DICE ROLLS ON IN CONNACHT DERBY BUT MAG QUICKEST

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by Karen Geoghegan, the semi finals of Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby took centre stage at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and both semis were very evenly matched as Magical Mag went narrowly quickest.

This €9,000 to the winner Derby has produced some brilliant action in recent weeks and the final in seven days’ time promises to be an epic encounter given the wide-open nature of the event. Coming into the semi finals there was very little to separate the runners and this was evident in two terrific contests last night as just twelve spots separated both Breaghmore Dice and Magical Mag.

Indeed, the second semi was a hugely anticipated contest with Epic Ace, Ballymac Sorrel and Dutchie all locking horns, however, the aforementioned trio had no answer to Magical Mag as she landed her first win of the event thus far. Owned and trained by Pat Guilfoyle, ‘Mag’ took a flyer from trap three and this enabled her to just hold off a big challenge from Epic Ace, who once again showcased his terrific early speed, on the run-up. Turning with just one length in hand, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Mystical Luna tracked expertly to double her advantage into the back and with Eastern Express running off the opening bend from trap two, this allowed the slow-starting Ballymac Sorrel to nip up the inside and sit three lengths further adrift in third. Setting a frantic gallop down the back, Magical Mag maintained a two length lead over Epic Ace upon entrance to the penultimate bend and in truth, she was never under any threat in her bid to make it three career victories for Guilfoyle. The battle was well and truly on for second place at this point and Ballymac Sorrel was edging closer around the bottom two bends as the petrol gauge began to flicker on the early-paced Epic Ace. This contest was all about Magical Mag however; and she never relented on the long run home as the December 22’ whelp crossed the line to win by a solid three and a half lengths over the staying-on Ballymac Sorrel in second. The final qualifying position was claimed by Epic Ace, who was just three parts of a length further back in third. The time was 30.21 .10s

BACK-TO-BACK FOR BREAGHMORE DICE

Prior to that, the opening semi final was landed by Breaghmore Dice as he made it back-to-back wins for M.J Corrigan.

Breaghmore Dice has some superb form to his name around Shelbourne Park and after dipping his toes into the water in the opening round, he returned to something of his very best last time out when posting a rapid 30.05. As a result, ‘Dice’ came into the opening semi as the one to beat and he set his stall out early with a smart exit from trap four. Canya Steve also came away running and the duo disputed on the run-up, before ‘Dice’ displayed the superior early dash to hit the front. In doing so, it was always going to prove difficult to reel in the son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Cams, however, it was Rinnwood Leo that improved into second and he set off in chase entering the back straight. Further back at this point were the big finishers in Rosshill News and Canya Steve, however, there was never any doubt about the conclusion of this contest as Breaghmore Dice showed no signs of stopping as he stayed on brilliantly to cross the line two and a half lengths in hand. Meanwhile, the gallant Rinnwood Leo couldn’t hold off the flying finishes of Rosshill News and Canya Steve as they sealed the all-important qualification spots in second and third respectively. The time was a good 30.33 .10s.

LADIES ON FAYA

The competitiveness of the Connacht Derby was catching in the ‘On Faya Bitch Stake’ earlier on the card as just one spot separated the two semi finals of the €3,500 to the winner event.

Of the two semi finals, it was the Owen McKenna-trained Neverseendalikes that went narrowly quickest as she broke her maiden tag in impressive style. Jointly owned by Owen and Sian McKenna, the choicely bred daughter of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire broke best of all from her trap two berth and she took a two length advantage into the back from Grace And Laura, who narrowly headed the fancied Glengar Delilah in second. Neverseendalikes maintained her two length lead thereafter and the 2/1 chance stayed on stoutly to cross the line with two and a half lengths in hand over Grace And Laura in second. The third qualifying position was claimed by Glengar Deliliah, who was a further three lengths back in third. The time was 28.87 .10s.

SHE DID IT SEALS FINE DOUBLE FOR CORRIGAN

Shortly after, She Did It caused a minor upset as she made it seven career wins for M.J Corrigan, who was also responsible for Breaghmore Dice.

A fancied 5/4 chance one-week prior, She Did It could only settle for third on that occasion, however, she was lightning at trap three to lead the early-paced Brickhill Fayla on the run-up. Holding a three parts of a length lead rounding the opener, She Did It was already in a commanding position given the stamina limitations of her nearest rival, Brickhill Fayla, entering the back. Indeed, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Eileens Blue, a 3/1 chance, showed fine speed down the back to open a three length advantage and she powered even further clear thereafter as she flew up the Galway hill to record a five length victory over the staying-on Slipalong Dew in second. The third and final qualifying position went the way of Brickhill Fayla, who finished just a neck further back in third. The time was 28.88 .10s.