PRODUCE STAKES CHAMP SETS THE STANDARD IN LEGER OPENER AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

The 2024 Willwego.com Irish St. Leger got underway at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it produced some explosive action across eleven incredible first round heats.

On the night, it was Pat Buckley that accounted for two of the most eye-catching performances on the night as Unanimouspanther produced an outstanding performance to set the standard in heat eight, while Superfast Gorden also set tongues wagging with a dominant display in heat nine. Overall, the first round had a bit of everything in respect of blistering times recorded by a number of outright fancies, which coincided with several shock exits in the shape of Coolavanny Otto, Seek The Kingdom and Ower Cracker to name but a few.

PANTHER POUNCES

Unanimouspanther has already claimed Classic silverware in recent weeks as he landed the National Produce Stakes at Clonmel and he was also an eye-catching third in the star-studded Dundalk International on his last appearance. As a result, it wasn’t surprising that Ciaran O’Sullivan’s charge went to boxes as the 4/6 favourite and he duly obliged with a trap-to-line masterclass. Trained by Pat Buckley, the son of Droopys Sydney and Mystical Moll was on it from the outset with a flash start from four to lead. Quickly claiming ownership of the rails, ‘Panther’ moved four clear of Newport Pier down the back and he posted a powerful 17.21 on route to the third turn. Drawing clear around the bottom two bends, this was a really telling display from the heavyweight star as he extended his lead to six lengths over Newport Pier crossing the line. The time was an exceptional 29.34.

GORDEN FOLLOWS SUIT

In the very next heat, heat nine, Superfast Gorden made it back-to-back wins for Pat Buckley with a powerful stamina performance.

Jointly owned by Eamonn Doyle and Mark Hatton, Superfast Gorden is a former 28.09 winner around Limerick and he too justified strong favouritism (4/5) to get the better of Hogan Stand. Indeed, the James O’Regan-trained tracker was hugely impressive on the run-up as he more than matched Superfast Gorden early on, before leaving him for dust rounding the opener. Holding a slender lead entering the back, this is where ‘Gorden’ got to work and he flew up the inside of Hogan Stand at the crown of the penultimate turn. Now firmly in charge, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Jaytee Jordan pulled clear thereafter as he crossed the line four lengths clear of Hogan Stand in second. The time was a slick 29.44.

BRILLIANT OSCAR

Oscar The Grouch last tasted success in the second round of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Confined Derby at Limerick and on that particular night, he was eliminated after posting 28.67.

Fast Forward four weeks and the May whelp was flawless in running out a convincing winner of heat three after coming in as a reserve. A massive 8/1 chance, ‘Oscar’ pinged the lids from trap four to immediately assert his authority on the contest as he breezed into a three length lead over Kilcolgan Zeus in second. Powering down the back straight, the son of Burgess Bucks and Please Blossom took no prisoners at this point as he pressed home his lead to fly into the bottom bends in full control. Coolavanny Percy now improving into second, this was irrelevant for the winner as Oscar The Grouch drew clear to win by an increasing six and a half lengths. The time was a terrific 29.41.

KING DOWNS REIGNING CHAMP

Heat three saw the return of Clonbrien Treaty as he got his bid for back-to-back Leger’s underway and he put in a fine performance despite being reeled in by the impressive Miami King.

‘Treaty’ was installed as the even money favourite and he looked a safe bet once bolting from trap six to comfortably lead to the bend. Displaying his trademark early speed, the son of Pestana held a three length advantage over Miami King (2/1) in second and this gap remained on the approach to the penultimate turn. Edging closer at this point, Miami King now smelt blood and the Garry Dempsey-trained black delivered brilliantly. Powering alongside a tiring Clonbrien Treaty in the final fifty yards, the son of Ballymac Vic and Newline Mo stormed past his rival to cross the line with a half length in hand over Clonbrien Treaty, who just held on to claim second over Ventry Faith in third. The time was 29.91.

REX ROARS

Favourite punters got back on track in heat five as Ballyhimikin Rex proved too hot to handle for Billy and John Dunne.

Even money favourite at the off, ‘Rex’ broke only moderately from his middle berth in four and was subsequently led by both Drombeg Ten and Barefoot On Fire early on. However, after running a superb second bend, the son Ballyhimikin Jet and Slaneyside Poppy roared to the front and he duly opened a three length lead over Barefoot On Fire in second. Always holding his rival thereafter, ‘Rex’ pressed home his lead in the closing yards as he crossed the line with three and a half lengths to spare over the gallant Barefoot On Fire in second. The time was a brisk 29.53.

