TIER SETS THE STANDARD IN ARACHAS 600 AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
The opening round heats of the Arachas Corporate Brokers Ltd A1 600 got underway at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it was Newport Tier who set the early standard in what proved five closely matched affairs.
Running for the Mullins-Curtin-Syndicate, Newport Tier (Droopys Sydney - Cantcallherthat) was well beaten by Hukum over the marathon trip last time out but got back on track expertly, using all of her stamina to score at odds of 2/1. The 4/5 favourite was Cheero and he broke brilliantly from the stripes to take a two length lead into the opener. Holding a clear advantage down the back, Newport Pier tracked the leader throughout and made her move on the long run home. Storming past her rival to win by three lengths, the time was 32.65.
HEAT WATCH
The opening heat was landed by Corporate Escape as Sean Mulcahy’s charge made every yard of the running. Quickly into stride from trap six, the son of Skywalker Logan and Greenisle Athena soon turned a two length lead into six lengths down the back and he stayed on stoutly to cross the line with over five lengths in hand. The time was 32.95.
Typical Bono looked the one to beat in heat two and the even money favourite comfortably obliged to emerge as the easiest winner of the five heats on offer. Trained by David Murray for Michael Malone, Typical Bono emerged from a level break in trap five to show the better of the early gears and lead. Holding a four length advantage down the back, the son of Broadstrand Bono pulled clear late on to cross the line eight lengths clear of Seaport Lass in second. The time was 32.69.
Smart Sam went to traps at massive odds of 8/1 but he never read the script as he popped out to lead throughout. Owned by Paul White, the son of Droopys Sydney and Ballyoran Maid showed the best of the early pace to lead Razldazl Amanda into the opener. From here, despite fading notably in the closing yards, he had just enough in reserve to see off Colossal Venture in second. The time was 32.78.
The final heat saw Richard Lanigan get on the scoresheet as Millroad Victory produced a determined display to get back to winning ways. Beaming Becca trapped smartly from six and she led her rivals into the opening corner as Millroad Victory and American Prince sat a close second and third down the back. However, American Prince was forced to check and Millroad Victory was to show the superior staying power as she stormed past Beaming Becca to win by three lengths. The time was 32.70.
TWO STUNNING PERFORMANCES
Elsewhere on the card, there were two performances of particular note as both Road Exile and Fantasy Moll produced outstanding displays.
First up was Road Exile (Droopys Sydney - Trusted Exile) in race seven as Pat Buckley, who incidentally recorded a double with Bobsleigh Syd also winning on the card, produced an incredible performance. The 4/5 favourite at the off, the red jacketed runner trapped expertly and showed his sprinting early pace to lead Portdrine Magic into the opener. From here he maintained a two length lead to the final turn before drawing clear to win by five lengths crossing the line. The time was an exceptional 28.28.
In the concluding race, Fantasy Moll followed up her brilliant display last weekend with another scintillating performance for Adam Dunford and Leslie Coveney. Running from her favoured red jacket, the daughter of Pestana and Newinn Madam, a 3/1 chance, made light work of this contest with a slick exit to lead. Once in front, it was all over barring incident as Dunford’s talented lady set a scorching gallop to cross the line with five lengths in hand. The time was a brilliant 29.59 for the 550-yard trip.