MIST QUICKEST IN SORLEY O’DORNAN SECOND ROUND HEATS

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Sorley O’Dornan Guys & Dolls 525 featured at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night, with the Gerry Holian-trained Vernon Mist setting the standard with a dominant display in heat two.

Sent off as the 6/4 joint favourite alongside Petulance, Vernon Mist could only manage second in the opening round; however, she improved markedly here to underline her outright credentials. Owned by P.J. Quinn, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Sanjose broke well from trap four and showed excellent early pace to round the bend in control. Quickly opening a clear advantage, traffic in behind allowed ‘Mist’ to run a virtual solo thereafter, as she powered home to an eight-and-a-half-length success over Swift Vestige, who ran on well for second. The time was a fast 28.69.

The opening heat saw Grantstown Tas justify 4/5 favouritism for Thomas O’Donovan. This tracker showed a terrific turn of foot in round one to arrive late and score, and he employed similar tactics once again. Drawn in trap two, ‘Tas’ was slow into stride but showed notable early pace to power through and track Emers Cody. Quickly drawing alongside his rival approaching the sprint boxes, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Miss Mini Moll hit the front and never looked back, crossing the line two-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Taylors Tipple in 29.03. Incidentally, his litter brother Tetra Eco lines out in the €4,000-to-the-winner final at Lifford later tonight, so clearly a litter with ability.

In heat three, Born Sunny (Born Warrior - Dolls Flash) made it back-to-back wins for Jennifer O’Donnell and the Born-Wild Syndicate. A winner last time out, the fawn was sent off at 4/1 and, despite a level start, quickly asserted to open a six-length lead down the back straight. It looked a straightforward task thereafter; however, she was chased hard by Emers Ariel, who finished strongly to reduce the margin to a length and a quarter at the line. The time was 29.00.

The concluding heat saw Knocknadoguestar build on her first-round performance with another polished display for the Don't-Know-Syndicate. The 4/5 favourite, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Flaminhasntabob, set her stall out early with a slick break from trap one to lead.From there, she never had a moment’s concern, showing good determination to see off Madams Dream by a length in 28.85. On the evidence of that performance, she is firmly in contention for outright honours.