The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Liam Dowling qualifies four runners in Juvenile Classic
THE eyes of the greyhound world were firmly fixed on the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium last Friday night for the opening round of the prestigious GMHD.ie Insurances sponsored Juvenile Classic. The 8 first round heats produced some eye-catching displays and leading trainers Owen McKenna, Graham Holland and local handler Liam Dowling all produced doubles on the card.
Dowling had his team in terrific order on the night and qualified no less than four runners for next Friday’s second round. He produced two impressive heat winners with Borsalino (Droopys Scolari/ Coolavanny Angie) scoring in Heat 2, while Toocoolforschool (Definate Opinion/ Vicraz) took the following heat in 28.70. The latter broke smartly from trap 3 and avoided the jostling for positions at the opening bend to open a commanding advantage as he hit the back straight.
Eight lengths clear at the midpoint, the Jane Dowling owned runner was in full flight off the closing bends and stayed on well to land the spoils by 10 ½ lengths. Paradise Valdez just held off Devon Gunner by a short head to take second.
Borsalino produced an eye-catching run of 28.79 to win his heat in the colours of Spain’s Javier Jarne. While he led at the first, he was joined at the second bend by Quantity Level and Droopys Cabaye. The latter came off worst from a collision between the pair which left Borsalino clear out in front and he extended his advantage to 7 lengths passing the line. Quantity Level stayed on for second, while Droopys Cabaye recovered well to claim the final qualifying position back in third.
The Graham Holland trained Nitro Notorious (Crash/ Riverside Charm) produced the fastest time of the night to stop the watch in a sizzling 28.64. The Apr ’15 whelp hit the ground running from trap 1 and showed terrific pace off the opening bends. There was some congestion at the opening bend as trap 1 Droopys Florenzo went wide at the opener, leaving the blue jacket of Our Jacks Lad as the biggest danger to the leader down the back straight. The latter closed the gap considerably on the run to the line and got within 1 ½ lengths of the winner passing the judge. Dumas ran on for third two lengths further back. The winner returned the 6/4 favourite.
The Holland double was completed in Heat 5 as Clonbrien Hero (Razldazl Jayfkay/ Trout Or Salmon) showed good pace down the back straight having taken up the running off the second bend. Droopys Giroud caught the eye to get into contention on the run home, however the leader held on gamely to land the spoils in 28.96. Droopys Giroud was three parts of a length back in second, while the well supported Loskeran Vardy completed the trio a further 3 1/2 lengths back having never got a run in the race.
Owen McKenna opened his account in Heat 7 when the early paced Allen Junior (Superior Product/ Borna Gem) made all to stop the clock in a time of 28.89. Racing from trap 5, The Peter Comerford owned July whelp raced a length clear of the field at the opening curve and maintained his advantage through the finish. Paradise Marco stayed on for second 1 ½ lengths back, while Brandyandbaileys made up for a sluggish start and traffic problems at the first to take the final qualifying spot a further 2 lengths in arrears.
Hazel Mixture (Wise Thought/ Holly And Berry) came from off the pace to complete the McKenna double in Heat 8. Owned by Dunmanway’s Pat Collins, the winner was slowly away from Trap 5, and looked well out of contention as Droopys Payet and Ballyhoe Anville raced for supremacy down the back straight.
However, Hazel Mixture worked his way back into to contention and he ran the final two bends like a real pro to hit the front and he stayed on superbly to finish 1 ½ lengths clear of Ballyhoe Anville in 28.98. The early paced Droopys Payet was a further length back in third.
The well backed Factotem Boy (Tullymurry Act/ Noelles Primco) gave his supporters some nervous moments before eventually getting his head in front in Heat 6. The Pat Buckley trained runner was all the rage in the ring, and went to traps the 1/2 favourite.
It was the Patrick O’Connor trained Wind Spirit that made the early running, and the favourite was well back following a sluggish start. However he made the most of a clear run down to the third and led into the last bend. Wind Spirit came back for more approaching the line and the ‘jolly’ just held on by half a length in 29.24. Ballymac Fidora ran on for third 3 ½ lengths back from the runner-up.
Knockbawn Jasper (Sparta Maestro/ Knockbawn Socks) came in as a reserve in trap 1 in the opening heat for Athea’s Mike Shine, and he duly obliged to take victory in 29.24. He was joined by Jetts Eske on his immediate right on the run down to the bend, however the latter ran wide off the first and Knockbawn Jasper stole a lead on his rivals. The winner extended his lead off the closing bend and ran out an impressive 4 ½ length winner in 29.21. Droopys Pogba won the chase for second, a ½ length clear of the Jetts Eske.
There were two further races on the card, both of which were run over the sprint distance. The first was won in 17.98 by Anne Lucey’s Sullane Jet, while the Paddy Purtill owned Black Ranger caught the eye with an impressive run of 17.66.