LIMERICK GOBA CHRISTMAS EVENT PROVES HUGELY SUCCESSFUL

Peter Farrell

There were no fewer than six sweepstake finals on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Sunday evening as the local GOBA hosted a Christmas Family Fun day and there were some exemplary performances throughout the card with Starson Katie landing the feature for Colm and Pat O’Connell.

Boasting an impressive €2,000 to the winner, the final of the Ned and Babs Quinn Memorial A2 525 brought the curtain down on a brilliant day at Limerick and it went as expected, with Starson Katie justifying her 7/4 favouritism. Despite going down the defeat in her semi final contest, ‘Katie’ was very well-drawn in trap one and she made full use of this benefit with a slick exit from red. Joined in the early stages by both Roundies Shadow and Cherrygrove Four, it was the latter that showed the superior early dash to take a three length advantage into the back. Chased by Starson Katie at this point, the daughter of Explosive Boy and Hazelfield Echo cut the deficit in half approaching the penultimate bend and there was an air of inevitability surrounding the result thereafter. Scraping the rails around the bottom two bends, ‘Katie’ powered to the front and she upped the ante on the hill to emerge a facile, four length winner. The time for O’Connell’s charge was a fast 28.66.

PEAKYS CAUSES AN UPSET IN MICHAEL PASCAL O’RYAN MEMORIAL

The upset of the night came in the final of the Michael Pascal O’Ryan Memorial A4 Bitch Stake as Daleroad Poppy was turned over at odds of 4/6.

In contrast, it was 7/2 chance Peakys Glory that raced to a convincing victory for Neilus O’Connell and the Kildare-Kilcolgan Syndicate. At traprise, the latter enjoyed the freedom of the inside as both Bright Morgan and Daleroad Poppy missed their break on her immediate outside. As a result, this was of great benefit to ‘Peakys’ as she turned with a handsome lead over Fantasy Penny in second. The favourite was the victim of all sorts of traffic around the opening two bends and she had a mountainous task in her bid to reel in the leader. Setting a strong gallop, Peakys Glory never saw another tail as she tracked expertly to maintain a comfortable advantage around the penultimate turn. Staying on well thereafter, the daughter of Razldazl Peaky and French Deluxe powered across the line to see off Daleroad Poppy, who managed to get up for second, in a time of 29.19.

ROUNDING UP THE FINALS

OZZY IN STYLE

The first final of the night came in the form of the Greyhound & Petworld A2 550 as Creative Ozzy took home the €1,700 first prize on offer. Installed as a 3/1 chance, the Gordon Rotheram-trained black won his semi in facile style and he brought that form into the decider when taking charge at an early stage.

Owned by the Here-We-Go-Again-Three Syndicate, ‘Ozzy’ was only moderately into stride from three, however, immediately showed fizzing acceleration to round the opening bend with two lengths in hand over Toems Lee out wide. Thereafter, the son of Dromana Bucko and Paradise Asia was never under any pressure as he stormed his way to the winning line to see off Toems Lee by two and a half lengths. The time for the 550-yard trip was 30.16.

HARD WORK FOR TOO EASY

The final of the Mace Shannon A3 600 featured in race four and there were no such shocks in this contest as Too Easy prevailed at short odds of 4/6.

That said, the son of Broadstrand Bono was made to work extremely hard in his attempts to make it back-to-back wins in the stake. Carrying a winner’s prize of €1,300, it was in fact Battery Charger that built up ahead of steam early on as he opened a seven length lead on his rivals entering the back straight. Too Easy got to work passing the sprint boxes, however, had a massive challenge on his hands in his bid to reel in the runaway leader. But, that challenge was accepted. Eating into the ground entering the home stretch, it was a never-ending run for home and Battery Charger had nothing left to give in the dying strides. In contrast, Too Easy had plenty left in reserve and he flew past the post to hand the Far-Out Syndicate a brilliant victory. Just half a length between the duo, the time was a good 33.16.

ALBERT HITS THE BULLSEYE

There was €1,200 on offer in the final of the Peppers Of Feakle Dual-Distance A1 and this was won in hugely impressive fashion by Lakeside Albert as he justified his 6/4 price tag.

Owned by Jack Mahony, the brother of Knockeen Dazzler won his semi final assignment in a rapid 29.88 and he was equally as impressive over the extended 600-yard in making every yard of the running. Taking his now customary smart exit from six, the son of Laughil Blake and Love Island immediately dictated proceedings and in doing so, soon opened a massive advantage over his rivals. Setting a blistering gallop thereafter, there was no signs of Mahony’s charge relenting on the long run home as he powered up the home straight to win by four and a half lengths from Garbally Twink in second. The time was 33.18.

BRILLIANT FROM BEN

Indeed, arguably the performance of the night came from the Paraic Campion-trained Highview Ben as he made light work of his rivals in the final of the Limerick & Clare GOBA Mini Open 525.

Owned by the VHR Syndicate, who were double-handed in the final, ‘Ben’ went to traps as a generous 3/1 chance and he pinged out from trap three to excel brilliantly on the run-up. In truth, once doing so it was lights out for his rivals as he quickly turned a four length advantage into six lengths down the back straight. Setting a blistering gallop, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Ivy was flawless thereafter as he duly made it back-to-back wins in crossing the line four lengths clear of Ballygibba Sam in second. An exceptional display from Campion’s charge, the time was a swift 28.44, which was the fastest of the night over the standard trip.

RETURNING DUCHESS WORTHY OF A MENTION

After some five months on the sidelines, Velvet Duchess returned in real style in the curtain raiser as Ella Buckley’s bitch stormed to an emphatic success in a red-hot Open 350-yard contest.

This lady has some stunning form to her name and she was installed as the 2/1 joint favourite with recent Dundalk eye-catcher Zippy Canning. In truth, however; this was all one-way traffic as Velvet Duchess blew her rivals away. Donning the red jacket, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Velvet Nannykate was moderately into stride but immediately blazed a red-hot trail to leave her rivals for dust. Once in front, the gap was only going to increase as this sub 28.20 bitch flew up the home straight to record a comfortable, four and a half length success. The time was a smart 18.75.