It smells like Ballyhone Spirit on Saturday night

IT’S a long road that has no turning, they say, and that certainly applied to Ballyhone Spirit at Tralee Track on Saturday night.

Owned by Jeremiah Kerins, of Castleisland, Ballyhone Spirit had been without a victory in 17 career starts, being particularly unlucky to take a very bad fall last time out.

However, there was to be no misfortune, or bad luck, for him this time.

Running from trap 4 in the ninth race (A6/ A7 525), he left the opposition more or less for dead on the run to the first bend and he totally dominated thereafter, finishing five lengths ahead of Brackers Blackie in a fastest of the night 29.13 for the standard trip.

Another greyhound to end a serious losing streak in the fourth race (A6 525) was Send It Zebra, which Pat McMahon trains locally for his son, Vincent. Send It Zebra was actually breaking her duck at the 14th attempt and she did so by winning a duel to the line by half a length from a reserve, Droumeragh Shep, in 29.44.

Over 325yds, a race for S0/ S1 class saw Deadly George clock a very smart 17.63 for Joe Begley, of Abbeyfele. This July ’14 son of Droopys Scolari and Unique Breda was very much an outsider at 4/1 (only one bookmaker, Leo Geoghegan, was in attendance) and, after getting himself into a winning position around the opening bend, he raced home a length and a half ahead of the strong-finishing Sneezys Fantasy.

Earlier, that great local elder statesman of the doggy game, Jimmy Griffin, won another sprint (S7 class) with Jeffs Wonder, which was gaining his second victory from a dozen starts. It was tight at the line and Jeffs Wonder shaded the verdict by a head from Makaylas Mood in 18.39.

Other winners: Broadmill Ward, 18.08; Baltovin Ellie, 29.84; Ahavoher Beauty, 17.98; Barbers Bridge, 29.78; Mossend Jordan, 29.20.