouping their race victories at Limerick Greyhound Stadium in 2024 and were at it again on Thursday as Abigail Morrissey’s Abigails Duke (Great Blue Shark-Abigails Sky) led the way in a remarkable kennel treble!

Enjoying a successful season, the Cloughjordan kennels had returned a similar treble of wins on the SIS fixture as recently as June and a wonderful feature of both those achievements was that all winners were home bred by the kennels patriarch sire Great Blue Shark!

Starring within the treble which returned at cumulative odds of 97-1, Abigails Duke was housed in trap 4 for the Limerick Sales A1 525 and the June 2022 whelp began on level terms before displaying just the best early dash for a half-length lead on the inside at the opening bend.

Leading by a length to the backstraight, Abigails Duke was keenly pursued throughout but despite having a rival on his tail, defended that same advantage on the run to the closing bends. In behind, a familiar foe in the form of Aoife Loughnane’s Kilgarran Mickey had advanced from three lengths adrift to race just a length off the Morrissey leader at the final bend as he sought a fourth victory on the spin but not for catching, Abigails Duke repelled the threat when seeing out the trip stoutly. Again, wide off the final bend while losing little in defeat, Kilgarran Mickey ceded a three and a half-length victory to the Abigails Duke who posted a smart 28.87 for a seventh career win.

Sparking the Morrissey exploits in the preceding Callaway Pro Am At Stud A3 525, Abigails Lulu (Great Blue Shark-Errill Abbey) claimed the third win of her career in strong running manner.

Ending a barren spell since last successful in A5 company back in May, the September 2022 whelp had risen to A1 with smart placed performances in the interim before encountering significant bumping when held behind the aforementioned Kilgarran Mickey last time out.

However, appreciating a further ease in level on Thursday, she kept closer order throughout the initial exchanges this time and reaching the backstraight with three lengths to recover on a pacesetting leader while occupying third position, superior strength from that point saw the stout stayer stealthily reduced the arrears to the home stretch. Galloping powerfully to the line, Abigails Lulu overhauled the long-time leader in the home stretch for a thrilling head verdict in 29.11. Remaining in A3 for her next outing, she looks graded for a repeat if granted clear passage!

Completing the treble in the later Time Greyhound Nutrition A5 525, Abigails Batman (Great Blue Shark-Errill Cindy) claimed his third win from eight outings in similarly game fashion.

Last successful in A6 company, the August 2022 whelp produced his best break from trap 4 this time and forged a tight one-length lead before tackling the opening bend. Stretching to over five lengths along the backstraight, a strong staying rival would make Abigails Batman pull out all the stops but retaining a three-quarter length advantage to the line within his smart early paced display, the Morrissey youngster posted 29.25 and will rise to A3 for his next outing.

St Leger reaches semi-finals

The 2024 Willwego.com Irish St Leger has been thrilling patrons at Limerick over the past three weekends and now reduced to semi stage, sees some familiar stars of the Dock Road circuit still in the chase for classic glory while seeking to further stamp their name on the elite scene.

Having added this event to his victory in the 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, Graham Holland’s defending champion Clonbrien Treaty is chasing a truly remarkable feat of going back-to-back in the St Leger having also claimed Easter Cup success earlier this year. The prolific competition performer has been caught on the run to the line in each of three heats so far but has been crucially leading each time, and his realistic chances are reflected in a 7-2 joint-favourite quote at the head of the market now.

Sharing top spot in the betting, Dan O’Rahilly’s Knockeen Dazzler was back to winning ways for a second heat score of the St Leger on Saturday and fastest in 29.49 for the 550-yards, further confirmed fervent designs on emulating the 2023 exploits of Clonbrien Treaty by adding this event to his Kirby Memorial victory of this season.

The pair clash in the outside traps for this Saturday’s opening semi-final and if contesting a bump free early paced tussle, can dominate while reaching the final. Earning the vote for victory is Knockeen Dazzler with either of Paul Hennessy’s Barefoot On Fire or Jaytee Craze filling the remaining qualifying spot. The second semi-final can be fought out between Ballyhimikin Rex and In Good Time with preference for the former.

In support of the St Leger, the Con Murphy Bookmakers A1 Stake 525 proved a hot event for the advertised grade but safely guiding a brace of entries to this week’s second round was trainer John Byrne.

First up, Grouchos Scooby (Malachi-Kearney’s Lane) battled bravely through significant early bumping to chase home 28.45 winner Mrbluewood for third in the opening heat before Grouchos Finn (Droopys Sydney-Oisin’s Choice) battled in front rank throughout Heat 5 before settling for a pleasing two-length second behind Ballymac Murty in 28.59. Both will hold realistic claims within the event which continues this coming Saturday.

Adding to a busy weekend of action, the Friday fixture at Clonmel delivered a sixth victory in the career of Joe Starr’s Bumblebee Fergus (Droopys Biker-Bumblebee Lana) when ending a barren spell in game fashion. Last successful over twelve months ago, a host of near misses in the interim had included an agonising narrow defeat in a similar event at Galway in early July but breaking well from trap 4 in the Try The Trio S8 300 this time, the PJ Tynan trained January 2021 whelp led throughout a two length verdict in 16.87 and will rise to S6 for his next outing.