TRACK RECORD WINNING DISPLAY FROM BALLYCOWEN FRANK IN RACE OF CHAMPIONS FINAL
Barry Drake
BALLYCOWEN FRANK (Ballymac Cashout-Peckies Flyer) delivered a sensational performance to win the €15,000 to the winner Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Race of Champions at Tralee on Friday night.
A recent 27.60 winner around the Kingdom, the brilliant performer was sent to traps at 4-1 after showing huge pace to get within a short-head of Solo And Go last week.
Trained by Michael O'Donovan for owners Dean Harpur and Debbie Doyle, Ballycowen Frank produced a dream start from trap two, and he just made the corner in front of both Solo And Go and Swords Style.
It was game over from here as he's such a strong-running dog, and all eyes were on the clock. Solo And Go was within touching distance early on in the back straight, but once he hit top gear before halfway, he quickly put daylight between himself and the rest of the field.
Powering away from a top-class line-up, it was no surprise to see him stop the clock, in 29.01, a new Track Record for the Tralee 550-yard trip.
Ballycowen Frank has always looked as quick as anything, and he showed that once more in the feature final. At the line, he was seven and a half lengths clear of Solo And Go, with a short head back to Jacktavern Turbo.
Trainer Michael O'Donovan has enjoyed plenty of big-race success in recent times, winning the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial, the National Produce Stake,s and now, the Callaway Pro @ Stud Race of Champions. There is no doubt Ballycowen Frank is one to watch in the Irish Greyhound Derby later this year.
Following Ballycowen Frank's win in the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Race of Champions Final, Declan Murphy making the winning presentation to Sky Harpur with Debbie Doyle & Michael Lynam and sponsors Denis, John, Danny, Fia & Cáit Murphy, Kieran Casey & Heather Hartley, Kingdom Greyhound Stadium and Richie O'Regan Board Member Greyhound Racing Ireland.
Callaway Fia (Ballymac Bolger-Ballymac Fia) impressed when winning the €1,000 to the winner Callaway Kennels A3 Stake. Trained by Owen McKenna for Denis Murphy, the 15-8 second favourite displayed lovely speed into the turn, leading around from trap five. Taking control on the back straight, the impressive winner came home five and a half lengths clear of Knockeen Aero, in 28.45.
In the third, Bomber Nina (Ballymac Bolger-Ballymac Cams) delivered another high-class sprinting performance for trainer Jack Kennelly and owner Gavin Johns. In front early from trap two, the 2-1 winner pulled right away from a good field to win, in 17.28. Five and a half lengths back to Coolwest Boy. (SS0).
In the closing race, an A4, Villaricos (Ballymac Bolger-Ballymac Pebbles) made the most of a huge drop in class to win for trainer Owen McKenna and owner Des Grace. Out of the luck in the opening round of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced, the 9-4 joint favourite took a flyer from trap three, and the bright prospect stormed around the opening corners in total control.
Sent off at a very generous industry price of 9-4, it was all one-way traffic up front.
A wide margin winning effort, clocking 28.53.