TOP-CLASS PIER LANDS THE ARACHAS 600 DECIDER AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
Ahead of the Irish St. Leger, which starts next Saturday night, the final of the Arachas Corporate Brokers Ltd A1 600 served as the highlight at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and it was Newport Pier that turned the feature event into a procession.
Boasting a winner’s purse of a handsome €2,500, Newport Pier came into the decider fresh from winning her semi final contest, however, it was still a wide open final, evident by her starting odds of 2/1. The 5/4 favourite was the near veteran Cheero after he produced two fine displays in the two rounds prior but in truth, this was over at an early stage as Newport Pier took control early. Owned by the Mullins-Curtin-Syndicate, famed in recent time for owning the likes of Dana Point and Miss Joss, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Cantcallherthat picked the perfect night to take her best ever break as she led early on from trap two, with Ballyard Oscar and the improving Typical Bono next in line. Taking a three length advantage into the back straight, Typical Bono emerged as her main threat, however, her rivals were chasing in vain as Newport Pier extended her lead on the approach to the penultimate turn. Ramping up the pressure around the bottom two bends, the bird had well and truly flown for Newport Pier as she drew clear of her rivals to power across the line and win by an extending eight lengths. A bitch that certainly looks likely to stay even further, Newport Pier stopped the clock in a fine 32.23 as Ballyard Oscar and Typical Bono claimed the minor placings in behind.
DEADLY IN STYLE
There were a number of outstanding performances elsewhere on the card but none more so that Deadly Jet, who landed the Dan McSweeney Councillor AO 550.
Trained by Michael O’Donovan for Gary Hannon, Deadly Style won over the standard trip last weekend but he stepped it up a notch to win with real style one week out from the St.Leger. A son of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Abba, the 7/4 shot took a flier from trap five to post a 2.88 sectional and from here, his nearest rival, Raining Glory, had no answers. Setting a serious gallop, ‘Style’ pulled clear in the closing stages to win by six lengths, while stopping the clock in a blistering 29.45.
LEGER CLUES
Droopys De Luxe was one of the standout greyhounds when racing in the North-West of Ireland and she looks to have now rediscovered her form in Limerick. A 4/1 chance, now owned by Breda Boyle and Patrick Sheehy, ‘De Luxe’ was quickest into stride from trap six and from here, she never looked back. A daughter of Out Of Range and Bower Laura, she was always holding Smart Sam down the back, before striding clear in the closing stages to win comfortably. Three and a half lengths clear of Allowdale Bart in second, the time was 29.79 for the 550-yards.
The final race on the card looked like a cracker on paper and this so proved as Droopys Bro prevailed in a close finish. The 6/4 joint favourite along with Glengar Elvis, the former was quickest into stride from three and just held Goldcash Ice early on to turn in front. Holding a narrow advantage down the back, the son of Malachi and Droopys Cake was all out in the closing stages as he just held off the advances of the equally-impressive Goldcash Ice, in second. Just one length separating them, the time was 29.83 for the 550-yards.