Farran Buzz the slightest of fancies for Reidy 525 final

TWO fairly valuable 525yds sweepstakes dominated proceedings at Tralee Track last Friday night. One of them, for A3 class, is worth €1,400 to the winner thanks to sponsorship by Paul Reidy Construction, of Mount Eagle, Brosna, and two semi-finals cleared the way for the final this Friday night.

The other sweepstake, for A5 class, honours the memory of the late Steve Kennedy and it has a winner’s purse of €1,500. This was at the first round stage and the semi-finals will be run off this Friday night, with the locally-owned Dramatic Choice the clear no.1 contender after clocking 28.77 in the second of three heats (four qualified from each heat).

There is no such clear contender in the Paul Reidy sweepstake, with just four spots separating the two semi-final winners on Friday night. Cashen Jaguar, owned and trained by Chris Houlihan, of Ballyduff, won the first semi-final in 28.92 and Farran Buzz, owned and trained by Jeremiah Hanafin, of Ardfert, won the second semi-final in 28.88.

Cashen Jaguar was sent off the even-money favourite from a trap 1 draw and he engaged in a terrific duel with the Johnny O’Sullivan-trained Tromora Line as the race progressed, which he won by half a length. A further length back was the strong-finishing Aughacasla Jet.

Farran Buzz made it three wins from just four starts (she was runner-up in the remaining race) when winning the second semi-final. Good early pace is a real forte of this lady and, sent off joint favourite at 6/4, she impressively made all from trap 5, finishing a length and a half ahead of the one which was chasing her from the first bend, Ballads Forlife, with two lengths back to Solo Rock.

Farran Buzz is the only wide seed left in the event and this guaranteed her trap 6 in Friday night’s final. She should win from it. The draw is (trap order): Aughacasla Jet, Tromora Line, Cashen jaguar, Solo Rock, Ballads Forlife (M), Farran Buzz (W).

Turning to the Steve Kennedy Memorial Sweepstake, the performance of Dramatic Rosie in winning heat 2 in 28.77 definitely stood out. Owned locally by Oliver Healy, this lady simply routed the opposition, leading the charge into the first bend from trap 3 and winning by no less than 14 lengths from Ballyhar George, though it was all a bit untidy behind her. The other two qualifiers were Millridge Jewel and Lenas Dasher.

The other first-round heat winners were the James O’Regan-trained Butcher Johnny,an even-money favourite which clocked 29.07 in winning heat 1 by half a length from Millridge Skype (the other qualifiers were Rashers Diva and Shlowdown Smiler), and Barstool Babe, a 3/1 outsider which won heat 3 by a neck from Seomra Liz in 29.38 (the other qualifiers were Aines Princess and Kingdom Flash).

The agent for Barstool Babe is young local man, Stephen Reidy, who is attached to the Liam Dowling kennels, and, interestingly, he will also have Shlowdown Smiler running for him in Friday night’s semi-finals. Reidy also won the opening sprint with Betsys Babs (a litter sister to Shlowdown Smiler), which did well to give a start to Rooska Mist and beat her by a length and a half in 17.82.

The draw for the semi-finals is (trap order): First semi-final: Kingdom Flash, Dramatic Rosie, Seomra Liz, Butcher Johnny, Shlowdown Smiler, Aines Princess. Second semi-final: Rashers Diva, Barstool Babe, Millridge Skype, Ballyhar George, Millridge Jewel, Lenas Dasher.

On last Friday night supporting card, Knockunder Brody recorded a very impressive 17.58 for the sprint distance (A1 class), while the other winners were: Millroad Grit, 29.35; Millridge Grant, 28.72; Darrig Alainn, 28.81.