STICK WITH ME THE STAR OF THE SHOW AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

There was an eight-race card on offer at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and while the semi final of the Talking Dogs Dual-Distance served as the feature, it was Stick With Me in the concluding race that stole the show.

Owned by the Mullins-Curtin-Syndicate, who continue to churn out top-class greyhounds, Stick With Me made the headlines on debut as he romped to an impressive 28.92 victory and although he endured a couple of rough rides since, the heavyweight December pup bounced back in superb fashion last night. Sent to traps as the even money favourite, the choicely bred son of Grangeview Ten - Dana Point was only moderately into stride from his wide berth in six, however, showed lovely early speed to course around runners and shoot into second. At this point, Claudgreengrass was setting the pace but he was merely a sitting duck as Stick With Me loomed large on the outside before duly taking control entering the third bend. Thereafter, the strapping black raced into a commanding lead and was to cross the line three and a half lengths clear of another fast finisher in the form of Five Alley Syd. The time was a super 28.82.

BULLET SETS THE DUAL-DISTANCE STANDARD

Rewinding back to the semi finals of the Talking Dogs Dual-Distance and it was Guideys Bullet that went quickest as the Paul Burke-trained charge made it two wins from her last three starts.

Sent off at odds of 5/2, Guideys Bullet was quickest into stride from trap one, however, was outpaced on the run to the opener as Hollywell Flint took a slender lead entering the back straight. Guideys Bullet was to wrestle back control at this point as he motored down the inside and he only got stronger as the race progressed. Upping the ante around the bottom two bends, the daughter of Droopys Sydney - Carrigmore Dizzy, owned by the Joe-Dogg-Syndicate, crossed the line with five lengths in hand over Laois Lightning in second. The time was 29.15.

In the second semi final, Candys Widget (9/4) also came from off-the-pace to win comfortably for Donal Duggan and the Any-Chance-Of-A-Kuga-Syndicate. Chasing a fifth career victory, the son of Skywalker Canny - Miss Dior was headed early on by Lakeside Albert, however, was showing all sorts of early speed before being shuffled back at the opener. Settled for fourth down the back, ‘Candys’ again showed eye-catching pace to surge into the lead at the penultimate bend and he powered his way to the winning line thereafter. Racing to a three length success, the time was 29.33 and make no mistake, with a clear run this August whelp would have gone considerably faster.