The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Stellar Friday night performances
THERE was nothing very important on Friday night’s programme at Tralee Track, but two brilliant performances illuminated proceedings in a big way.
The first of them was produced in the sixth race (A5 525) by the Dan Brassil-trained Knocknacree Sky. This fellow, the property of a Tralee syndicate, headed the market at even-money and, on his competitive bow, he produced one of the most exciting runs of the year to date at the Oakview venue.
He exited from trap 3 like a scalded cat and ran the first two bends so sweetly that the race was already as good as over. The gap just widened and widened after that and he raced home no less than twelve lengths ahead of Oak Spice in a quite magnificent 28.30 (.10 fast)..
It was a run which makes Knocknacree Sky a very hot property indeed and the Tralee syndicate which owns him is sure to come under strong pressure to sell.
The other performance which stood out in a big way on the night was produced in the ninth race (A0 525) by Senans Forever, from the Scartaglin kennels of Maurice O’Connor.
This fellow actually bettered the time of Knocknacree Sky by four spots (28.26), but, then, he had proven himself well before this in open company. Back from his tilt at the Irish Independent Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park, he looked a gilt-edged bet at 6/4 and he duly did the business in flawless fashion from trap 5, leading the charge into the first bend from Loher Baby and subsequently dominating to the extent that he had nine lengths to spare at the line from Send It Ducula.
It was a very quick, and very impressive, follow-up by Maurice O’Connor to the victory of another of his charges, Maglass Dazzle, in the previous race (A1 525).
Maglass Dazzle was also strong in the betting market at 6/4 and he occupied second place off the first bend behind the fast-starting Millridge Bruce. There was two lengths between the pair rounding the third bend, in favour of Millridge Bruce, but Maglass Dazzle loomed up on his inside turning for home and he won the charge to the line by a length in 28.65.
It was probably the most popular victory of the night, with the winner being owned by that very affable Ballymacelligott man, Bill Carmody, who is part and parcel of the scene in the Moss O’Donnell Corner on the ground floor.
Two Tournafulla syndicate greyhounds, Allaghaun Lady and Allaghaun Black, provided another highlight by winning the fourth and seventh races. Allaughan Lady avoided very serious trouble rounding the first bend in her race (A10 525) to be a close second to Lispole Tiny off it and, after accelerating into the lead on the back straight, she wound up beating Lispole Tiny by a handsome ten lengths
Her litter brother, Allaughan Black, didn’t enjoy anything like the same margin of victory, but he was taking on hotter company (A3 class) and it represented a very fine performance by him to win by three and a half lengths in 28.61.
The pace was set from trap 2 by Boher Romeomagic, but Allaghaun Black (trap 1) motored very powerfully into the third bend to be in front rounding it and he was most certainly not for catching after that, with Boher Romeomagic being the one chasing him home.
Over 325yds, Howaya Lad excelled in comfortably winning over the sprint distance in 17.60 (.05 fast), while the other winners were Always Had One, 18.36; Dromscarra Speed, 29.33; Clounamon Hanney, 18.20, and Boherbee Lass, 28.83.