BLAZE MORE FIRE SETS O’GORMAN STANDARD AS TAYLOR LANDS GALWAY’S KILCOLGAN FEATURE

Peter Farrell

There was lots of sweepstake action on offer at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night but the feature was the semi finals of the Paddy O’Gorman A1/A2 525.

Both semi finals went against script and this has only added to the unpredictability of the decider in seven days’ time. In the opening semi, Colossal Venture was expected to build on an impressive 28.82 victory last time out but after early crowding, his chances of winning were scuppered, however, he was a mighty eye-catcher in defeat and remains a leading player from outright success. That said, on the night it was Drombeg Banner that grabbed the contest by the scruff of the neck as Evan McAuliffe’s charge made it four wins from just five starts. Running from four, the son of Explosive Boy and Hazelfield Echo didn’t break well from his middle berth but showed fine early speed to round the opener in front. Taking a two length lead over Brickhill Fayla into the back, ‘Banner’ set a powerful gallop to the third-bend and was well on his way to maintaining what has been a brilliant start to his racing career. The qualification positions were very much up for grabs at this point as both Springwell Eddy and Colossal Venture finished at a rate of knots to secure the minor placings, however, upfront it was Drombeg Banner that showed fine determination to fend off his aforementioned rivals and win by half a length. The time was 29.33 .10s.

BLAZING FIRE

In the second semi final, Blaze More Fire returned to her very best as Kim Bennis and Tony Brigdale’s bitch made every inch to clock the fastest time of the night.

Blaze More Fire has clocked 28.55 around Limerick in the past but was without a win in her last four starts heading into her semi final contest, a line-up that saw Summerfield Air installed as the even money favourite. However, the writing was on the wall early in this contest as Blaze More Fire bolted from trap three to post a rapid 3.19 early sectional. In doing so, the daughter of Ballymac Eske and Blaze Bee held a narrow lead over both Rinnwood Leo and Summerfield Air into the back, however, neither gave the impression that they would overcome the leader at the halfway mark. Tracking expertly, ‘Blaze’ continued to blaze a trail out in front and after Rinnwood Leo shot wide off the final turn, she again asserted comfortably to cross the line with a solid four and a half lengths in hand. The final qualification position was sealed by Summerfield Air as the clock returned a brisk 29.01 .10s.

TAYLOR GETS THE CALL IN KILCOLGAN DECIDER

Elsewhere on the card, the final of the €830 to the winner Kilcolgan Castle Guys & Dolls 525 was on offer and the judge was called into action as Burnpark Taylor got the nod for owner Maria Browne.

A winner of his semi final contest with ‘out and gone’ tactics, it was crucial to the chances of Burnpark Taylor that he implemented a similar style this time around and he went about this in brilliant fashion as he showed the superior early gears to take charge rounding the opening bend from five. In doing so, he took a three parts of a length lead into the back from Confused Keggy, however, it was a closely knit pack in behind with all trackers still with live chances of landing the spoils. The leading duo broke clear at the penultimate bend however, and ‘Keggy’ just about headed Burnpark Taylor at the final bend. Still very much up in the air as to who would prevail, Burnpark Taylor showed all of his battling qualities to come back for more on the outside and both he and Confused Keggy crossed the line in tandem, in turn calling the judge into action. A fascinating contest, Burnpark Taylor was announced as a short-head winner for the Browne’s and that was to bring up a fourth career victory for this son of Newinn Taylor and Burnpark Leanne, with Ard Roxy also playing her part in the final in finishing a further half-length back in third. The time was 29.57 .10s.