Melody’s Maestro looks best placed to claim A4 Sweepstake final on RoC supporting card

IT is always a tonic to see young kids enjoying themselves and that was certainly the case at Tralee Track on Saturday night on the occasion of a well-organised benefit meeting for Castledrum National School.

Those kids brought a great buzz to the place and, more importantly, the meeting was clearly a financial success for those behind it.

Racing-wise, the night was essentially about clearing the way for sweepstake finals which will support the Race Of Champions final this Friday night and one those sweepstakes, for A4 class over the standard trip, saw Paddy Collins, of Ballylongford, team up with Scartaglen trainer, Maurice O’Connor, to provide the fastest winner of the night in Melodys Maestro.

This October ’15 son of Sparta Maestro and Melodys Diamond was making his competitive bow against race dogs in the first semi-final and, installed the 1/2 favourite (from 2/5), he delivered in real style, pulling back the front-running Mohane Denzel and beating him by six and a half lengths in 28.91 (.10 fast).

The other semi-final was won in 29.10 by the Jerry Griffin-trained Rockburst Ian, which was also a decisive winner (by five lengths from Samba Style), but it is very difficult to oppose Melodys Maestro in Friday night’s final.

Only one other winner got inside 29.00secs and that was none other than a litter brother to Mohane Denzel, namely Mohane Joey, which clocked 28.93 in the first semi-final of another A4 525 sweepstake (both greyhounds are attached to the Limerick kennels of Neilus O’Connell).

Other winners: Hotshot Katie, 18.03 (.05 fast), Coolagown Blush, 29.84; Spirit Juliette, 29.18; Portmageewiseguy, 29.38; Toremore Rising, 17.81 (.05 fast); Bracula, 29.14; Shronedraugh Act, 29.19; Matties Ranger, 29.11; Homestead Vicky, 29.38.

SATURDAY MORNING

The going was .30 fast for 525yds and .15 fast for 325yds at Saturday morning’s SIS meeting at Tralee Track and the winners were: Sporting Chick, 29.30; Leigh Florence, 28.94; Forceful Oz, 28.55; Inislosky Patric, 28.69; Missing Minutes, 17.59; Navajo Dan, 29.06; Kilcurra Chester, 29.08; Conaic View Kely, 29.29.