TWO SHOCKS AS GALWAY STAKES COME TO A CLOSE

TWO SHOCKS AS GALWAY STAKES COME TO A CLOSE

Peter Farrell

There were two sweepstake finals down for decision at Galway Greyhound Stadium last night and both resulted in short-priced favourites being turned over.

The first of the finals on offer was the Galway Greyhound Stadium A6 525 and the €1,000 first prize went the way of 4/1 shot, Howareyaloveen. Foxwood Diva was understandably all the rage in this contest after a number of sparkling performances but she totally missed the kick from trap one and in contrast, it was Creevy Bird who showed the best of the early pace to lead around the opening corner. Heading down the back and you could have thrown a blanket over four runners with Howareyaloveen making good progress as he advanced into second place midway down the straight. Trained by Paul Burke for Enda Shoer and Patrick Rabbite, the July 21’ son of Grangeview Ten and Grangeview Vicie was now in full flow and continued to up the ante around the bottom two bends where he was to take over. Staying on strongly up the home straight, Howareyaloveen crossed the line to score convincingly, by two lengths, from Glamorous Woohoo in second. The time was 29.36 .10s.

Next up was the Galway Greyhound Stadium A5 525 final and this saw 2/1 shot, Blaze More Fire, prevail for joint owners Kim Bennis and Tony Brigdale. Bonzo Bourke went to traps as the even money favourite in the decider and he was quickest into stride from trap four to lead the opening yardage. However, Bonzo Bourke was to endure a troublesome passage at the opener, which saw him hit the deck, and in turn it was Lissatouk Sue who took control into the back. At the point Blaze More Fire was in close proximity in second place and the daughter of Ballymac Eske looked a potent threat rounding the bottom two bends. Steering a rails course, this was to prove the key to success as Blaze More Fire shot up the inside around the final turn to score by one and a half lengths from Lissatouk Sue in second. The time was 29.29 .10s.

DROMBEG DOUBLE ELSEWHERE

The ‘Drombeg’ kennel are never too far away from the winner’s circle at Galway and they sent out another double last night as Drombeg Rex and Drombeg Star landed their respective contests.

First up was Drombeg Rex in the night’s opener, an A5 525 contest. Owned by Evan McAuliffe, the September 21’ whelp was having just his second career start but confidence was obviously high as he was sent to traps as the 5/4 favourite. Well away from trap five, Drombeg Rex immediately manufactured a healthy lead heading into the opener and he was to run to a virtual solo thereafter. A son of Good News and Keeperhill Honey, there was a lot to like about the performance of Drombeg Rex as he came home four and a half lengths clear of Harrogatetownbaz in second. The time was 29.32 .10s.

The double was completed in the second heat of the Galway A7/A10 525 as Drombeg Star also proved a class above her rivals in running out a convincing winner. A 4/5 chance at the off, the daughter of Skywalker Logan and Drombeg Dancer made no mistakes at boxes as she flashed from four to take control in the early yards. Already five lengths clear down the back, Drombeg Star drew further clear as she crossed the line with eight lengths in hand. The time was 29.58 .10s.

Reminder to patrons that Galway host another three sweepstake finals later this evening as the ‘Galway S3/S4 350’ comes to a conclusion, as well as the ‘Online Trial Bookings A4 525’ and the ‘Online Race Entries A3 525’.