TOOLMAKER BEACH SHINES IN BALLYMAC COOPER SEMIS AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
The two semi finals of the €3,000 to the winner Ballymac Cooper @ Stud A3 525 were the main attraction at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and it was Toolmaker Beach who stole for the formidable team of William Hyslop and Robert Gleeson.
Despite still searching for a first career win prior to last night, Toolmaker Beach was a noted eye-catcher from last week’s quarter finals as he showed serious pace to get to within a half length of Hollyhill Sonny. Only a February 20’ pup, one suspected that the son of Droopys Jet would break his duck sooner rather than later and he delivered in style last night as he recorded a blistering 28.58.
Heading into the opening semi final, Ballymac Jet was seeking a hat-trick of victories after showing some brilliant early gears in previous rounds. However, despite Liam Dowling’s charge setting what was a frantic gallop once again, he was to fail narrowly in his attempts to maintain his unbeaten status in the competition. Flashing from trap three, Ballymac Jet, a 3/1 chance, took charge from the outset as he led Toolmaker Beach into the opening corner. Setting a blistering gallop down the back straight, the duo battled it out with Toolmaker Beach edging closer rounding the bottom two bends. Displaying the superior staying power thereafter, the son of Droopys Jet and Kilara Lizzie, the 5/4 favourite, stormed to the front in the closing stages and he was three parts of a length better off crossing the line. The time, as mentioned, was an electric 28.58 with the final qualifying position claimed by Cronody Cupid, who also finished fast, in third.
MANUS MAKES ALL
In the second semi final, another greyhound who had failed to land a blow in earlier rounds came to the fore as Glengar Manus claimed victory.
Owned by the Manus-Syndicate, Glengar Manus was looking to double his career tally but despite being fancied in earlier rounds, he had been turned over at short odds. However, after doing some good running last week to overcome a tardy start, the son of Ballymac Best and Droopys Mazda was much swifter in stride last night from five as he showed brilliant pace to lead the field into the opening corner. A proven stayer, it was always going to take a strong effort to reel in Glengar Manus thereafter and he maintained a powerful gallop all the way to the winning line. Seeing off Another Blonde to seal a two lengths victory, the 5/2 chance stopped the clock in 29.10 with Faypoint Alex a further length back in third.
MAGNIFICENT MEGAN
Aside from the sweepstake action, there was one huge performance in race ten as Farranrory Megan got back to winning ways for Keith Freer and Sharon Hunt.
An August 18’ daughter of Jaytee Jet and Farranrory Fay, Farranrory Megan has some brilliant form to her name and the 3/1 chance added another impressive victory to her CV last night at Limerick. Flashing from trap five, ‘Megan’ got the better of Adamant Phoenix in the opening exchanges and despite the best efforts of her rival, the impressive bitch stuck to her task brilliantly throughout to cross the line two lengths clear. The time was a sensational 28.46.
IN OTHER RACES
The first greyhound to dip under 29-seconds on the night was the Paraic Campion-trained Chestnut Ghost (Head Bound - Playmistyforme) in race four. Going off at huge odds of 6/1, the Tony Bennett-owned runner broke best of all wearing the stripes and after seeing off the persistent Clonregan Gem down the back, he crossed the line two and a half lengths clear of his aforementioned rival in second. The time was 28.99.
Despite John Rainsford having to settle for second behind the impressive Farranrory Megan later in the card, he did notch a fine winner in race seven as Adamant Approach crossed over to justify his 5/4 starting price. Fresh off a neck defeat last time out, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Adamant Gem wasn’t to suffer the same fate as he made every post a winner to seal a three and a half length victory over Tallyho Angel in second. The time was 28.90. Incidentally, that result was to cap a double on the card for John Rainsford as he also sent out Adamant Sol who took control at the halfway mark to justify his 4/6 starting price. His time was 29.45.
John Quigley notched a winner in race eight as Woodfield Master produced an off-the-pace performance to score a third career win. Out with the washing early on from three, the son of Sparta Maestro and Coolowen Goldie showed lovely speed down the back to improve before staying on best of all to secure the win. A length and a half better off than Knockdine Blake at the line, the time for the 7/2 shot was 28.93.
Grouchos Cain always runs his race at Limerick and he scored a sixth career success in race ten as he emerged a runaway winner for joint owners, Ken O’Connell and David Carroll. Sluggish into stride from trap six, the son of Droopys Cain and Varra Bawn is renowned for packing a finish after staying out wide throughout, he stormed to the front between the bottom two bends before powering to a six length win over Rockalong Sierra in second. The time was a swift 28.85.
The concluding race of the night saw another slick victory as Ballymac Whispa ensured Liam Dowling went home happy. Only an August 20’ puppy, Ballymac Whispa was a winner of his last outing in a fast 28.82 and the 5/4 favourite showed huge pace to shave another few of lengths off that time. Slowly into stride from trap five, the son of Ballymac Anton and Ballymac Minton looked to have plenty on his plate in the early exchanges but he displayed brilliant pace to take charge at the halfway point before running out a comfortable winner in the latter stages of the contest. A real star of the future, the time for Ballymac Whispa was a red-hot 28.71.