The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Sunshine Cathy wins Raffa@Stud final
WHILE much of Friday night’s action at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium comprised of the penultimate rounds of this year’s Rose Of Tralee Stakes, the one final saw an impressive winner of the Midtown Raffa@Stud Stake in Sunshine Cathy (Head Bound/ Liss May) who stormed to victory in a winning time of 28.52.
The winner made a swift exit from the blue box and cleared her rivals on the run to the opening bend. Ballymac Scala and Loher Baby set off in pursuit but the latter’s challenge faded down the back straight. Scala was joined by kennel companion Ballymac Belle at the third as she began to move through the gears following a sluggish start. However Sunshine Cathy wasn’t giving an inch out in front and worked hard to repel of the closing bend.
Belle was looming large on the dash for the line, but the leader was not to be outdone as held on to land the spoils by half a length from Ballymac Belle, with Scala a similar distance back in third. The 3/1 priced winner is owned by Donncadh Collins.
Incidentally, the runner-up, Ballymac Belle, was running at Shelbourne less than 24 hours later and qualified in third place behind Mildean Puma to book her place in round 2 of this season’s Derby.
The fastest time on the card was recorded in the opening semi-final of the Droopys Stud A1 525, as the impressive 5/2 chance Allaghaun Black(Kinloch Brae/Knocksouna Lad) produced a trap to line victory in a time of 28.46.
Drawn in trap 3, the winner showed blistering early foot and was two lengths clear of the evens favourite Hes Easy and Gracies Prince at the opening bend. He extended his advantage past the sprint boxes and showed no sign of letting up rounding the closing curves. Hes Easy had shook of the shackles of Gracies Prince at this point but faced a strenuous task to get anywhere near the leader who proceeded to pass the finish line four lengths clear of her rival.
Gracies Prince claimed the final qualifying berth a further three lengths back. The winning owners are the Dog Sa Cheann Syndicate.
Maglass Dazzle (Razldazl George/Camp Lady) finished with a flourish in the second semi-final to land the spoils in 28.86.
Callaway John was a well supported 6/4 favourite but his challenge came a cropper when running into trouble at the opening bend. Maglass Dazzle was slowly into stride and while he avoided the opening bend congestion he appeared to have plenty to do to get involved as Halloa Towney led them down the back. The winner was working up a head of steam and had closed to deficit by the third bend.
The Billy Carmody owned runner hit top gear rounding the closing bends and finished like a train to pass the line 7½ lengths clear of Ringo Cu who just edged out Holla Towney by a head for second. The winner is trained by Mossie O’Connor.
Other winners on the night were Larkins Porter 17.82, Splitnik Gavin 6/4, Kilahas Lucky 5/4, Courancove Locky 2/1, Scart King 3/1, Kiss and Wonder 2/1, Kielduff Max 27.52.