MAGICAL HOPE STARS ON W.G.O.B.A NIGHT AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

There were no fewer than four sweepstake finals on offer at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night with the W.G.O.B.A sponsoring each of the deciders on offer.

The first of the finals was the €600 to the winner ‘W.G.O.B.A A8-A10 525’ and this saw Ballygibbon Ted justify his 4/6 billing for owner John O’Meara. A winner by a huge nine lengths in the semis, the son of Flaminmoneybags - Beannacht Cleo set his stall out early as he broke best of all from trap four, before making a beeline for the inside. In doing so, he tracked brilliantly to open a commanding lead over his rivals and he proved a class apart thereafter to win by five and a half lengths. The time, in rough conditions, was 29.96 .20s.

The very next race saw Croaghill Archie emerge victorious in the ‘W.G.O.B.A S6/S7 350’. Another installed at a hot favourite at odds of even money, John and Patrick McDonagh’s black won his semi in comfortable fashion, however, he was made to work a bit harder on this occasion as he claimed a narrow win. Quickest into stride from four, ‘Archie’ struggled to fend off Peteles Prospect in the opening yards and he was kept honest by his rival for the duration of the contest to cross the line with just a half-length to spare. The time in the €500 decider was 19.53 .10s.

There was €675 on offer in the final of the W.G.O.B.A A5 525 and this saw Brickhill Rosie bounce back to winning ways for joint owners John Collins and Albert Long. A well-bred daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Twentylittletoes, ‘Rosie’ broke well from her wide berth in six and she disputed for supremacy with Creevy Bird early on. Taking a stranglehold of the contest approaching the penultimate bend, ‘Rosie’ showed excellent stamina abilities to cross the line three and a half lengths clear of kennel companion, Brickhill Aurora, in second. The time for the 3/1 chance was a smart 29.19 .10s.

The last of the finals was the ‘W.G.O.B.A A4 525’ and this saw Magical Hope produce a fantastic performance to make it back-to-back wins for Donal and Pat Guilfoyle. Sent to traps as the 5/4 favourite after winning her semi in good style, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat - Magical Poppy recovered from a modest start to show an impressive turn of early speed to lead comfortably. In doing so, the writing was very much on the wall from an early stage as the powerful brindle drew clear of her rivals thereafter. Indeed, this lady looks a fine prospect for the Guilfoyle’s and she crossed the line six lengths clear of Own Lullaby to stop the clock in the fastest time of the night, 29.01 .20s.