The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Begley’s charge stands alone
YOU don’t expect an A6 greyhound to produce the fastest time for the standard trip on any given night at Tralee Track or anywhere, especially when an open race is heading up the programme, but it happened at the Oakview venue on Friday night and the honour belonged to a greyhound called Stand Alone (Ballymac Eske – Maries Pearl), owned by Brendan Begley, of Knocknagoshel.
Stand Alone had finished unplaced in his first race in early August (fourth in an estimated 18.28 for the sprint distance), but, clearly, he had shown decent promise that night because he was an even-money shot in the betting market.
Those who took those odds knew that they would be collecting from a very early stage. Stand Alone simply flew to the first bend from a trap 2 draw, was a decisive leader off it and he went right away to score by eight and a half lengths from Helenas Sally in 28.70.
Helenas Sally did well to fill the runner-up spot because she badly missed the break from trap 5 and was only fifth on the back straight. A faller at the first bend was a reserve, Julies Idea.
The open 525yds later on saw Confident Cato win in a time which was just two spots behind that produced by Stand Alone – 29.72. Padraig Regan trains this fellow in Kilmoyley South for Jeremiah Kerins, of Castleisland, and, although his winning margin was just a length, he was always going to deliver after claiming the early lead from trap 4.
Senans Forever, Champhers Legend and Down The Green were the ones chasing him off the first bend and Champhers Legend ran on well to be just that length behind him at the line.
The night featured a double for John Greaney, of Ballaugh, Co Limerick, who has Johnny Carroll, of Tralee, as his agent. Carroll, of course, holds the distinction of training the winner of the 1998 Irish Cup at Clounanna, Castlelawn Oak, and it was nice to see him associated with a double like this on the track.
The double was initiated in the third race (A5 525) by Ashford Princess (6/4 joint favourite). Running from trap 5, she was a close second to Another Tipp (trap 3) rounding the first bend and she quickly hit the front on the back straight, to be two lengths ahead rounding the third bend. The other 6/4 joint favourite, Hawthorn Master, ran on well behind her, but his challenge failed by half a length in 29.40.
Greaney and Carroll followed up by winning the sixth race (A4 525) with a litter sister to Ashford Princess, Ashford Cindy (Moveit Jamie – Oakfield Tara).
She was at the fancier price of 3/1 and she delivered in very smooth fashion from a trap 4 draw, leading off the first bend from even-money favourite, Dashing Through, and running the back straight to such effect that she was five lengths clear rounding the third bend.
Lecheile Mochara ran on well from fifth place on the back straight, but there was no chance of catching Ashford Cindy and she finished three and-a-half lengths ahead of him in 29.31.
The last race of the night saw Kingdom Rhythm win for Joseph Cronin, of Tralee. Last June, this fellow had run Droopys Smasher to a neck in an A2 525 sweepstake at the Oakview venue and this was a huge tip in itself, bearing in mind the reputation which Droopys Smasher has since established for trainer Pat Buckley (she runs in the final of the €22,500-to-the-winner Dublin Coach Juvenile Derby at Harolds Cross this Friday night).
Kingdom Rhythm was back in A3 class and, after duelling to the third bend with Shronedraugh Dan, he established clear superiority from this point onwards and beat Shronedraugh Dan by three lengths in 28.99. Further honours surely beckon for him.
Other winners: Slippy Gary, 17.93; Samba Rio, 29.32; Eidel Dakota, 18.07; Paties Bolt, 17.91; Carmac Indi, 3.17 (570yds).