ROCKY LANDS SPRINT FEATURE AS DIVA IMPRESSES AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

There was a night of sweepstake action on offer at Galway Greyhound Stadium last night and the star of proceedings was undoubtedly Foxwood Diva as she romped to victory in the opening round heats of the Galway A6 525.

Owned by Denis McGrath, who is no stranger to producing talent, Foxwood Diva was without a win from her two starts prior to last night but showed enough in qualifying at Thurles Park to suggest she had plenty to offer. Sent off as a 5/2 chance, Foxwood Diva quickly put the contest to bed as she broke well from trap three, before showing immediate acceleration to manufacture a four length lead turning into the back straight. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Badminton Razl soon doubled her advantage within a matter of strides as she raced to a virtual solo in the second half of the race. Maintaining her relentless gallop in the closing yards, Foxwood Diva came home twelve and a half lengths clear of Dooley Dolittle in second, as the clock returned a rapid 28.97 .10s. A powerful display from McGrath’s May 21’ whelp.

ROCKY SEAL HAT-TRICK IN SPRINT DECIDER

Aside from that powerful debut display from Foxwood Diva, the final of the Galway Sprinters S7-S10 350 also featured on the card and the €700 decider went the way of the 4/5 favourite, Cappaneale Rocky.

A justifiable favourite after two outstanding performances in the rounds prior, Cappaneale Rocky was expected to take some stopping for Bill Pardy but connections would have been slightly nervous early doors after a slight stumble at traps saw their jolly trail the field. However, the son of Rosbirr Ranger and Offherrocker was clearly a class above his rivals as he immediately showed exceptional early gears to go into second rounding the first. Quickly asserting on the rail around the bottom two bends, Cappaneale Rocky was ever so impressive in recording a one and a half length victory over Rosshill News in second. The time was 19.16 .5s.

A PAIR OF DOUBLES

Elsewhere on the card, there were a couple of doubles for the kennels of Evan McAuliffe and Seamus McMahon.

In race two, Drombeg Chief kick-started a quickfire double for the McAuliffe kennel as the September 21’ whelp landed his novice 350-yard event comfortably. Sent off as the 6/4 second favourite behind Magical Luna, the son of Good News and Keeperhill Honey broke a marginal second behind Goalofmyjourney but showed the superior early gears to storm up the inside and take charge. From here, there was no stopping Drombeg Chief as he pulled clear of his rivals to record a three and a half length victory. The time was 19.40 .5s.

The double was completed in the very next race as kennel companion, Drombeg Diego, justified his even money price tag. Unlucky in running in his first start at HQ at the beginning of the month, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Ridgemount Hot was to make no mistakes this time around in another 350-yard contest. Running from trap two, Drombeg Diego didn’t break too well but enjoyed the freedom of Galway early on as Domain Joe took all other rivals to the wall in three. Benefiting from the clearest of paths, Drombeg Diego grabbed victory by both paws as he stormed up the straight to win by one and three parts of a length. The time was 19.50 .5s.

Lissatouk Peggy got the McMahon double off and running in race eight, which was the heat one of the Galway A5 525.

The 5/4 favourite at the outset, Lissatouk Peggy is no stranger to the winner’s circle and she broke best of all from trap three to take control early on. Lexis Angel briefly threatened into the bend, however, Lissatouk Peggy was back in familiar territory down the back as she headed the field and looked a likely winner. Cementing that status rounding the bottom two bends, James McMahon’s daughter of Dorotas Woo Hoo and Lissatouk Lady powered up the home straight to record a three and a half length victory over Lexis Angel in second. The time was 29.42 .10s.

The double was completed in race ten as Lissatouk Sox landed heat three of the same competition for Seamus McMahon. Another who went off as the 6/4 favourite, Lissatouk Sox implemented similar tactics to his kennel companion early on as he flashed from trap six to lead proceedings, Steering a wide course down the back, the son of Laughil Blake and Lissatouk Dolly saw a three length lead diminish i the closing yards but he kept just enough in reserve to hold on by a head from Blaze More Fire in second. The time was 29.26 .10s.