MURRAY TREBLE AS HEADFORD IMPRESSES AT GALWAY
Peter Farrell
Galway hosted a ten race card last night and there was no shortage of quality performance, the pick of which was an explosive debut from Headford Sonny.
Aside from the performance of Headford Sonny, which incidentally capped a double for the kennel of Gerry Dillon, there was also a memorable treble for leading trainer Stephen Murray.
Without doubt, the performance of the night came in race four, which was an ON2 525 contest, as the Seamus Leahy-owned Headford Sonny burst onto the scene in style. A 4/6 market leader, the Gerry Dillon-trained September puppy had a fine 29.47 qualifying effort already in his book and he built on that in terrific style, running out a large margin winner. Running from trap five, the son of Ballymac Best and Headford Bride was well away from orange and he showed good early dash to clear his rivals early on. Once doing so, it quickly became apparent he was doing a run in front. Drawing clear down the back, Headford Sonny excelled brilliantly around the bottom two bends and he soared up the home straight to win by just shy of eight lengths. The time for this impressive debutant was a rapid 28.88 .10s.
The double was completed for Gerry Dillon in the concluding race of the night as Annadown Loki made it back-to-back wins for connections. Owned by Geraldine Dillon, the 6/4 chance was made to work hard for the win as Dance Pondo set the early standard. However, the daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Rocken Pearl is a strong runner and she challenged at the final turn, before finishing at speed to run out a two and a half length winner over Dance Pondo in second. The time was 29.42 .10s.
STEPHEN MURRAY TREBLE
It was also a memorable night for leading Galway trainer Stephen Murray as he sent out a trio of winners, the first of which came in the night’s opener as Wilbrook Sydney recorded a first career win.
A very nice 5/1 chance in the market, Wilbrook Sydney finished at the back of the field on his last outing but was to bounce back in the best possible fashion last night from trap four. Well away from black, the James Harte and Clare Davoren-owned runner disputed with Mahoonagh Best into the opening corner but was to soon take control. Hitting the front just shy of the second turn, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Killinan Reina proved a tough nut to crack thereafter as she galloped to a one and a half length success, in a time of 29.58 .10s.
Chiquitita secured the double in race three as she broke her maiden tag over the 350-yard trip. A 7/2 chance prior to the off, the Rachel Murray-owned bitch broke best of all out wide as her striped jacket led the field into the opener. From here, the daughter of Pestana and Shady Pam cut the nose off trap five to cement her lead and she was never under any pressure thereafter as she ran out a two length winner over Fast Fit Wilma in second. The time was 19.52 .5s.
The treble was sealed in race eight as Groves Joy made it two wins from his last three starts for the Grove-Syndicate. A massive 86-pounder, the son of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby is never too far away when drawn red and he was quickly into stride to take ownership of the rails early on. Turning in front, the heavyweight tracker set a smart gallop down the back and he proved a class above his rivals in securing a three victory over Lissatouk Sox in second. The time was 29.40 .10s.
IN OTHER RACES
Shane Flanagan is no stranger to producing good greyhounds and Rockmount Mia looks a lovely sort as she landed race six, an A5 525. An open betting market saw Flanagan’s charge go off 2/1 but the May 21’ whelp fell from traps to trail the field early on. However, making big progress at the midway point, the daughter of Droopys Jet and Rockmount Royce stormed to the front at the penultimate turn and she quickly opened a massive lead on her rivals. A really impressive display, Rockmount Mia crossed the line with over twelve lengths in hand as she recorded a fast 29.07 .10s.
The prolific Pirate Roberts recorded yet another win in race seven as he recorded a hat-trick of straight wins and indeed four wins from his last five last starts. Trained by Paul Burke for the What-Are-You-Doing syndicate, Pirate Roberts is as game as they come and he chased Caislean Ciara, who showed excellent dash, in the opener. Taking charge rounding the first turn however, Pirate Roberts was to take control of the contest and despite the fast finish of Slaneyside Poops, the son of Ballymac Best and Bloomfield held firm to win by three parts of a length. The time was 19.34 .5s.