The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Paradise found for Meade
NOBODY can have any complaints when the man who wins the two semi-finals of a sweepstake comes along and wins the final.
Mind you, one of the two semi-final winners didn’t go to traps, but the other did the job quite magnificently and, for winning owner/ trainer, Sean Meade, of Milltown Malbay, it was a case of recapturing the glory of 2009 when he won the very same event.
We are talking, of course, about the final of the GMHD Juvenile Classic (winner, €15,000), which was run off before a huge crowd at Tralee Track on Friday night, and the winning greyhound in question was Paradise Marco, an August ’15 whelping sired by classic winner, Cashen Legend, owned by honours-laden former Ballyduff hurling gladiator, Chris Houlihan (the dam is Dalcash Paradise).
The weather all day had been foul and, come the final of the juvenile classic, the going was .40 slow, representing almost six lengths. However, that slow going certainly proved no deterrent to Paradise Marco, which came from off the pace in quite superb fashion to win by a length and a half from Droopys Cabaye in 29.20, with a neck back to the front-running Factotem Boy.
Pat Buckley trained the second and third, for consolation money of €5,000 and €2,200, respectively, but Paradise Marco is the one that will go into the record books and, as far as Sean Meade is concerned, the Oakview venue is proving to be a very happy hunting grounds for him.
Not only did he win the 2009 juvenile classic with Paradise Miami, but he came along afterwards and won the Lee Strand Sweepstake with Paradise Setanta.
Paradise Marco was weak enough in the betting market at 4/1, with Loskeran Vardy and Droopys Cabaye being the joint favourites at 2/1, and, running from trap 3, he was actually fourth rounding the first bend.
Droopys Pogba, the third of Pat Buckley’finalists, and Factotem Boy disputed the lead off the first bend and Factotem Boy proceeded to establish a nice lead of two and a half lengths by the third bend.
Paradise Marco was at this stage challenging Droopys Pogba for second place and, running on with tremendous power, he overtook Factotem Boy coming home for his one and-a-half length victory over Droopys Cabaye, which was last at the first bend and finished with a powerful finishing thrust as well, enabling him to claim the runner-up spot by a neck from Factotem Boy.
Afterwards, it was confirmed that Sean Meade had sold the two Paradise dogs after the first round of the event to Donal “Bruno” Healy, of Gurranebeg, Ballymacelligott, who was acting on behalf of English-based Brendan Keogh.
Sean Meade told The Kerryman: “I did a deal which covered 50 per cent of the prizemoney for me and I have absolutely no regrets about selling the two dogs. Brendan Keogh is a great supporter of track and field and people like him keep the game going.
“I am just so delighted to have won this juvenile classic again here in Tralee, which is proving to be such a lucky track for me. Victories like this make all the hard work worthwhile and I would say that these two Paradise dogs have big futures ahead of them, especially, I would imagine, over 550yds.
It was inspired picking by Donal “Bruno” Healy to seal a deal for the sale of the two Paradise dogs after the first round of the juvenile classic.
“It was the way they came home that impressed me,” said Donal. “Especially the winner tonight. He is able to come out of the clouds and that’s what impressed me most about him.
“You need a lot of luck in this game, though. If you don’t have it with you, you have nothing. I have bought a lot of good greyhounds for Brendan Keogh, including Quietly, and I am delighted to have bought the two Paradise dogs on his behalf.”
Sharing in the joy of the occasion was, of course, Chris Houlihan.
“No question about it, Paradise Marco was a great winner out there tonight and, naturally, I am delighted,” said Chris. “It’s great for Cashen Legend and maybe other locals might use him now.”
The juvenile classic final was backed up by a marvellous supporting programme , with a huge input from GMHD Insurances, and trainer, Liam Dowling, enjoyed the distinction of producing the fastest winner (on estimated time) in his own dog, Brandyandbailys, which clocked 29.01 (.40 slow) in the final of the GMHD/ Zurich A3 525 Sweepstake.
Brandyandbailys was sent off the 4/6 favourite from a trap 1 draw and, after disputing the lead with Melodys Duke rounding the first bend, he went right away to score by six lengths from Melodys Duke, with two lengths back to 29.01.
Altogether, it was night’s racing which did adequate justice to the standing of the juvenile classic and all due credit to the team at the track for expediting everything so well after the day-long downpour of rain.
All that rain left the track .10 slow for two sprints and .20 slow for all 525yds races up to the 8th when the going for the 525yds races worsened to .40 slow.
Other winners: Tommy Tea Bag, 18.34; Dromore Bently, 29.83; Thor Tagg, 28.97; Riptide Treaty, 29.27; Marias Act, 29.54; Lybes Destiny, 29.32; Create A Star, 17.51; Shift The Hawk, 29.24; Lassa Excitement, 29.19.