PRAGMATISM DOMINATES IN KASKO OPENER AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The opening round of the Kasko Dog Foods Unraced 525 served as the highlight on Saturday nights card at Thurles Greyhound Stadium and there was an incredible performance from Pragmatism in the opening heat for joint owners Paul Horig and Paul Reid.

Aside from the Kasko action, it was also fitting that on a week where Thurles lost one of his longtime stalwarts, Paul Scally, there was double recorded from Paddy and Ava Scally with Cabra Zeus and Cabra Nova.

PRAGMATISM A SPECIAL TALENT

Trained by Michael Donnelly, Pragmatism came into the second heat of the Kasko Unraced with two smart trials and confidence was clearly strong as the 58-pounder went to traps as the 4/6 favourite. A December daughter of Droopys Sydney and Magnetism, it was clear from the outset that the support was justified as she pinged the lids from one to record a 1.72 sectional. Steering a middle course early doors, Pragmatism rounded the opener with two lengths in hand, however, that lead double and trebled down the back as she opened up majestically at the midway mark. Maintaining an incredible gallop thereafter, it was all eyes on the clock as Pragmatism breezed to a near twelve length success over Voltereta in second. The time, as expected, was a blistering 28.67 .20s, a phenomenal debut from this brilliant prospect.

In heat three, Knockroe Fern was also sent to traps as the odds-on favourite and she too dominated from the outset to emerge a facile winner for owner Eamonn Lloyd. A 4/5 chance, the son of Ballymac Best and Rosmult Racer was unbeaten in qualifying and continued that trend with a swift exit from trap one. In doing so, the striking fawn made full use of his inside berth to round the opening bend with three lengths in hand over Lemon Thelma in second. All one-way traffic thereafter, Knockroe Fern kept on well in the closing yards and extended the deficit to four and a half lengths crossing the winning line. The time was a fast 29.05 .20s.

The competition got off to a strong start as Zenith Efendi came from off-the-pace to score for Fraser Black and Birol Nadir and Vincent Cooper. Sent off as the 5/4 joint favourite alongside Magical Blaze in three, the latter shot from traps to lead from ‘Zenith’ and the pair went into the back straight clear of the remainder. Holding all the aces at this point, Black’s charge outpaced his rival down the back as he slipped up the inside of Magical Blaze to take control entering the penultimate turn. From here, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Plain White Tea showed the superior stamina up the hill as he saw off Magical Blaze by two and a half lengths, in 29.22 .20s.

A FITTING CABRA DOUBLE

On a week where Thurles said goodbye to one his greatest followers in Paul Scally, it was fitting that Paddy and Ava Scally recorded a ‘Cabra’ double at the Premier venue.

Chasing a first win since May, it was Cabra Zeus that got the ball rolling for Paddy Scally as he made every inch of the running to comfortably see off Darkest Dawn. A 5/2 market chance, ‘Zeus’ meant business from the off as he sprung from trap five to record a rapid 1.67 sectional. In doing so, this allowed the son of Pat C Sabbath to build up ahead of steam and open a healthy lead into the back. Maintaining a powerful gallop thereafter, this was all one-way traffic for Cabra Zeus as he emerged with a three and a half length victory over Darkest Dawn in second. The time was 29.31 .20s.

The double was completed over the sprint trip in race eight as Cabra Nova made it two wins from three starts for Paddy and Ava Scally. Indeed, after a smart break from three, ‘Nova’ showed excellent acceleration to race clear into the opening bend and he saw off the persistent Brennanonthemoor up the hill to record a half length success. A third career success for the 2/1 chance, the time was a brisk 17.83 .5s.

CONSISTENT MICKEY

Outside of the main action, there was a powerful performance from one of the most consistent trackers in training, Kilgarran Mickey.

Aiming from a ninth career success, Aoife Loughnane’s runner was installed as a 5/2 chance, however, he made light work of her rivals with a blistering start from trap six. Posting 1.69 early doors, the son of Pestana and Lemon Juliet made every yard thereafter to comfortably see off Quality Jack in second. The time was a slick 28.78 .20s.