PAPE SETS THE PACE IN TIPPERARY CUP OPENER
Peter Farrell
The opening round heats of the 2023 Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup got underway at Thurles Greyhound Stadium last night and it produced some terrific performances as Pape Di Oro set the early standard for Pat Buckley.
Kindly sponsored once again by Centenary Agri in Thurles, the flagship event boasts a brilliant winner’s purse of €7,500 and as expected, it attracted a fantastic entry at the Premier venue. With six opening round heats on offer, it was Pape Di Oro in heat five who produced the performance of the night, clocking a rapid 28.55 to outline his stall as a major player in this year’s renewal.
STRAIGHTFORWARD FOR PAPE
Trained by Pat Buckley for Javier Jarne, Pape Di Oro is without doubt one of the most talented trackers in the land and as such, he was installed as the 1/2 favourite to land heat five. Running from trap six, the son of Droopys Sydney and Trusted Exile pinged the lids early on to post a slick 1.66 opening sectional and he swooped the opening corner to take a two length lead into the back. From here, Pape Di Oro drew clear of his rivals within a matter of strides and he was to cross the line with a comfortable, six lengths in hand over nearest rival, Inflation, in second. The time was a super 28.55 .20s.
BOLGER BLITZS RIVAL
The Tipperary Cup got off to a flier in heat one as Millroad Bolger produced an emphatic display for owner Noel Moore.
Trained by Michael Donnelly, Millroad Bolger arrived at Thurles seeking a hat-trick of victories after winning on back-to-back occasions at Shelbourne Park. Sent to traps as the even money favourite to emerge victorious, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Goldmine Larry was to make light work of his rivals after a quick start from four. Setting a blistering pace down the back, Millroad Bolger opened an unassailable lead within a matter of strides and this culminated in a virtual solo thereafter as the impressive tracker came home eight leads clear of Cashen Miska in second. The time was 28.62 .20s.
BOGGER DOUBLE
Liam Peacock is now a firm fixture in these big competitions and he sent out a double of heat winners as both Bogger Rambo and Bogger Dusty prevailed.
The first of the ‘Bogger’ contingent to emerge in front was Bogger Rambo in heat three. Sent off at 3/1 in one of the more open heats, the September son of Skywalker Logan and Bogger Sunny broke smartly from trap three and held a narrow advantage over Ballyhimikin Rex rounding the opener. Showing a fine turn of speed down the back, Bogger Rambo maintained his advantage and showed superior stamina in the closing yards to score by two lengths. The time was 29.14 .20s.
The double was completed in the concluding heat of the night as Bogger Dusty prevailed at the expense of the 4/9 favourite, Terezas Mendoza.
A 5/2 shot in the market prior to the off, Bogger Dusty, like his kennel companion, showed fine early dash to emerge from the pack and swoop the opening bend clear. Trouble in behind saw the son of Droopys Biker manufacture a six length advantage down the back as Terezas Mendoza gave chase in second. Looking like a comfortable winner at this point. Terezas Mendoza did show eye-catching speed in behind to close the gap to one length, however, Bogger Dusty kept enough in reserve to cross the line and secure a memorable kennel double. The time was 28.90 .20s.
PEN DOUBLES UP
Pat Buckley also landed a double in the heats as De Gander Pen justified his even money price tag by the slenderest of margins.
A recent runner in the National Produce Stakes at Clonmel, De Gander Pen didn’t come away too fluently from three and rounded the opener in third, some three lengths adrift of Borna Mick, who showed the best of the early speed to take charge. However, Borna Mick appeared to lose his stride down the back and in turn, this allowed De Gander Pen to improve rapidly on the approach to the penultimate turn. Looking like a winner heading for home, both County Minor and Rougarou were finishing at speed, however, they just missed out as De Gander Pen held on for a short-head victory over his dead-heating rivals. The time was 29.25 .20s.
WINNING RETURN FOR LOGAN
Despite being off the track since Christmas of last year, Carrigmore Logan made a winning return in heat five.
Owned by Patsy and Aoife Coffey, Carrigmore Logan was a real eye-catcher last year when under the stewardship of Robert Gleeson and despite being off for some six months, he was still sent to traps as the 6/4 favourite to prevail. Running from trap five, the son of Laughil Blake and Star Princess emerge from a level break to show that sprinting early speed to take a four length lead into the back straight. From here, it proved a straightforward night’s work for Carrigmore Logan as he saw off Burgess Cutey by three lengths crossing the line. The time was 29.28 .20s.