The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Cú Ui Neill finds the gears to win A7 525 sweepstake
THERE was no mistaking the star of the show at Tralee Track on Saturday night. It was most definitely Cú Ui Néill, which justified 1/2 favouritism in winning the final of the Castleisland Tyre Centre A7 525 Sweepstake (winner, €900) for an Abbeyfeale / Dingle syndicate.
Running from trap 4, this February ’15 son of Melodys Royal and Superstar Pearl was actually last rounding the first bend and just fifth into the third bend, at which point Butdarewastwo led by two lengths from Ballyard Cuckoo.
However, Cú Ui Néill found a completely different gear to the others for the rest of the journey and he drove through for a one-length victory over a gallant Butdarewastwo in 29.20, with three lengths back to Ballyard Cuckoo.
It was his third victory from three starts and it mattered not in the slightest that the winning time was the slowest of the three he recorded in the event, the fastest being 28.88 at the semi-final stage.
Cú Ui Neill is owned by a three-person syndicate made up of Jack Foley, of Abbeyfeale, who is also the trainer, Liam O’Neill, of Dingle, and Mary McElligott, of Abbeyfeale, and his future will rest over longer distances.
“I said that he would win from anywhere tonight and I was proved right,” said Jack Foley. “He is an out and out stayer and will make a 600 yards dog at least.
“It’s great to come to Tralee and win a nice sweepstake like this and we will give him a bit of a break now.”
Liam O’Neill was unable to enjoy the victory because of involvement with the Dingle food festival.
The night acted as a fund-raiser for Kingdom Care and an A2 525 race carrying the name of the organisation, the seventh on the card, was won by Sign On Garfiney. Nothing separated Sign On Garfiney, Pats Boher and the fast-starting Knockout Drift rounding the third bend, at which point Knockout Drift took a bad fall, and Sign On Garfiney, owned and trained locally by an in-form Anthony Slattery, then impressively drove clear for a four-length victory over Pats Boher in 29.07.
The other winners were: Tullig Royal, 18.07; Midtown Act, 29.89; Jasons Fifi, 17.89; Demesne Chance, 29.46; Conaic View Gem, 29.40; Spirit Bostoncon, 18.02; Steeple Rd Brian, 29.35.
A lot of interest at the Oakview venue on the night focused on the televised coverage from Shelbourne Park and Limerick and, although a technical problem resurfaced with this coverage, Tralee, it has to be said, had no hand or part in that.
It was marvellous to see the Liam Dowling-trained College Paradise score a great victory in the second semi-final of the Mulvaney Memorial Sweepstake (winner, €7,500) and the syndicate which bought him from Frank Culloty are getting great value for their money.
Trainer Owen McKenna won the two other semi-finals, but, with a man like Liam Dowling behind him, College Paradise has to be there with a great chance of winning the final this Saturday night. He runs from trap 2.
There was also great action at Limerick, with first-round heats of the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger (winner, €25,000) taking place there and the powerhouse they call Lenson Rocky, which was sold by the late Jerome O’Donovan after clocking 28.12 in the first round of the GMHD juvenile classic at Tralee, scored a terrific victory in heat 10. He could well go on to outright glory.
The 6/1 long-odds favourite at this stage is Jaytee Dutch, but Lenson Rocky is joint second favourite with Priceless Brandy at 8/1.