Gala night of finals next Monday

TWO NIGHTS of racing returned to Enniscorthy on Thursday, with some very nice stakes starting.

The finals to be run on Monday, March 16 - the big gala night of racing - and there will be super racing on offer for sure.

Thursday started with the two semi-finals of the A5 Back Graders’ Stake, and quickest was the Larry Ellard-owned Jaytee Geronimo who came through at the third bend to pass leader Liltuc Mollie and ran on well to score by a length from Metric Sanchez in 29.67 -30 slow.

Races three and four saw the semi-finals of the Save Enniscorthy Track A3 Guys and Dolls Stake, and Janefield Angel returned to winning ways with an impressive win in the first, scoring by five lengths in a good 29.29 -30 slow.

Annacurra Hawk raced right around the field down the back in the second semi and came home a clear six lengths to the good in a time of 29.43 -30 slow.

The A3/4 Enniscorthy Show Grounds 575 Stake drew 18 entries. There was three first round heats - races six, seven and eight - with impressive winners of all three heats.

Heat one saw Superior Tyson lead up and raced clear down the back to surge home six lengths clear of well-fancied runners Kiltrea Shay and Karlow Ouragh in a good 32.06 -30 slow.

Heat two saw trap six runner Relet Kid follow up his win of the previous week.

Again he showed the better early pace to lead and looked like winning easily, but favourite Kiltrea Ellie put in a great effort to close the gap between the lower bends but could not get to Relet who had a length and a half to spare over his rival at the line. The time was 32.23 -30 slow.

Heat three went to trap one runner Whitewood Lad who pushed his way through at the first bend on the rail and went right away from the field to come home a wide margin winner in a time of 32.19 -30 slow.

The semi-finals of this stake will feature on this Thursday night’s card.

The final two races - the A2 Guys and Dolls 550 yards Stake semi-finals - saw Harriestown Star take advantage of tracking well on the rail at the opening bend to lead in the first.

And although headed between the lower bends, Harriestown stayed on the stronger to score snugly in 30.81 -30 slow.

The second semi saw a very good performance from another trap one runner as Nametab Ostara ran down leader Kiltrea Dawn to win going away in a good 30.49 -30 slow.

It was a frustrating night for owner John Doyle of Kiltrea, having three second. He will be hoping for better luck in the finals next week.

It was great to see the two Guys and Dolls Stakes on the card, and well done to the manager as I have long been a supporter of bitch stakes and bitches being kept apart in stakes such as these.