TREATY SIGNS OFF ON HISTORY IN WILLWEGO.COM IRISH ST. LEGER

Peter Farrell

All eyes were on Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as the final of the WillWeGo.com Irish St. Leger concluded it lived up to all expectations in producing an epic finale.

Never have opinions been divided as much heading into the renewal of this prestigious Classic and right up to the bell, this was reflected in the betting market with the likes of Beepers Lariat and Ballinabola Una, who were considered the two outsiders of the field, strongly supported at the death. However, much like their semi final battle, it was the Graham Holland pairing of Clonbrien Treaty and Swords Rex who were to serve up a contest which will live long in the memory of every greyhound enthusiast.

TREATY FAVOURITE WITH REX ON THE DRIFT

In terms of the betting market, it fluctuated greatly on the lead up to the €30,000 decider but one thing for certain was the fact that Clonbrien Treaty would go off favourite. Installed at odds of 5/4, Swords Rex was next best at 10/3 despite drifting, while Sober Glory was available at odds of 4/1. Ballinabola Una was quoted as high as 16/1 one earlier in the day but she was the subject of big support as she went off at 6/1, and the same could be said of Beepers Lariat who was a 12/1 chance at the off. Indeed, Mr Chelm, who had been mightily impressive throughout the Classic was the eventual outside as he drifted to a massive 14/1.

REX EXPLODES FROM BOXES

The general reason for the market drift of Swords Rex was down to how effortlessly Clonbrien Treaty breezed past the 2022 Kirby winner seven days prior, however, Swords Rex had a beautiful draw in trap three and he made full use of this with a bullet-like break to quickly open a one length lead over Beepers Lariat in second, with Mr Chelm and Ballinabola Una battling it out for fourth. Meanwhile, Clonbrien Treaty, despite making his usual moderate start, was pacing up in incredible fashion for James and Muireann Murphy and he was to turn a scarily close second behind the brilliant Swords Rex. Suddenly, it was a rerun of last week’s thrilling semi final.

BACK STRAIGHT BATTLE

Holding a one length lead approaching the back straight, it appeared that Barbara Lowndes’ charge had the measure of Clonbrien Treaty on this occasion as he continued to hold all the aces at the midway point. However, despite making it much more difficult for the reigning Con & Annie Kirby champ this time around, he ranged alongside ‘Rex’ as they galloped past the 750-yard box and given he was on the outside, there was a certain inevitability about what was to follow. Further back, and running a phenomenal race to close the gap, was the Peter Cronin-trained Mr Chelm as he displayed his usual burst of back straight power to get into contention. Ballinabola Una was also going along nicely in fourth as she sat some five lengths adrift entering her strongest part of the race, however, both Sober Glory and Beepers Lariat had plenty to do in order to even make the frame.

TREATY HITS THE FRONT

While Swords Rex continued to hold the slenderest of advantages approaching the penultimate turn, he was railing extremely tightly and in contrast, the wide-running Clonbrien Treaty didn’t have to break stride as he swooped at the crown of the turn to take charge. For the first time in this contest, and with the winning line in sight, Clonbrien Treaty was in front and history was about to be made.

HISTORIC KIRBY / LEGER DOUBLE

Despite looking like his goose was very much cooked once headed, the battling instincts of Swords Rex were to kick-in shortly after and as Clonbrien Treaty drifted wide off the final turn, Swords Rex railed expertly to provide his connections with one last push for glory. However, it wasn’t to be for this fabulous tracker as Clonbrien Treaty straightened up in sensational fashion to power home and record a half length victory over his kennel companion. A truly epic conclusion to the event, which has seen the son of Pestana and Clonbrien Millie follow up on his Kirby success to create history, the time, although irrelevant, was 29.51. Sober Glory, after completely fluffing his lines at traprise, ran an incredible race to get up for third and it was Mr Chelm, Ballinabola Una and Beepers Lariat thereafter.

Ray Quinn head of Entertainment Willwego.com presents the trophy to Muirean Murphy after Clonbrien Treaty won the final of the 2023 WillWeGo.com Irish St Leger at Limerick. Also included are Tim Lucey CEO GRI, Frank Nyham Chairman GRI, trainer Graham Holland, handler Sheena Murphy, owner Jim Murphy, Ger Mitchell Lord Mayor of Limerick and the Murphy Family.         Pic: Imelda Grauer

BAREFOOT AWESOME IN CON MURPHY A1

There was €3,000 up for grabs in the final of the Con Murphy Bookmakers A1 525 and there was to be an upset on the cards as Drombeg Ten was turned over at the hands of Barefoot Awesome.

Aptly named, the Paul Hennessy-trained runner, owned by Brian and Kathleen Murphy, Barefoot Awesome was only moderately into stride as Portdrine Magic led from traps, while Drombeg Ten got slightly sandwiched on the run-up. It was Portdrine Magic who led comfortably into the back, however, the back straight pace of Barefoot Awesome was a thing of beauty as he breezed past Drombeg Ten in some style. Edging closer with every stride thereafter, the son of Good Cody and Drifting Abby stayed on equally strong to storm past the gallant Portdrine Magic and win by one length. The time was 28.50.

