VELVET CLAIMS SMART UNRACED SUCCESS AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

While the Galway racing festival may be over for 2025, there was plenty to talk about at the Connacht venue on Friday night with a number of fine performances on offer.

The final of the €450 to the winner Unraced Sweepstakes 350 was the feature race on the card and it was landed in exceptional fashion by Velvet Ring. Sent off as the 1/2 favourite despite tasting defeat in the semis, Mike Buckley’s February pup justified his market price as he showed a superb turn of foot at traprise. Drawn in one, the son of Glengar Bale - Velvet Spring was headed early on by both Opera Moment and Hollywell BUster, however, he excelled once hitting the sand to shoot up the inside and go clear. Running two terrific bends thereafter, ‘Ring’ powered up the Galway straight to put three lengths between himself and Opera Moment in second. The time was a rapid 19.15.

HEATHLAWN DOUBLE

Elsewhere on the card, there was a popular double for Rose and Martin Kelly as their ‘Heathlawn’ trackers continued to impress.

First up was Heathlawn Storm (6/1) in the penultimate contest as he brought his career tally to three wins, while posting a personal best in the process. Only an October whelp, the son of Grangeview Ten - Blackstone Time hit the ground running with a 3.24 sectional and this enabled him to manufacture a four length lead over Hanover Storm at the midway point. The latter made a real fist of proceedings thereafter to close the gap, however, Heathlawn was nothing if not game in holding his rival by a half-length. The time was a blistering 28.93.

In the concluding race, it was a quick-fire double for the Kelly’s as litter sister, Heathlawn Ruby, got in on the act. This lady was chasing back-to-back victories, and she was a 2/1 chance to do so from her favoured trap one berth. A level break saw ‘Ruby’ take charge at the opener and she held a two length advantage over Bumblebee Milan down the back. Setting a smart gallop, ‘Ruby’ was as game as her litter brother in holding ‘Milan’ by one and a half lengths crossing the line. The time was 29.27.