The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Buckley experiences ups and down of track racing
GREYHOUND racing can bring you up and down fairly quickly and Friday night’s programme at Tralee Track provided clear proof of that. Top national trainer, Pat Buckley, won the first race with Cyrano and followed up later by winning a qualifier for the Boylesports IrishDerby with Droopys Dargle, but, in between, he saw his very strong fancy for the Speedrite Rose of Tralee A4 525 Sweepstake (winner, €2,750), namely Droopys Control, being the subject of a stewards’ inquiry after looking sure to win turning for home.
Droopys Control didn’t power on to victory and, in fact, he finished last, with the greyhound he was challenging, Saeed Tashadelek, finishing fifth. It was no great surprise to hear a subsequent announcement of a stewards’ inquiry into his running and he must now run two clearance trials before being allowed to race competitively again.
The race in question was heat 2 (round 2) of the Rose of Tralee Sweepstake and victory in it went to 6/1 outsider, Cosmic Doll, which ran from trap 4 and benefited from what happened up front by winning the tightest of finishes by a short head from Another Pickels in 29.48, with two lengths back to a reserve, Garfiney Champ, which actually took a flier from trap 3 before conceding the lead to Saeed Tashadelek by the third bend.
Another greyhound, Annes Ranger, was also the subject of a stewards’ inquiry in heat 3, making it a pretty unusual night in that respect, but this lady was never in a position to win and this, in fact, was the heat which saw the Timmy Carmody-trained Carmac Courage become the only second-round heat winner to get inside 29.00secs.
The November ’16 son of Tullymurry Act and Hollies Indi, which had been the fastest first-round winner on 28.97, was installed the 4/6 favourite from a trap 2 draw and he was always going to win after getting the right kind of start. He wound up with a victory margin of no less than nine and a half lengths over Lissycasey Lola in 28.94, with a length back to Milestone Gatsby.
Very unlucky in running was Steeple Rd Nemo, which was badly baulked when challenging Milestone Gatsby for second place rounding the third bend.
However, the man behind Steeple Rd Nemo, Dan Wren, saw his litter brother, Pawsfordell, produce something of a blinder from trap 4 to win heat 4 (race 6) in 29.08. Pawsfordell, which was 6/4 joint favourite, occupied third place rounding the third bend behind Teevee Bailey and Ballyhar Sho Sho and there was a lot to like about the way he ran on to score by two lengths from Teevee Baily in 29.08, with a length and a half back to Ballymac Beach.
The remaining second-round heat, the first, saw another fine performance by the Anthony Slattery-trained Mayfly, a 3/1 shot housed in trap 6. This lady and 2/1 favourite, Stormy Tommy, accelerated clear of massive trouble behind them at the first bend and, after asserting control by the third bend, Mayfly drove home two and a half lengths ahead of Stormy Tommy in 29.03, with three and a half lengths back to Bolus Ned.
The semi-finals take place this Friday night and, as luck would have it, all four second-round heat winners have been drawn together in the second semi-final. It is probable that Carmac Courage, Pawsfordell and Mayfly will make it through to the final, but connections hardly expected it to be as tough as this.
The draw for the semi-finals is (trap order): First semi-final: Garfiney Champ, Stormy Tommy, Ballymac Beach, Bolus Ned, Milestone Gatsby, Teevee Bailey (W). Second semi-final: Pawsfordell, Mayfly, Cosmic Angel, Another Pickels, Carmac Courage, Lissycasey Lola (W).
Turning to the victory of Pat Buckley’s Droopys Dargle in the qualifier for the Boylesports Irish Derby, this lady was a 2/1 shot housed in trap 5 and she fairly excelled in powerfully getting herself into a winning position on the inside of Darragh Jet and Misty Supreme rounding the third bend before going on to score by five lengths from Misty Supreme in 29.64 (550yds), with a neck back to 6/4 favourite, Cash Is King.
For sure, Droopys Darglee is a very worthy Tralee representative in the upcoming Shelbourne Park classic.
The night’s programme also featured three semi-finals of an A2 550 buster sweepstake carrying the name of the local John Mitchels GAA Club and the winners were Youngfellathanks (30.17), Black Audie (30.43) and Camp Rambler (30.14). The final takes place this Friday night and the draw is (trap order): Black Audie, Send It Softly, Camp Rambler, Lassa Excitement, Youngfellathanks (W), O Riadas Nidge (W).
Other winners: Cyrano, 29.12; Melodys Jack, 17.68; Cosard Jet, 28.80.
*The going, as is now the norm at Tralee, was .10 slow for 525yds and 550yds and .05 slow for 325yds.