A TRACK RECORD FOR LACEY

After her terrific 29.57 clock over the 550-yard trip last weekend at Limerick, it was quite surprising to see Blackstone Lacey installed at odds of 6/1 in the Open 600 and Patrick Sinnott’s bitch duly obliged in record-breaking fashion.

Trained by Michael O’Donovan, Blackstone Lacey certainly is the real deal and although this race was stacked with the likes of Bens Teddy and Gaytime Hugo to name a few, she was never under threat as she popped out in front from trap three. In doing so, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Calzaghe Jan set the most explosive gallop down the far side and in truth, neither Gaytime Hugo or Bens Teddy made little inroads into the lead. A very strong stayer, Blackstone Lacey continued her relentless gallop all the way up the long home stretch to record a sensational 32.05 for the 600-yard trip, a new track record.

EXILE TAKES NO PRISONER

The Open sprint on the card looked a hugely competitive one but it was turned into a procession as the Pat Buckley-trained Road Exile exacted revenge on two beatings at the hands of Ballinakill Alf.

Running from trap three, R.A Colwell’s brilliant brindle was bullet-like at traprise and he immediately opened up an unassailable lead on the approach to the opening turn. In behind was Ballinakill Alf, who was displaying his usual explosive early speed to recover from a tardy start in four. This was all over as a contest however, as Road Exile handled the bends expertly to power up the straight and see off Ballinakill Alf by two lengths. The time was a sensational 18.41, just four spots outside of the track record.

OLLIE & COCO BRING UP HOLLAND TREBLE

Graham Holland and the Murphy Family were to enjoy an even better night outside of the feature as litter brother Clonbrien Ollie claimed the Novice 750.

Despite missing his break from six, Clonbrien Ollie, the 1/4 favourite, used his wide-running style to his benefit on this occasion as he coursed around the opening two bends to follow Millroad Victory into the home straight first time around. Quickly asserting on his rival at the crown of the turn, he took control heading into the back and it was to be lights out thereafter as he stayed on stoutly to record a three and a half length win. The time was 42.09.

In the Open Bitch stake, the very promising Annual Coco supplied an 8/1 shock as she comfortably held Bobsleigh Dream in the closing stages.

Annual Coco, a beaten favourite in the Munster Juvenile Cup last weekend at Clonmel, recorded a brisk 28.18 in said stake and she looks a huge prospect heading into 2024. Quickly into stride from two, she held off numerous rivals down the back, however, it looked like Bobsleigh Dream was the most likely winner as she displayed her trademark back straight pace to go second. Annual Coco was having none of it however, and the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Allowdale Coco comfortably held Bobsleigh Dream on the run for home. A half length winner, Shane O’Gorman’s bitch stopped the clock in 28.77.

GRANDE FINISH FROM SOGNA

The penultimate race on the card was the Talking Dogs AA0 550 and this was landed by Jack Kennelly’s model of consistency, Sogna In Grande (Laughil Blake - Fast Hurling).

Owned by the Swedish-House-Party-Syndicate, Sogna In Grange was a generous 9/2 shot in the market and this was somewhat surprising after his exploits one week prior when getting to within two lengths of Blackstone Lacey. Led early by the flying speedster, Bobsleigh Syd, the latter set a fantastic gallop for the majority of the contest, however, Sogna In Grande stalked his rival throughout before delivering a powerful late surge to get the nod. Crossing the line with three parts of a length to spare, the time was 29.71.

NEILUS O’CONNELL TREBLE

On the supporting card, Neilus O’Connell enjoyed a memorable night as he landed the first three races.

In the opening race, Kilcolgan Zeus (Pat C Sabbath - Razldazl Valerie) made every yard to win in impressive style. An extremely consistent tracker, Karen Geoghegan’s runner broke best of all from a plumb draw on the fence and despite being put under pressure early on by Droopys De Luxe, he proved a tough nut to crack as he stayed on stoutly to win by one and a half lengths. The time was 29.85 for the 550-yards.

In the second race, Kilcolgan Chief, a litter brother to Zeus, also notched victory. A 5/1 shot, he took an absolute flier from trap three but was swallowed up early by Raymonds Sid out wide. Trouble was to ensue at the penultimate bend and this was to play into the paws of Kilcolgan Chief as he finished well to wrestle back control and win by one and a half lengths. The time was 28.88.

The hat-trick was completed in race three as Rallying Rocket landed the novice 750 in fine style. The 9/4 second favourite behind Glengar Queen, the son of Droopys Buick and Rallying Pearl broke in third but soon showed his hand with some smart pace down the back to take control. Thereafter, he stayed on exceptionally well to see off Lohort Lady by one and a half lengths, in 42.28.