NINE FINALS CONCLUDE AT GALWAY AS LOLO LANDS THE FEATURE
Peter Farrell
It was all systems go at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as the Connacht venue played host to no fewer than nine sweepstake finals, the selection of which, the final of the Galway Plate A2 525.
Offering a winner’s prize of €1,450, the Galway Plate decider was a relatively open contest on paper but it was won in comprehensive fashion in the end as Grangeview Lolo landed the spoils. Owned by Emily Hogan, the well-made daughter of Ballymac Best and Grangeview West certainly knows how to win and she came away well from the stripes to nestle in behind Drombeg Apollo early on. Taking charge midway down the back, Grangeview Lolo set a strong gallop thereafter and she maintained her dominance in the closing stages to see off Noelles Milano by two and three parts of a length. The time was a smart 28.91 .10s.
ROUNDING UP THE FINALS
Incidentally, the Hogan Family landed two finals on the night as Grangeview Sab came home clear in the ‘Greyhounds Make Great Pets 350’. Owned this time by Michael Hogan, the well-bred son of Pat C Sabbath and Portumna West landed his semi final assignment and he was to make it back-to-back wins with another flash start from four. Setting a decent gallop around the bottom two bends, Grangeview Sab continued to set the pace thereafter as he crossed the line with one length to spare over Brilliant News in second. The time was 19.34 .5s.
Another kennel to record a double on the night was that of the Flaherty-Family-Syndicate as both Rinnwood Leo and Rinnwood Gem triumphed in their respective finals. First up was Rinnwood Leo who led home a one-two for connections in the WGOBA S7 350. Running from trap four, Rinnwood Leo produced a carbon copy of his semi final win as he broke best of all from trap four to lead. From here, the son of Pestana and Rinnwood Pearl made every yard of the running to cross the line with one and three parts of a length to spare over litter brother, Rinnwood Duke, in second. The time was 19.31 .5s.
Shortly after, in the €750 to the winner ‘Friends of Galway Greyhounds A4 525’, Rinnwood Gem emerged by the slenderest of margins in arguably the performance of the night. A winner of her semi final assignment in a brilliant 28.98 .10s, the litter sister to the previous winner was expected to go close but she completely fluffed her lines early on before shipping a huge bump at the opener to sit fifth. However, making fine progress down the back, Rinnwood Gem was eating into the lead set by Blueway Best and she finished at a rate of knots to get the nod, by a short-head, from Derra Dolly in second. The time was 29.41 .10s and this was a phenomenal performance given Rinnwood Gem sat some ten lengths adrift rounding the opening corner.
Race three saw the final of the ‘Run a Fundraiser @ Galway Track A6 525’ go down for decision and this was another close affair as Bosra Ava came out on top for Maurice Mullaney. Chasing a three-timer after winning her last two starts in 30.15 and 29.50, Bosra Ava continued her purple patch despite having to sit tight behind Aulton Ruby early on. However, showing fine speed down the back, the daughter of Sonic and Ballymac Velvet took control at the midway point before staying on stoutly to see off Caislean Zoey, who played her part in a thrilling finish in second. Just a neck between the pair, the time was 29.63 .10s.
There was €800 up for grabs in the final of the Crafty Shivoo A3 Dual-Distance 525/550 and this was landed in expert fashion by Six Oclock News. Owned by Donal Duggan, this greyhound ran an impressive race in defeat in the 525-yard leg but went one better as he made every yard to double his career tally. Running from trap six, Six Oclock News was swiftly into stride on the outside and entered the back straight with a commanding lead. From here, the son of Good News and Turree Kate stayed on well to record a four length success over Thisrunsdeep in second. The time was a good 30.31 .10s.
The Raha Mofo A4 525offered a purse of €750 to the winner and it was Joeys Sydney who made it three wins on the trot for the Joeys-Lads-Syndicate. Running from trap one, the son of Droopys Sydney and Mt Heaton Daisy was brilliantly housed on the rail and he made full use of this with a swift exit at traprise. Turning narrowly in front, Joeys Sydney showed a lovely turn of foot down the back to go four length clear before skipping along nicely to cross the line with two lengths to spare over Grangeview Liz in second. The time was 29.51 .10s.
Race seven was the final of the ‘Bet With The Tote @ Galway Track S3 350’ and this went the way of one of the form bitches in the Country as Drombeg Star made it four straight wins for Donal Malone. Running from trap three, the classy sprinter was well on her way to the €650 prize as she trapped lively to lead. Once doing so, there was never any chance of the daughter Skywalker Logan being reeled in and she duly crossed the line with two and a half lengths to spare over Lookaturwan in second. The time was 19.16 .5s.
The last of the finals down for decision was the €750 to the winner ‘www.grireland.ie A5 525’ and this was claimed in comfortable style by Hastalavistababy. Owned by Thomas O’Connor, the son of Out Of Range and An Bhean Cheile was reeled in by Rossies Flossy in the semi finals, however, he was to exact revenge in the final with a slick exit from one. This time around, Hastalavistababy took full advantage of his lead to see off his rival with relative ease as he stayed on well to record a four and three parts of a length victory. The time was 29.84 .10s.