Devon sets new track record at Tralee
TRAPRISE
Another likely future star of racing from the breeding paddocks of Eoin Troy, new track record figures for the 500-yard trip at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium in Tralee firmly confirmed the immense latent abilities of the Pat Guilfoyle trained Daleroad Devon (Ballymac Cashout-Mystical Luna) as he scorched his way to a fastest first round victory in the K.G.O.B.A Tri-Distance Stake on Friday.
With a brace of hot sprint victories to commence his career, which included a classy 17.66 (-10) passage at Thurles last time out, the Thomas O’Keefe owned December 2022 whelp was having his first outing over four bends but displaying that sprint speed, reduced his heat of the 48-runner event to a virtual solo spin when readily scampering to a first bend lead following just a moderate break from trap 2. Extending to four lengths at halfway, the Guilfoyle pup maintained a relentless gallop throughout a six-length winning verdict and concluding his race against the clock with six lengths to spare over his closest pursuer, Daleroad Devon set new numbers for the 500-yards of 26.70!
That winning time makes him the stand-out performer of the event and he will have the eyes of the sport watching-on as he steps up in trip again this weekend.
Chasing Cash at Galway
Another Friday winner going fastest in the first round of competition was at Galway where John O’Meara’s Ballygibbon Cash (Ballymac Cashout-Sive To One) showed the benefit of his latest comeback outings with a new career best in his heat of the Construction Man's A3 525 Yard Stake.
Having spent four months away from racing before his recent return, the April 2022 whelp produced just a moderate break from trap 2 this time but displaying impressive dash on the run to the corner once in full flight, seized command of the rails position before easing clear of his closest pursuer while turning. Powering along the backstraight, the O’Meara stalwart had the race well and truly settled before reaching the closing bends with his seven-length winning margin and completing in dismissive fashion, stopped the clock in 28.95 (-10).
Comfortably the fastest of the heats, Ballygibbon Cash has been drawn in a trickier trap 4 for this week’s second semi-final but a previous winner as wide as trap 5, the task looks more than plausible granted clear passage!
The Saturday fixture at Thurles did not pass without local victory to cheer and bouncing back from a frustrating string of bumpy race passages, Christopher Delaney & Billy Finnerty’s Cagey Pauline (Pestana-Lilly Lula) claimed a most game fifth career win in the RCETS App A2 525.
Last successful in A3 grade, the Delaney trained April 2022 whelp had advanced to a career high of A1 in defeat early last month but took advantage of an ease in grade this time despite breaking behind the pace from trap 5. Tracking early paced rivals on the outside while tackling the opening bends, the Roscrea winner reached the backstraight in third position but within three lengths, would confirm strong running abilities over the standard trip from that point. Stealthily reducing arrears to the closing bends, Cagey Pauline joined a pacesetting rival entering the home stretch and staying stoutly to the line, forged a one and a half-length winning verdict in 29.30.
That winning time will see her avoid a rise for her next outing with claims for a quick repeat highly plausible!
Having enjoyed a prolific run of form during the spring and summer months, it could have been classed as a minor crisis that Aoife Loughnane’s Kilgarran Mickey (Pestana-Lemon Juliet) went three runs without a win before last Thursday’s SIS meeting at Limerick but bouncing back to winning ways in thrilling fashion, the Roscrea favourite secured his eighth race win in the Go Greyhound Racing A2 525
Last successful in the same grade, the September 2022 whelp was slow to stride, but reaching the backstraight in fourth position, the strong runner greatly impressed along the backstraight when rapidly reducing once four length arrears to join the leaders at the third bend. Charting his habitual wide course at that stage, Kilgarran Mickey struck the front when rounding tightly packed rivals approaching to the home straight and game as you like on the run to the line, prevailed by a half-length in 29.13.
That winning time will keep the Loughnane stalwart in A2 grade next time where he will hold obvious claims for a repeat.
Staying with that same Thursday fixture, and yes, the first local winner of the weekend was again provided by Abigail Morrissey as the Callaway Pro Am At Stud A3 525 saw Abigails Batman (Great Blue Shark-Errill Cindy) claim a third career victory from his latest five starts. Extending a wonderfully competitive presence for the Cloughjordan kennels at the Dock Road venue this season, the August 2022 whelp produced a smart break from an ideal trap 1 and led throughout a one and a half-length victory in 29.17.