A FIRST EVER LAURELS SUCCESS FOR DOWLING'S AS KAMALA LEADS HOME SETANTA
KERRY trainer Liam Dowling enjoyed a first Laurels success at a packed Curraheen Park on Saturday night as BALLYMAC KAMALA (Droopys Sydney-Ballymac Pete) produced a foot-perfect display from trap number five to win the €30,000 BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels.
The Dowlings were doubly represented, and it was Ballymac Setanta, in four, who was sent off the 13-8 market leader. All eyes were on the break, and Slick Sanctuary came away well from the inside of the track, but the eye was soon drawn to Ballymac Kamala, who was displaying massive speed down the outside of the track. With Setanta moving in, Kamala had loads of room out wide, and once she led around the opening turns, it was game over.
Pic right: Ballymac Kamala with Stephen Reidy after winning the BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels on Saturday night.
A winner of the Champion Stakes earlier this year and third in the Oaks final, Ballymac Kamala returned to her very best form on the night that mattered most. At halfway, she was about five clear of Magical Jet, with Setanta showing gears after a sluggish start.
Keeping on strongly, as she always does, Ballymac Kamala ran out a brilliant winner of this year's Laurels, winning in 28.05, with Setanta running a cracker in second, making it a 1-2 for the Dowlings.
Four lengths the margin, with two lengths back to Magical Jet in third place. Sure Exile was fourth, with Slick Sanctuary and Droopys Unreal in behind.
Champion trainer Graham Holland landed the €10,000 to the winner Michael (Bart Leahy) Memorial final with Half Yours (Ballymac Cashout-Cliffhanger) winning for owners Eugene Buckley and Pat Muldoon.
Flyers Penney came away racing from the inside of the track, but the 6-5 favourite turned on the premises and from there, the bright prospect looked like he would take the world of beating. Powering down the back straight, he soon took up the running, and he went on to beat the early leader, by four and a half lengths, in 28.26.
Microchip (Droopys Sydney-Clona Skye) came away racing from the inside of the track to make all the running in the €2,000 to the winner BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels Consolation final.
A model of consistency in recent times, the 11-2 winner is all about early speed, and he delivered one of his usual trap-to-line winning performances in this. Romeo Alliance was second throughout, and it got very tight late on. The one up front wasn't the most straightforward in the closing stages, looking in left, but he held on, winning by a head, in 28.57. Favourites Sober Barry and Droopys Monk never landed a blow after poor starts.
Local trainer Kieran Lynch enjoyed a fantastic double on the card. It all started in the opener, Gaelic Jimmy (Ballymac Cashout-Ballyverry Sarah) winning the €2,000 to the winner Horgans Delicatessen Supplies Mitchelstown Ltd ON1 final for the Premier Rebel Lads Syndicate. Backed at fancy prices in the betting ring, the November puppy was sent to traps at odds of 5-1, and he was soon in prime position after producing a quick start from the rails pitch. From here, the outcome was never in any doubt. Always in control, he came home two lengths clear of Ballymac Cashin, in 28.37.
In the €2,000 to the winner Shanahee Boomer @ Stud A4 Dual Distance final, Butterbridge Jaz (Kilara Icon-Butterbridge Ava) delivered a strong finish to deny the front-running Ballyrodgan One in the closing yards. Trained by Kieran Lynch for owner Mark O'Shea, the 11-4 shot was winning for the first time on outing number nine. A powerful finish to get the job done. Three-quarters of a length the margin, in 30.26.
Local trainer Pat Kiely was also on the scoresheet, Portrush Ben (Ballymac Cashout-Dingys Diva) impressed when winning the €2,000 to the winner Youghal Track Supporters Club Open 330. Owned by Adrian McGarry, the 6-1 shot produced one of his better starts and, once leading early, he was always going to prove tough to pass. Strong in front, he came home four and a half lengths clear of Carrig Cartel, in 17.65.
Ned Kerrisk enjoyed a night to remember as well, Ropewalk Ranger (Droopys Flytline-Saratoga) delivering a career-best performance in the Curraheen Park Bookmakers Mini Open. After a couple of fine displays in the Laurels, the 9-4 shot displayed impressive early gears from trap number, and he ran out a most impressive winner on the night. At the line, he was five lengths clear of Super Syd, in 28.33.
In the Magical Kennels Open 525, it was all about Solo And Go (Ballymac Best-Ballymac Minton) for Liam Dowling and the Kingdoms Palace Syndicate. The 11-8 favourite produced an explosive start from trap four, and punters who were on never had a moment's worry. In the driving seat throughout, the classy performer clocked 28.07, 10 and a half lengths clear of Swords Style.
In the €4,000 to the winner Barking Buzz App Open Bitch Final, The Other Mel (Grangeview Ten-Scooby Duchess) made all the running for trainer Jennifer O'Donnell. Owned by the Born Wild Syndicate, the 9-4 second favourite showed all of her usual early gears from trap two to slip clear. Favourite Silent Noelle didn't enjoy the clearest of runs early, but she was chasing mad down the back straight and making inroads on the leader, however, the line came in time for the front-running winner.
An improved performance on last week, The Other Mel stopped the clock, in 28.37, half a length clear of Silent Noelle.
Tipperary trainer Emer Dunne took the Droopys Stud 750, as Illcallyouback(Ballyhimikin Jet-Good Diva) delivered a big finish to land the spoils. The 14-1 outsider was always in the mix, as Bockos Sapphire made most, however, the strong-running winner delivered a superb finish to land the spoils. A 42.05 winning performance, a length clear of Lennies Desire.
Cappoquin's Tim Cliffe is enjoying some journey with Timmys Bucks, and he did it again on Saturday night. The 8-1 winner, a son of Burgess Bucks and Trusted Exile, looked set for second place throughout, but he came from well off the pace to deny the fast-starting Ballymac Gwennie. In truth, the outcome never looked likely, with the runner-up in cruise control for most of the journey. The Ballymac runner didn't quite see out the trip, and the winner is proven over further. A two-length success, in 31.09, winning the Clona Greyhounds 575
Local trainer James Kelleher landed the closing race, with Confident Hugo (Ballymac Cashout-Confident Petal) winning the €4,000 Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A1 stake, in 28.72, for the Length and a half Syndicate, at odds of 4-1. It was a messy race up front, with plenty of trouble along the way, however, when it opened up for the winner, he took full advantage. Finishing with a flourish, he beat Priceless Robbie, by four and a half lengths, in 28.72.
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