QUALITY FARE AT LIMERICK AHEAD OF FINALS NIGHT
Peter Farrell
There was some terrific action at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as the semi finals of both the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud 600 and the Limerick & Clare GOBA 525 took place.
After recording his maiden victory just seven days prior when posting a smart 33.10, Glengar Brett was hoping to build on that performance and he did so in expert fashion, while recording the quickest time of the two semi finals on offer. Jointly owned by Cormac and Gearoid Doyle, the brilliantly bred son of Brett Lee and Droopys Smasher went to traps as the 4/6 favourite and he made no mistakes at trap rise, excelling immediately in the opening yards to make his way to the inside from his wide berth in six. Quickly manufacturing a healthy lead down the back, ‘Brett’ was setting a frantic pace as he held an advantage of some eight lengths over Thats It Caoimhe in second. Like last week, the leader did come back to the field in the closing stages of the event, however, such as the huge margin he had assembled earlier in the contest, he still had four and a half lengths in hand crossing the line. Thats It Caoimhe in second with Allstar Xola securing the final qualifying position, the time was a fast 33.01.
In the second semi, Rocket Blake continued his brilliant form as he justified his starting price of 2/5. A winner in a flash 32.91 last weekend, the seventy-nine pounder didn’t break as fluently as seven days prior, however, he produced some sizzling early pace to recover and he cut the nose off Ballygibbon Cash at the opening bend to take charge. Immediately excelling down the back from Bright Malachi in second, the son of Laughil Blake and Droopys Dream, owned by Gordon Vaughan and Sean Hayes, upped the ante at the third bend as he powered clear of the staying-on Blackbell Beauty in second. Four and a half lengths too strong, the final qualifying position went to Bright Malachi, in a time of 33.10.
WE GOT THIS IN THE DRIVING SEAT
The semi finals of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A2/A3 525 also featured on last night’s card and the quickest, by some margin, was We Got This for Amanda Meade and Sean Roche.
After posting a slick 28.66 in the opening round, We Got This was understandably installed as the even money favourite to secure back-to-back victories in this event and he broke best of all from four before outpacing Chapelstreetlady to the opening corner. In full control entering the back straight, the son of Droopys Buick and Knocksouna Lady drew clear in the second half of the contest to win by a wide, six length margin over Chapelstreetlady in second. The time was a swift 28.50 as Skirk Gem secured the final qualifying position in third.
Prior to that, the opening semi was landed by the fast-finishing Four Bullets for Gerald O’Connell. Running from six, the 3/1 chance wasn’t expected to feature early on and this proved accurate as Tally Ho Storm headed the field in the opening yards. The latter continued to set a strong gallop with Four Bullets sitting some seven lengths adrift down the field at this point, however, he grinded his way into position rounding the final two turns. Now in full throttle, the son of Bull Run Bolt and Hazelhill Tess flew past Tally Ho Storm in the closing stages to secure a one and a half length victory. The time was 29.01 as Drumgeely Jim claimed the final qualifying position in third.
ELSEWHERE
In the concluding race on the card, Boss Go recorded a fine victory in the Open/A1 550 as he dipped comfortably under the 30-second barrier. Owned by Conor Curtin, the 3/1 chance bolted from trap four and narrowly held Excess Height on the run to the opening bend. Holding a narrow lead throughout, the son of Skywalker Rafa and Brickfield Roxy showed great determination to see off Glengar Elvis by one and a half lengths. The time was a rapid 29.80.
Prior to that, Pat Buckley recorded a double as Glengar Martha followed up on Glengar Brett’s victory. 3/1 at the off, William Wood’s classy blue made her intentions clear at traprise as she paced up brilliantly from trap six. Quickly extending her advantage down the back, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Glengarbadminton made no mistakes thereafter as she romped to a five length victory over Amigan Ulla in second. The time was 28.46.