UP THE JIMMYS & DROMBEG KING LAND GALWAY DECIDERS

Peter Farrell

Two sweepstake finals went down for decision at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night, with Drombeg King and Up The Jimmys claiming the honours, both scoring with a degree of comfort.

The first of the finals to get underway was the Galway Unraced ON2/ON3 350, and there was a minor upset as Crafty Moirai was turned over at odds of 7/4.

With a €1,000 winner’s prize on offer, it was Up The Jimmys who came out on top for Sean Keleghan, bouncing back from semi-final defeat in emphatic style. Drawn in trap six, the 7/2 chance broke well from his outside berth and, although both Crafty Moirai and Cascade Thor applied pressure on the run to the opening bend, ‘Jimmy’ showed good determination to take control at the turn. In doing so, the son of Bockos Jon Jo - Annadown Loki, still only fifteen months of age, asserted up the Galway hill to record a facile four-and-a-half-length success. Cascade Thor finished second, while the winning time of 19.16 underlined the ability of this talented youngster. Given his age, further improvement can be expected in the months ahead.

The final of the €1,000-to-the-winner Avenue Queen A3 525 followed, and it was Drombeg King who produced an equally impressive display to land the spoils.

Owned by Evan McAuliffe, Drombeg King had no answer to Jasmine Coco in the semi-finals; however, he was better drawn on this occasion and went off a generous 7/2 chance. Quickly into stride from his inside berth, the ‘King’ was challenged by Jasmine Coco on the run-up and, although the latter marginally led early, McAuliffe’s runner showed excellent determination to drive the bend and take control. Thereafter, the son of King Sheeran and Blastoff Kat quickly opened up a three-length advantage, which continued to extend as the race progressed. Staying on strongly, he crossed the line six lengths clear of Laois Lightning, with a rapid 28.78 on the clock, a big run on the night from this June whelp.