The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Back to back Tuesday wins for Lithuanian Paula
TUESDAY night racing at Tralee Track sees a lot of greyhounds in regular action, but the grading is particularly tight and it’s not easy to get wins on the card.
However, one greyhound has managed to not alone win two Tuesday nights running of late but also clock the fastest time for the standard trip on both nights.
That greyhound is Lithuanian Paula, a December ’14 whelping by Crash out of Dunkil Heros.
On January 17, Lithuanian Paula won in 28.98, with Anascaul River and Baltovin Olly the next best on 29.18, and she followed up last week with a winning run of 28.94, which was ten spots better than the next best time recorded by none other than Anascaul River.
Lithuanian Paula was running from trap 3 in the eighth race, for A2 class, and she set herself up for victory with the smartest of starts, as she had done the week before. She led off the first bend from Baltovin Rose and 6/4 favourite, Jasons Fifi, and, after being two lengths ahead of Baltovin Rose rounding the third bend, that was also to be her margin of victory over the Kilmoyley bitch in 28.94, with the same distance back to Jasons Fifi.
Baltovin Rose was a 5/1 shot in the betting and she paid a remarkable €50.70 to a €1 place unit on the tote.
The connections of Lithuanian Paula are owner Maurius Kybartas, a Lithuanian man who has made his home in Kerry and who is very passionate about the greyhound game, and trainer Brendan Maunsell, an Abbeydorney man of great doggy stock who has facilitated the partnership with Kybartas with enthusiasm.
Will Lithuanian Paula complete a three-timer next time out? Hard to know, but she has now won four times from eight starts and, if she continues to break as well, it will take a good one to halt her gallop.
Anascaul River is on a three-timer as well and Patrick Ferriter’s dog is also well capable of achieving it after his splendid 29.04 run last week.
Other winners at last week’s Tuesday meeting were: Slipalong Wonder, 29.43; Jeffs Rocky, 29.48; Lecheile Mochara, 29.07; Send It Fairys and Allaghuan Lady, deadheat, 29.69; Pats Boher, 29.54; Akila. 29.13; Baltovin Olly, 29.31; Ionic Ice, 29.48.
•LIAM Dowling is still involved in the Best Car Parks Cup at Shelbourne Park with Coolavanny Pat, which finished third in his second round heat on Saturday night. He runs from trap 3 in the first semi-final this Saturday night and English Derby winner, Jaytee Jet, will be in trap 6.