Saturday morning cancelled but show goes on that night
STORM Brian might have forced the cancellation of Saturday morning’s SIS meeting at Tralee Track, but the weather situation improved a lot as the day progressed and the right decision was taken to proceed with Saturday night’s card.
The adverse weather conditions affected the going, as one might expect, and it was .20 slow for 525yds and 550yds and .10 slow for 325yds. The 29.00 seconds barrier wasn’t seriously threatened for 525yds, but there was a terrific run of 30.26 for 550yds by Oak Spice (Durability – Oak Free), owned by Peter Regan, of Baltovin.
The even-money favourite, Lassa Excitement, fell after leaving traps and Oak Spice, a 3/1 shot running from trap 1, was always going to win after a flying start by her. Crowding took place behind her at the first bend and that really sealed the issue for her, though a time of 30.26 on the slow going was always likely to win for her anyway.
Very much to the credit of Spirit Elvis, he closed to three lengths at the line, with ten lengths back to Black Agenda.
Once again, the tote paid unexpected dividends to €1 bets, for places in particular. Oak Spice paid €13.50 for a place and Spirit Elvis paid €7.50. The win return on Oak Spice was €5.90.
Other winners were: Ballinagare Man, 18.26; Another Gear, 30.60; Áine’s Princess, 29.36; Darragh Pet, 18.11; Lybes Legacy, 29.92; Ardfert Carmac, 29.68; Steeple Rd Jet, 17.83; Ballyduhig Joy, 29.50.
TUESDAY SIS MEETING
THE two greyhounds which have passed the 100-race milestone at Tralee Track, Shronedrugh Hawk (112 races) and Knockeen Crash (106 races), found themselves in opposition at last week’s Tuesday SIS meeting, but there was no happy outcome for either of them, with Shronedrugh Hawk finishing fourth and Knockeen Crash sixth. Victory in 29.55 belonged to the Lixnaw-owned Coisceim Beag, which beat Millridge Hero by a length and a half.
There was a double for Listowel joint owners, John M Price and Keith Morton, with Cosmic Starlit (30.08) and Cosmic Doll (29.54), while fastest over the standard trip, on 29.05, was the Patrick O’Connor-trained Saleen Anna. Other winners: Pennylane Star, 29.27; Gazzas Dream, 17.88; Teemore Duke, 18.18; Spirit Sonia, 29.37; Looster Baxter, 29.49; Rossmur Vic, 29.24.
• The Saturday morning SIS meetings have a new starting time of 10.03.