COLOSSAL OPENING ROUND OF PADDY O’GORMAN MEMORIAL AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

The first round heats of the Paddy O’Gorman Memorial A1/A2 525 featured on the Friday card at Galway and there were several top-class performances as Colossal Venture set the standard in blistering fashion.

Owned by the Colossal-Syndicate, Colossal Venture was bidding for back-to-back wins after winning in 29.33 last time out, however, she lowered that clock considerably as she ran to a comfortable victory in heat two. Donning the white jacket, ‘Venture’ was headed in the early exchanges by the fast-starting Donies Wood in two, however, the latter checked his stride off the second turn, in turn allowing Colossal Venture to fly to the front and never look back. In doing so, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Lullaby drew clear of her rivals while setting an incredible gallop to stay on in exceptional fashion and cross the line five and a half lengths clear of Springwell Eddy in second. The time was an exceptional 28.82 .10s.

RINNWOOD IS A GEM

Next best in terms of the clock came in the concluding heat of the night as Rinnwood Gem (Pestana - Rinnwood Pearl) won for a fifth career time for Des Flaherty and Family.

Making her first start in over six-weeks, Rinnwood Gem was out with the washing early on from trap five as Blaze More Fire hit the front to lead. However, within a matter of strides, ‘Gem’ was back on terms midway down the back as she showed an incredible burst of speed to slice through runners and hit the front approaching the penultimate. In doing so, the hard work was complete for ‘Gem’ as she proceeded to draw clear of her rivals and secure a five and a half length success. This was a thoroughly impressive display from this lady and she stopped the clock in 28.96 .10s.

HEAT WATCH

The Liam Carr-owned Summerfield Air was also on the comeback trail in the opening heat and she too made light work of her rivals to win in style. Running from trap four, Summerfield Air was chasing a third career success and the daughter of Ballymac Best and Airfield Biddy duly crossed the line three and a half lengths clear of Sir Rodger in second. The time was a smart 29.19 .10s.

Heat three was landed by a track favourite in Brickhill Fayla. Jointly owned by Cyril Collins and Kate Comerford, this lady made it double figures in terms of career wins last time out and she brought up her eleventh win with a lightning break from three to lead. In doing so, the daughter of Good News and Twentylittletoes manufactured a three length lead down the back, before maintaining that advantage on the run for home. A tough nut to crack when on the bunny, ‘Fayla’ was three lengths clear of Laois Lightning crossing the line. The time was 29.20 .10s.

COXON DOUBLE

There was a notable double in the first two races on the card as the Alison Coxon pair of Hollywell Mave and Hollywell Cruise landed a litter double in their respective contests.

It was ‘Mave’ that got the ball rolling in the curtain-raiser as she arrived late to show the superior stamina and score. Running from five, the daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Hollywell Samba was positioned well at the opener, however, took a hefty bump which briefly halted her progress. Steadying herself well down the back, ‘Mave’ quickly got to work in the second half of the contest to hit the front between the bottom two bends to assert. In doing so, she was to run on a convincing winner thereafter in crossing the line three parts of a length clear of Drombeg Fire in second. The time was 29.99 .10s.

Shortly after, ‘Cruise’ secured the litter double for Coxon. Running from one, he too didn't break too fluently, however, showed decent early speed to nip around in contention. Hitting the front passing the sprint boxes, he found Mr. Moffit a worthy challenger thereafter and he was forced to pull out all the stops to see off his rival by three parts of a length. The time was 29.54 .10s.