Cash constructs classy final victory at Galway

TRAPRISE

On another very busy week for local kennels across the country, the highlight of competition action arrived at Galway on Friday where John O’Meara’s Ballygibbon Cash (Ballymac Cashout-Sive To One) completed his dominant march through the Construction Man’s A3 525 Yard Stake with another emphatic performance to land final victory at the Sportsground venue.

Having advanced to a new career best when registering 28.95 (-10) in opening round victory, the April 2022 whelp lowered that mark when again too hot to handle in a commanding semi-final score, progressing to 28.84 (-10) for the standard distance. Those performances would ensure an upgrade to A1 irrespective of the final outcome but compensating for the rise with a €1500 winner’s pot, the in-form O’Meara favourite shaved a touch more off his personal best when never giving supporters a moment’s concern following an adept break from trap 2 on Friday.

Matching strides with a rival to his outside for only the initial exchanges, Ballygibbon Cash ensured clear passage with command of the rails when leading those rivals on the inside and edging his way to the front nearing the opening bend, stamped his authority on the final when scampering clear while turning. Five lengths to the good at the second bend, that margin quickly doubled to his eventual winning distance of ten lengths and completing a virtual solo spin from that first turn, Ballygibbon Cash concluded his sixth race win in 28.82 (-10).

While his new grade of A1 will present a stiff challenge going forward, he should have no fears on this evidence!

That Friday fixture proved highly fruitful from the outset and commencing the successful night of action for local challengers was Denis McGrath’s Foxwood Carter (Bockos Jon Jo-Oakfield Dancer) when taking his total to four wins from nine starts in the Racing Again Tomorrow A3 525.

Having endured bumpy outings the last twice, the August 2022 youngster fully got to grips with his upgrade following a career start which saw him complete a hat-trick in early June, when tracking the early pacesetters from trap 5 this time.

A touch wide at the opening bend, the Ballinaclough charge nonetheless made ground on the outside of rivals when third to the backstraight but had all of six lengths to recover on a runaway leader. Confirming strong staying abilities from halfway however, Foxwood Carter stealthily reduced his arrears before setting sights on the leader from two lengths adrift upon reaching the home straight. Maintaining his strong finishing challenge, Foxwood Carter struck the front in the very final stride for a thrilling and most game victory with a head to spare in 29.33 (-10).

Providing further local cheer on that Friday fixture out west, the later Williams Concrete A3 525 provided a fourth career win for Paul Hogan’s Gainstown Choice (Grangeview Ten-Ballymacken Boby) when bouncing back from some bumpy outings in a sharp winning performance.

Last successful at A4 level in July, the June 2022 whelp was back to his smart breaking form this time and immediately taking command on the run to the opening bend, never sight a rival thereafter. Ably and gamely fending off the attentions of persistent pursuer throughout a one and a half-length winning verdict, Gainstown Choice posted 29.30 (-10) and will hold obvious claims again next time without a rise on the grading table!

Fab five for Dale

Having registered new track record figures for the 500-yard trip at Tralee in the opening round of the K.G.O.B.A Tri-Distance Stake, the Pat Guilfoyle trained Daleroad Devon (Ballymac Cashout-Mystical Luna) backed-up that performance when claiming quarterfinal victory in his first outing over 525-yards and on Friday, extended a wonderful career start to five from five within his march to a hot final showdown this week.

Only moderately to stride from trap 2, the Thomas O’Keefe owned December 2022 whelp absorbed bumping when recovering ground to contest the lead at the opening bend but gamely advancing to the front while turning, completed with the minimum of fuss thereafter. Posting 28.60 in a two and a half-length score, Daleroad Devon will take highly realistic claims to this week’s final in a bid to stretch his unbeaten career start to six!

Lulu best in Abigails Thursday brace

No stranger to multiple winners on Dock Road Thursday’s this season, young Abigail Morrissey enjoyed yet another double on the SIS fixture at Limerick last week as her Abigails Lulu (Great Blue Shark-Errill Abbey) went fastest of the meeting in the concluding Lucky Last A3 525.

Most recently successful in the same grade last month, the September 2022 whelp bounced back to winning ways when more forward in the early stages from trap 1 this time and reaching the opening bend in second position with command of the rails, tracked a pacesetting rival at a two-length deficit to the top of the backstraight. Always strong at the standard trip, Abigails Lulu readily reduced those arrears when striking the front at the third turn and easing clear, held three and a half lengths over her closest pursuer in 28.86.

Sparking the kennel double in the earlier Greyhounds Make Great Pets A2 525, litter brother Abigails Duke (Great Blue Shark-Abigails Sky) also made a smart return to the winner’s circle when taking advantage of a recent ease in grade to claim his eighth career win with the next best performance on the evening fixture.

With his latest win coming in A1 grade, the Morrissey charge would always prove difficult to contain once finding his best break from trap 3 but had company throughout a hugely game winning performance. Scarcely a neck separated him from his nearest rival at any stage but always retaining the inside rail, Abigails Duke showed that neck in front at the line while posting 28.90.

Scooby can do at 750

Concluding the weekend action at Limerick in the Getting Out Novice 750, Shane & Luke O’Connell’s Grouchos Scooby (Malachi-Kearney’s Lane) relished his first venture beyond four-bends when a most game winner in his first staying test.

Held in his 600-yard final last time following career best form in the heats, the John Byrne trained September 2022 youngster bounced right back on Saturday when making a smart start from trap 3. Tracking the leader at a two-length deficit around the opening bends, Scooby narrowly headed that rival on the outside into the third bend, but the pair would swap the lead again on the run to the backstraight. Fully asserting in more forceful fashion nearing the closing bends however, Grouchos Scooby confirmed his staying abilities when drawing clear to a three and a half length verdict in a very smart 41.62 and can have a bright future in the sphere.