CUTIE LANDS GALWAY ST. PATRICKS FEATURE AS BENJY SETS ‘TIME’ STANDARD

Peter Farrell

It was a big night at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Saturday as they celebrated St. Patrick's weekend with a couple of sweepstake deciders and the star performance on the night came from Annadown Cutie in the WGOBA 525 decider.

Offering a winner’s purse of a handsome €1,370, the WGOBA St Patricks Weekend 525 looked a hugely competitive affair and this was outlined in the market as Drombeg Apollo went off the 5/4 favourite, with Annadown Cutie next best at odds of 6/4. However, there was nothing competitive about the actual decider as the latter, owned and trained by Gerry Dillon, won at her leisure as she made it three wins on the spin. Running from trap four, Annadown Cutie was spring-like at traprise as she recorded a rapid 3.20 sectional and she quickly asserted on the run-up ahead of Drombeg Apollo in second. Holding a two length lead entering the back, the daughter of Pestana and Headford Laura quickly accelerated into a three and a half length advantage as she strung her rivals out approaching the bottom two bends. Showing a lovely mix of early speed to coincide with strong staying power, ‘Cutie’ was flawless in coming home three and a half lengths clear of the Hanover Storm, who also finished well, in second. The time was an exceptional 28.65 .10s.

FORTUNE SEVEN SCORES IN DASH

Prior to that, the final of the WGOBA St. Patrick’s Weekend 325 Dash was down for decision and the €600 final went the way of Fortune Seven.

Jointly owned by John Bowens and James Kilkenny, Fortune Seven wasn’t one of the more fancied runners, however, the 7/2 shot duly made it three career wins in good style. It was Bumblebee Granny who showed first after a slick exit from six, however, Fortune Seven quickly paced up the inside from trap one as he showed sizzling early speed to take control. From here, the son of Hiya Butt and Newinn Lola never looked back as he powered to a two length victory over Tip Off in second. The time 18.50.

BENJY SETS ‘TIME’ STANDARD

For the second consecutive week, Townspark Benjy recorded a very impressive victory in the semi final of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition A3/A4 525.

Running for Ollie Bray and Patrick Geraghty, Townspark Benjy was understandably installed as the 5/4 favourite after coming from off-the-pace to score in 29.04 one-week prior and he duly made it three wins on the trot in emphatic fashion. Donning the red jacket, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Silver Penny was only moderately into stride but outpaced his rivals on the run-up to quickly assert. Running off the second bend, this opened the door for May On Faya to get back on terms, however, this was short-lived as ‘Benjy’ wrestled back control at the midway point. From here, it was a straightforward night's work for this impressive tracker as he bound clear in the closing stages to win by four and a half lengths from May On Faya in second. Laying down a big marker, the time was a red-hot 28.79 .10s.

In the second semi, Drombeg Bear held on gamely to deny the fast finish of Brickhill Fayla.

Owned by Evan McAuliffe, Drombeg Bear was a 5/2 chance to get back to winning ways after a third place finish in the opening round and he made his intentions clear with a fine start from trap one to lead. Holding a two length lead which quickly doubled down the back straight, this looked a comfortable night’s work for the son of Grangeview Ten and Blastoff Kat. However, Brickhill Fayla made a real fist of it in the closing yards as Drombeg Bear searched for the line and it came just in time for McAuliffe’s runner as he held on gamely to win by half a length, in 29.22 .10s.

FAST FIT TREBLE ON FRIDAY

Aside from Saturday night’s action, it would be remiss not to mention a hat-trick of home-bred winners on Friday night at the Connacht venue.

All owned by John Quinn, all three winner’s carry the ‘Fast Fit’ prefix and the first to score was ‘Rex’ in an S8 325. A June son of Malachi and Fast Fit Maeve, this puppy took control at the second turn before running out a two and a half length winner in 18.32 .5s.

Next to score was litter brother ‘Duke’ in an A5 525 as he came from off-the-pace to score. Donning the white jacket, this blue, jointly owned by Taragh Cantwell, recovered from a moderate start to sit second at the halfway mark. Looming large around the bottom two bends, he took charge late on to win by a half length, in a time of 29.78 .10s.

The litter treble was completed by ‘Penny’ in the concluding race on the card. The 6/4 joint favourite, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Fast Fit Maeve took charge on the run-up and from there, saw out every yard to cross the line a half length clear of Toolate Shannon in second. The time was 29.50 .10s.