The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Domain King retains Prendiville Cup at rescheduled Listowel
A RESILIENT display by Domain King (Kyle Basil/Lyrics) ensured back to back wins in the John Prendiville Cup at Listowel last Friday afternoon.
The rescheduled fixture got underway on Wednesday, but heavy overnight led to the final day of action been put back 24 hours. The hard-working committee really put their shoulder to the wheel on Thursday and the field was in the best condition possible for coursing to resume on Friday morning.
Domain King began his campaign as the 2/1 second favorite to retain the John Prendiville Cup and began his defence of the feature event with a five-length success over the reserve, Feora Finn. When the action resumed on Friday, the Michael McMahon trained runner was the 6/4 second favourite, with Ballinveala Yolo heading the market at even money.
Domain King withheld the challenge of Pay Me Later by a ½ length to progress to the semi-final stage where the pacey Walkinmyshoes lay in wait. And what a buckle it proved as both dogs gave it their all in the pursuit of success. Walkinmyshoes appeared to hold the advantage through the opening exchanges and just had his head in front at the midpoint. However Domain King began to wear down his opponent and in the dying strides he edged out the result in a ‘just-up’ decision.
There was somewhat of a shock in the other semi-final as Needham Eoin lowered the colours of Ballinveala Yolo by a length. Domain King was the outsider of the pair going to slips in the final, but he was quickly away from slips and led the Northern runner by in excess of a length to halfway. Needham changed sides at this point but he began to mount a sustained challenge in the closing stages. Domain King found plenty when the pressure came on, and to the roars of a partisan crowd, he took the opening score by half a length.
Mayfield (Adios Alonso/Gowayoudat) made up for losing out at the final stage in Ballyheigue when he came good in the final of the Derby Trial Stake for Ardfert handler Johnaton Best. The 2/1 long-odds favourite easily progressed through the rounds and easily accounted for Killeacle Wonder by four lengths in the penultimate buckle to book his place in the deciding course. Count Ugarde provided the opposition in the final course, and while he battled hard to stay with Mayfield to halfway, the winner pulled clear of his rival and extended his advantage to two lengths by the opening score. Owned by the Short Puck Out Syndicate, Mayfield enters the Derby market at 25/1.
The Ger Curtain trained Gone To Town (Adios Alonso/Rosie The Rascal) caught the eye as she proved best in the Oaks qualifier. Producing a devastating kick from halfway in all her courses, she should relish the long run up at the National Meeting. She took on the fancied Please Marry Me in the final course and was freely available at even money to produce an upset.
The John Quilter owned February pup found herself almost two lengths behind midway through the course however she began to close the deficit with every stride and quickly found herself up alongside the favourite. She exerted her dominance in the closing stages and drew 2 lengths clear to take the opening score independent by two lengths.
Finally, Oaks runner-up Gadget Queen (Bexhill Eoin/ Gadget Girl) claimed her first points of the season in the Jet O’Carroll All Aged Bitch Stake. The Brendan Matthews owned runner justified favouritism in the final against Babes Cottage with a good burst of early pace and she quickly opened a length advantage which she maintained through to the opening turn.