MAGIC TOUCH CONTINUES FOR KEATING, ELOUISE SETS KENNEDY CUP PACE

Peter Farrell

There was an action-packed card on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night, with the opening round heats of the Gammell Car Sales Kennedy Cup 525 featuring alongside the €3,000-to-the-winner final of the Flowtech Ireland A4/A5 525.

After landing the valuable O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel Tri-Distance just seven days earlier, Michael Keating was back in the winner’s circle once again, this time with Magicman, who justified his even-money price tag to land the Flowtech Ireland decider and secure another valuable €3,000 prize pot.

Just a February puppy, Magicman has made a flying start to his career and Saturday night’s victory saw his tally rise to an impressive four wins and two seconds from just six starts. A winner of his semi-final assignment in a brisk 28.59, he reproduced identical figures in the decider when donning the orange jacket for a fourth straight outing. Pinging the lids once again, Magicman set about his task in exemplary fashion, posting a rapid 1.27 sectional to immediately assert for Keating. In doing so, his rivals were already playing catch-up approaching the opening bend as the son of Dorotas Wildcat - Pats Angela swept to the front, with Boozed Foxy giving chase from trap one. Entering the back straight, Magicman had two lengths in hand over his nearest rival and he set a blistering gallop down the back, one which his rivals simply failed to match. Maintaining that powerful pace, Keating’s charge was never under any serious pressure as he stormed up the Limerick hill to record a three-length victory over Boozed Foxy in second. The time was 28.59.

ELOUISE SETS KENNEDY CUP STANDARD

The opening round heats of the Gammell Car Sales Kennedy Cup 525 also featured on the card and Magical Elouise motored to an impressive victory in heat three to set the standard for Pat Guilfoyle.

This lady caught the eye at Galway earlier in her career and, after posting a rapid 18.68 qualifying effort in preparation for this event, she was understandably installed as the even-money favourite to prevail in the concluding heat. Drawn in six, the daughter of Signet Ace - Burgess Sarah didn’t get everything her own way, slowly into stride and sitting fourth in the early exchanges. However, she quickly made headway around the outside at the second bend before showing brilliant track craft to shoot up the inside of Get Bye at the halfway mark. From there, it was a matter of how far for Guilfoyle’s lady as she quickly drew clear, crossing the line five and a half lengths ahead of Memories Future in second. The time was a fast 28.45, setting a clear standard for the competition going forward.

In the opening heat, Maybe showed her hand with an impressive performance for Corona Ryan.

The 2/1 joint-favourite alongside Glamorous Jet, Maybe was quickly into stride from her trap-four berth and showed excellent courage to avoid traffic before shooting into the back straight with a three-parts-of-a-length advantage over her market rival. Thereafter, the pair served up a thrilling contest, but Glamorous Jet could never quite get on terms with the John Edwards-owned charge. Maintaining a stout gallop all the way to the winning line, the daughter of Dromana Bucko - Swanley Chick wasn’t to be denied, crossing the line one length clear of Glamorous Jet in second. The time was a smart 28.64.

The remaining heat saw the lead change hands on several occasions, but it was Duty First who eventually prevailed for Owen McKenna, Tom Smyth and Paul Duffy.

Drawn in five, the 6/4 chance was headed by both Ingortroe and Blastoff Vinny in the early exchanges but remained close throughout, always giving himself every chance of landing the spoils. Hitting the front narrowly between the bottom two bends, the son of Ballymac Cashout - Goldcash Ice knuckled down well and just held on from the rallying Ingortroe to prevail by a head in 29.29.

*****

UNDERCARD PERFORMANCES

Aside from the competition action, there were a couple of notable performances on the card, with the victory of Hazelhill Agent (6/4) the first of those.

Running in a novice contest for Michael O’Connell and Evan McAuliffe, Hazelhill Agent (Dromana Bucko - Hazelhill Jess) produced a dominant performance, making every yard of the running before crossing the line seven and a half lengths clear of Dunarus Jack in second. The time for the November 24’ whelp was a smart 28.75.

There was also an SSO sprint in race three and this went the way of the even-money favourite, Tiermana Hunter (Ballyhimikin Jet - Tiermana Jetty). Cherrygrove Four got off to the perfect start out wide, however, Tiermana Hunter quickly got back on terms as the pair rounded the bottom two bends in tandem. The brilliant middle pace of the Colm Fitzgerald-trained charge came to the fore on the Limerick hill, however, as he powered clear to record a five-length victory in 18.71.

In the concluding race, Bundle Of Fivers produced a fine display to dip comfortably under the 30-second barrier over 550 yards. Drawn in five, Pauline McNamara’s charge was sent off a 5/1 chance but outpaced his rivals on the run-up, holding a one-length advantage over Stick With Me entering the back straight. Always going to prove difficult to reel in thereafter, the son of Grangeview Ten - Rockmount Royce maintained a strong gallop to emerge a two-and-a-half-length winner over Stick With Me in a fine 29.73.