The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Hospital build up is top quality fare
FRIDAY night’s card saw numerous Stake semi-finals down for the decision in the build up to ‘Friends of University Hospital Kerry Benefit’ night which is traditionally the busiest night of the year at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium.
The penultimate round of the Kerry Group Hospital Stakes A2 were the feature on the card and produced two terrific races and next Friday’s decider promises to be a thrilling climax to the event.
The opening semi-final saw Gone To Ground (Superior Product / Laughil Lucy) go to traps the even money favourite for Tipperary handler Michael O’Donavan. Unbeaten in the Stake thus far, the August ’16 whelp broke well in the black jacket and showed great early dash to lead at the first from Akelawre on the rails and Right Half Back in trap 3.
It was essentially a race between the leading trio as they raced down the back straight. Gone To Ground continued to lead the way into the closing bends; however he raced wide off the last.
Akelawre was coming with a big run on the rails and was closing the gap with every stride on the dash to the line. The finish came just in time for the longtime leader and he just held off the game Akelware by a neck in a fast time of 28.38. Right Half Back completed the trio a further three lengths back.
Dowling went one better in the following semi-final when Ballymac Trinkle proved best and in the process completed a treble on the card for the Ballymac trainer. An impressive performance saw her lead home kennel companion Varvatos by three and a half lengths in 28.54.
The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Ballymac Scarlett surrendered early ground to T.4 Sawdust Club at trap rise, however the winner showed good early foot on the rails to claim pole position at the opening bend and dominated the race from there on.
Varvatos gave chase to the evens favourite down the back straight with the rest in a scrap for third. Up front, the leader was in unrelenting form and hugged the rails rounding the closing bends.
Varvatos moved wide off the last and was three and a half lengths off the winner passing the finish.
Ahavoher Beauty finished well to claim the final qualifying berth a further length back.
Dowling’s opening winner came in Race 4 when Maximum Force (Pinpoint Maxi/ Ballymac Bonnie) finished with a flourish from the third bend to swoop late and land the second semi final of the Niall Nolan Garage A5 Stake.
With trap 6 withdrawn, Garrison Post made the early running from trap 3, followed closely by Exiles Road and Purmac Wizard. The early leaders stride went amiss off the second bend allowing Exiles Road to make the running.
The Gneevguilla owned runner was shadowed by Purmac Wizard throughout, however, they both got caught out by late dash of Maximum Force up the home straight and the Alan Newman / Liam Dowling owned runner scored by two lengths from Exiles Road, with just a bare head back to Purmac Wizard in third.
Dowling completed his treble in the following race as Ballymac Garden (Ballymac Vic/ Bulgaden Gypsy) made all in an S4 sprint to score by five and-a-half lengths in 17.74.
The penultimate race on the 10 Race card saw Mauras Wish (Scolari Me Daddy / Some Tears) get back to winning ways for Ballyheigue trainer Ger Reidy. The 3/1 shot was quickly away from the blue box and held a two length cushion off the first from Our River in second.
A collision between the two outside runners Send It Season and Ballyboy King at the opener saw their chances of success evaporate.
The leading duo continued to dominate up front with Mauras Wish holding the initiative throughout the race.
She led home her rival by three quarters of a length in 28.87, while Sign On Aki, having completely missed the break, made up considerable ground from halfway to claim third.
Other winners on the night were You Know 18.28, Ahavoher Star 28.96, Slippy Zeus 29.75, Black Audie 28.95, Baltovin Peril 29.31.