SOBER GLORY SETS THE BAR IN PRODUCE STAKES SECOND ROUND

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Thatch Bar & Restaurant National Produce Stakes took centre stage last night at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium and it was Sober Glory, who performed brilliantly in the opener that set the standard with another stunning display.

Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for Sean Malone, Sober Glory was only headed by Belindas Finn in terms of the clock in last week’s opener but the talented May whelp continued to show that he is one of the fastest in training with a powerful performance in heat three. Sent to traps as the red-hot 1/3 favourite, Sober Glory didn’t come away too fluently from trap one and was narrowly headed by Kilaheen Lady and Splendid Janey in traps three and four respectively. However, Sober Glory held his rails position brilliantly around the two turns and he ranged alongside the leaders, before outpacing his rivals to draw clear approaching the third. From here, the son of Droopys Sydney and Calzaghe Jan set a stunning gallop from the third bend onwards as he crossed the line with seven lengths to spare, in a flash time of 28.34 .10s. The other qualifiers for the semi finals were Kilaheen Lady and Splendid Janey.

GLEESON DOUBLES UP

Elsewhere in the heats, Robert Gleeson sent out a nice double as both Droopys Ailsa and Optic Chico scored, the latter in particular very impressive indeed.

A greyhound with huge talent, Optic Chico was hoping to build on his first round win but this was arguably the toughest heat of the night on paper. However, the 6/4 favourite, owned by Paul Allen and Richard Vereker, made it back-to-back wins in impressive fashion as he came from off-the-pace to win convincingly. Fast away from five, Optic Chico was headed only by Burgess Supreme early on and he followed the latter into the back straight with some three lengths to make up. Showing superb speed down the back straight, the son of Droopys Sydney and Zola Princess quickly bridged said gap and he raced past the leader before drawing clear late on. Hukum was another who was showing blistering back straight pace to finish five and a half lengths adrift after being forced to check again at the last, however, the bird had flown as Optic Chico clocked 28.38 .10s. The final qualifier was Burgess Supreme, a further half length back in third.

Prior to that, the double was kick-started by Droopys Ailsa in the opening heat of the night.

Clonbrien Treaty was sent to traps as the 1/3 favourite in this contest and looked primed for a huge run when showing blistering early pace, however, he was on the receiving end of a hefty bump which left him trailing the field at the opener. In contrast, Droopys Ailsa also trapped wisely to lead around the bend from Jacktavern Bolt in second. At this point, Clonbrien Treaty had recovered expertly to occupy third heading down the back and the contest was very much between the trio heading into the penultimate turn. Holding a slender advantage around the final two bends, Droopys Ailsa stayed on stoutly to see off Jacktaven Bolt by one and a half lengths, in a time of 28.70 .10s. It was a further two and a half lengths back to Clonbrien Treaty, who will also take his chance in next week's semi finals.

HEAT WATCH

Commons Rebel scored a 4/1 shock in heat two as he lowered the colours of Belindas Finn, the fastest opening round winner. The absence of Bens Teddy took away some of the gloss in heat two but take nothing away from the winner as he did so in brilliant style, crossing one and a half lengths better off. Trained by John Kiely for Jack Crowley, Commons Rebel came away well from five and was headed only by Burgess Senorita early on. Taking charge off the second bend, the son of Ballymac Best and Fiadh Beag cut the nose off Belindas Finn at the third and this was to prove decisive in sealing victory. Staying on well thereafter, Commons Rebel came home clear of Belindaas Finn, with Laughil Rocky sealing the final qualifying position in third. The time was 28.64 .10s.

The favourites got back on track in heat four as the powerhouse that is, Borna Mick, got back to winning ways. Owned by the Borna-Syndicate, Borna Mick boasts a massive engine and the 7/4 jolly overcame a moderate start to turn two lengths adrift of Ower Mystery heading into the back. Upping the ante at the halfway mark, Borna Mick loomed alongside Ower Mystery rounding the bottom two bends and in truth, there was only going to be one winner thereafter. Showing brilliant stamina in the closing yards, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Borna Bula powered over the line to win by two lengths from Ower Mystery in second. The time was 28.65 .10s with Run Faster securing the final qualification spot back in third.

Another red-hot favourite was turned over in heat five as Gaytime Hugo made an earlier exit than anticipated. In contrast, it was kennel companion, Chasing Trooper, a 4/1 chance, who led from the outset to seal a fantastic victory for Sean O’Halloran. A September son of Malachi and Absolutely Ace, he broke smartly from trap one and he manufactured a healthy advantage rounding the opener as he displayed terrific early speed to put the contest to bed. Five lengths clear down the back, Mendelson came out of the pack to close the gap, however, Chasing Trooper was still three and a half lengths clear crossing the line. The final qualifier was Riverside Bocko in third as the clock returned a fast 28.68 .10s.

The semi final draw for the Thatch Bar & Restaurant National Produce Stakes was made shortly after and is as follows. Note - there will be two qualifiers for the final.

1st Semi Final

T1 - HUKUM

T2 - SPLENDID JANEY

T3 - KILAHEEN LADY

T4 - BELINDAS FINN

T5 - RUN FASTER

T6 - CLONBRIEN TREATY (w)

2nd Semi Final

T1 - LAUGHIL ROCKY

T2 - CHASING TROOPER

T3 - RIVERSIDE BOCKO

T4 - SOBER GLORY

T5 - DROOPYS AILSA

T6 - BURGESS SUPREME

3rd Semi Final

T1 - MENDELSON

T2 - JACKTAVERN BOLT

T3 - BORNA MICK

T4 - COMMONS REBEL

T5 - OWER MYSTERY

T6 - OPTIC CHICO (m)