KIRBY FEVER FOR MUSTANG AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
There were some incredible performances at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it served as a starter course for what promises to be a mouth-watering renewal of the Con & Annie Kirby in six days’ time.
There was a really exciting debut for Radical Harry in race three as the Thomas O’Donovan-trained tracker posted one of the fastest debuts on record, however, the only place to start is with Mustang Fever, who landed the Con & Annie Kirby A0 Trial Stake in exceptional fashion.
Prince Naseem arrived at Limerick boasting an unbeaten career record after landing the ‘Joe Show’ Unraced at Kilkenny and as such, Shaun Conway’s charge was installed as the 2/1 joint favourite alongside Swords Hero. However, the contest resulted in a procession win for the Sean Bourke and Paul Horig-owned Mustang Fever as she delivered a performance of phenomenal quality in dismantling a classy field. Trained by Patrick Guilfoyle, the strapping 5/2 chance bolted from trap four and quickly put the contest to bed as she turned with four lengths in hand. Doubling her advantage within a few strides, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Mustang Kay Cee flew into the bottom corner to record a rapid 15.99 sectional and from here, she never relented in running out an emphatic, nine length winner over Prince Naseem in second. The time for this terrific tracker was a blistering 28.16.
SCORCHING DEBUT FROM HARRY
Prior to that, one of the hottest debuts on record was recorded in race three as Radical Harry produced a special display for Classic winning team, Ger Hutton and Thomas O’Donovan.
On paper, this looked like a two-dog affair with Radical Harry and Antigua Hawk both emerging from qualifying with exceptional cards and this so proved, as the duo drew clear of the field to battle it out. Fastest into stride from trap two, this proved ultimately decisive as Radical Harry got first run on ‘Hawk’ to hold his position throughout. Showing blistering speed down the far side, the son of Epic Hero and Vita Bella was always holding Antigua Hawk and despite the latter keeping the leader honest, he was never able to get on terms after a tardy start. Drawing clear of the other four participants, Radical Harry crossed the line two lengths clear of Antigua Hawk, in a special 28.18. Expect to hear plenty from this duo in the coming weeks and months.
KIRBY TRIAL STAKES
Elsewhere on the card, there were a number of other Kirby Trial Stakes on offer and the first of those was captured by Ballinabola Bill for the Greyhound-Trader-Racing-Club-Syndicate and Pat Buckley.
Only an August whelp, this is in fact a full brother off a repeat mating of Ballinabola Ed and he took a fine night to record a first career win for his connections. A 7/2 shot in the market, the powerful son of Confident Rankin and Dolls Lady made his intentions clear from the outset as he sped past In Good Time on the run-up. Quickly sweeping the turn, ‘Bill’ went two clear of Niofearrnabolt as he powered down the back and he duly stayed on stoutly to record a three length win over his rival, in a brisk 28.48.
Faypoint Sean was one of the ‘talking dogs’ towards the back-end of 2023 after following his litter brother, Faypoint Harvey’ home in the Munster Juvenile Cup at Clonmel and he booked his Kirby ticket in good style in the AA0 trial stake.
Known previously for his ‘make-all’ performances, Faypoint Sean (2/1) showed a different thread to his bow on this occasion as he came from off-the-pace to score. It was Avongate Venus who showed the best of the early speed to lead from four, however, did look something of a sitting duck midway down the back as Faypoint Sean, Ballinabola Jim and Ballymac Dapper all closed. It was Patricia Flanagan’s charge however, that did take control between the bottom two bends and the son of Droopys Sydney and Roaming Shari stayed on brilliantly to see off Ballinabola Jim by one and a half lengths in second. The time was a slick 28.50.
DREAM FOR ORCHID IN A2 DECIDER
There was a tidy €1,000 up for grabs in the final of the Limerick Stadium A2 550 and this was landed by the Declan Moloney-owned Orchid Dream who made it back-to-back victories in the stake.
Orchid Dream, the 6/4 favourite, is a lightly raced sort given his age, however, he clearly has a big engine and this was fully on display last night at the Munster venue. Running from trap one, the strapping son of Droopys Sydney and Cicero was poorly into stride early doors but enjoyed a lovely passage to the opener to turn a close third behind the leader, Knockeen Dawn. Challenging at the halfway mark, the door was slammed shut by Knockeen Dawn, however, this was short-lived as the powerful Orchid Dream was always going to come back for more. Powering through at the crown of the final turn, Moloney’s charge drew clear thereafter as he displayed superb stamina to cross the line five lengths clear of Hazelhill Bucko in second. The time was a fantastic 29.85 for the 550-yard trip.
MOLL MAKES IT THREE ON THE SPIN
It would be remiss not to mention a hat-trick of wins on the card for the Adam Dunford-trained Fantasy Moll 11/10.
Owned by Leslie Coveney, Fantasy Moll just keeps on winning for her connections and despite running in top-class company, she brought her career tally to the dozen mark last night in a 550-yard event. It always pays to follow a bitch in form and Fantasy Moll was on-song from the outset as she sprang from trap three to lead early doors. Always holding a comfortable advantage thereafter, the daughter of Pestana and Newinn Madam was four and a half lengths too strong for Dromana Dano, in a fast 29.91.
AN OCEAN DOUBLE
Aside from the Open action, there was a fine double for the kennel of Tom Fitzgerald as both Ocean Mini and Ocean Tesla, two litter comrades, both landed their respective contests.
The first to score was Ocene Mini in an A3/A4 contest as the 5/1 outsider came from off-the-pace to win on the line. Poorly away from five, the strapping bitch showed fine early speed to recover and go third and she displayed some tidy acceleration down the back to move second at the penultimate turn. Looking a massive threat at this point, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ocean Olive timed her run to perfection as she narrowly beat Killduff Barkley by a head, in 30.64 for the 550.
In the penultimate race on the card, the double was secured as Ocean Tesla also produced a powerful finish to come from behind. A 5/2 market chance, this lady looked out with the washing in the early exchanges as she trailed the field some twelve lengths last. However, showing sensational speed from the midway point, she picked her gaps brilliantly to storm to the front in the home straight and secure a one and a half length victory over Hazelhill Holly in second. The time was 29.04.