KIRBY CHAMP DAZZLES ON RETURN TO LIMERICK

Heat six saw the return of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby champion as Knockeen Dazzler justified his 2/5 starting price.

Last seen in Munster landing the €80,000 Kirby Classic, Daniel O’Rahilly’s charge is now among the elite and he produced a very satisfactory performance as he bid to repeat the feat of Clonbrien Treaty twelve months ago. Breaking well from six, Knockeen Dazzler had Ballycowen Conor for company in the opening exchanges and he was more than a match for the Kirby champ as he went stride-for-stride early on. However, ‘Dazzler’ refused to be denied the lead as he never broke stride around the top two bends to motor into the back straight with clear daylight. Now in full stride, the son of Laughil Blake and Love Island set a scorching gallop thereafter and although tiring slightly in the closing stages, he still had plenty in reserve to come home one and a half lengths clear of Ballycowen Conor, who was very eye-catching in second. The time was 29.72.

HEAT WATCH

Heat 1 - The Classic got off to a brilliant start as 12/1 outsider, Airfield Katie, produced an emphatic performance for Michael O’Meara and Fergus Walsh. Coming into the Leger fresh from a slick 18.70 spin over the spring trip, the daughter of Ballymac Best and Airfield Biddy made her intentions clear from the outset with a smart break from six. Disputing with McNeill on the run-up, ‘Katie’ powered to the front entering the back straight and she made every post a winner thereafter as she never looked under any threat of being reeled in. Staying on stoutly to see off McNeill by a five and a half lengths on the run for home, the time was a fast 29.87.

Heat 2 - One of the ‘talking dogs’ coming into the Leger was Jaytee Craze (5/4) after his spectacular 27.89 trial and he showed huge pace and power to prevail. Trained by Paul Hennessy for Lee Craze and John Turner, ‘Craze’ broke well from four but had no answer to Faypoint Harvey in the early yards as Graham Holland’s tracker built up ahead of steam to lead. In possession of a clear lead down the back, ‘Harvey’ looked home and hosed, however, Jaytee Craze upped to ante to range alongside his rival entering the penultimate turn and this proved decisive in claiming victory. Quickly asserting around the final turn, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Minton was now in overdrive and he set a relentless gallop up the home straight to cross the line two and a half lengths clear of Faypoint Harvey in second. The time was 29.71.

Heat 7 - Trained by Kerry handler Jack Kennelly, Sogna In Grande is as game as a pheasant and he duly notched his thirteenth victory in heat seven with an assured performance. 5/2 at the off, ‘Sogna’ didn’t break too fluently at traprise, however, showed his trademark early speed to quickly course around runners and take a five length lead into the back. In doing so, the son of Laughil Blake and Fast Hurling put this contest to bed as he maintained a strong gallop to come home two lengths clear of Boss Go in second. The time was 29.88.

Heat 10 - In Good Time was installed as the 1/2 favourite in heat ten, however, he was handed a shock defeat by Drombeg Rio (Grangeview Ten - Grangeview Nifty), who made every inch to score. 4/1 at the off, Evan McAuliffe’s charge broke expertly from his inside draw in one and despite moving to a middle berth, led by one and a half lengths entering the back straight. That lead soon doubled at the midway point as In Good Time finally got loose into second but at this point the bird had already flown up top as ‘Rio’ soared to a comprehensive victory. Four lengths clear crossing the line, the time was a swift 29.65.

Heat 11 - The night concluded with a really professional performance from the Champion 550 winner, Carmac King. Trained by Owen McKenna, Timmy Carmody’s star tracker was chalked up at even money to prevail and he looked a safe bet at the lift of the lids as he took a flier from five. Closely followed at this point by Bockos Crystal, the former Derby runner-up showed excellent early speed to head Carmac King around the opening two bends, however, this was short-lived as ‘King’ soon got back on terms. Nip and tuck down the back as Blastoff Salah also entered the frame, it was McKenna’s charge that resumed normal service in the closing stages as he stayed on strongly to see off Blastoff Salah in second. One and a half lengths between the duo, the time for the son of Droopys Sydney and Peters Queen was 29.72.