COLOSSAL LANDS TRI DISTANCE FEATURE AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

There was a good prize on offer at Galway on Saturday night as the final of the Gogreyhoundracing.ie A2/A3 Tri Distance went down for decision.

Boasting a winner’s purse of €1,500, Colossal Venture landed the feature as she justified 6/4 favourtism for the Colossal-Syndicate. Indeed, while enjoying a large chunk of luck in the decider, she grabbed her opportunity with both paws in romping to victory. Running from trap one, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Lullaby didn’t come away at all well from her inside berth and was struggling to get on terms on the run to the opening corner. However, the complexion of the race was to change at the opener as the early leaders, Portumna Saphire and Ballyea Scrutiny, both came in contact and as a result, this allowed Colossal Venture to nip up the inside and shoot clear. From here, it proved an extremely straightforward task for this handy tracker as she stayed on strongly to come home four and a half lengths clear of the unlucky Portumna Saphire in second.  The time for the 575-yard trip was a rapid 31.66 .10s.

ELSEWHERE

Elsewhere on the card, Cappaneale Lulu took total control of the GRI Spring Stake by going over .30s faster than the other semi final. Jointly owned by Michael Pardy and Jack Carroll, this greyhound was brilliant last time out when posting 29.13 .10s but she shaved another few lengths off that clock when sent off as the 4/6 favourite. Quickest into stride from six, the daughter of Good News and Lilly Lulu never saw another tail as she crossed the line with six and a half lengths in hand. The time was a swift 28.81 .10s.

The semi finals of the TIME Graders Derby were also on show and the quickest of the two semis was Call Me Quick. Owned by Gerry Horgan, the 6/4 favourite steered a wide course throughout this contest but did so emphatically as she zoomed past her rivals around the bottom two bends to draw clear in the closing stages. A comfortable victory in the end, Call Me Quick was three and three parts of a length too good, in a time of 29.32 .10s.