The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Locals win Derby Trial Stake at Lixnaw coursing
THE locally owned Dresden Vale (Vale View Flyer/ Call Her Dresden) proved a popular winner of the Derby Trial Stake at Lixnaw last weekend. The February whelp has had a busy campaign so far this season, but he showed vast improvement on his local patch and the Johnny Kelliher trained runner really came into his own on final day.
Priced at 3/1 prior to the penultimate round, Dresden Vale upset the odd to progress to the final at the expense of the fancied Clonreddan Road. The latter had no answer to the winner’s kick from halfway and the Johnny O’Keeffe and Pat McCarthy owned runner pulled five lengths clear of his rival by the opening turn. He sported the red collar in the final against Swanky Pakie.
The JP Prendiville owned runner was a short priced favourite for the deciding buckle. There was little to choose between the pair to halfway in the final, but Dresden Vale began to exert his dominance from this point forth and he pulled well clear of his rival late on to score by an impressive 4 ½ lengths.
The O’Keeffe/McCarthy partnership was denied a famous double when Break The Habit (Vale View Flyer/ Drumcrow Beca) claimed the Oaks ticket at the expense of Dresden View. The winner, jointly owned by Ruth Allen and Jade Lynch from Ballyduff, was the outsider of the pair for the final course. There was little to choose between them for much of the buckle, but the Dan Lynch trained Break The Habit began to turn the screw on her rival from halfway and ran out a 1 ½ length winner at the opening score.
The O’Carroll/ O’Connor Cup provided some thrilling action throughout, but the final buckle between Roquefort Teddy (Timber House/ Mad Moment) and Souldern Street will live long in the memory. The Pat Curtain trained Roquefort Teddy headed the market from the opening round of the All Age event, but he had to be at his best to withstand the challenge of Spin The Whip at the penultimate stage. The winner went to slips the odds-on favourite in the final against the John Moynihan trained Souldern Street.
The ‘jolly’ showed in front leaving slips and extended his advantage to just over a length approaching halfway. Souldern Street began to mount a serious challenge on the rising ground and had closed right up on the leader as they raced almost stride for stride into the opening turn. In the tightest of ‘just-up’ decisions, Roquefort Teddy just held on for victory in what was his maiden success in All Age company.
Southofhere (Adios Alonso/ Loyal Leader) claimed her second win of the season when she bagged the points in the All Age Bitch Stake final at the expense of Mad Decision. Southofhere, who had won at Ballyheigue earlier in the season, was a big outsider in the deciding course, but the Dan Brassill trained runner showed her rival a clean pair of heels from slips and she stayed on gamely through to the opening turn to score a one-length victory. The winner looks well on her way to securing qualification for this season’s Champion Bitch Stake at the National Meeting.
The Joe McCarthy trained Listowel Danger (Needham Danger/ Teleblanco) won the Dew Drop Inn Stake following a two-length success over Sam’s Hope in the final course.
Local handler Batt Heaphy supplied the winner of the Ronnie and Bridie McElligott Memorial Stake when Givemeachance (Kyle Leigh/ Straight Legs) defeated Count Muga by a length in the deciding buckle.
There was a double on the card for Paudie Lyons who claimed the Donal McNamara Stake with Wiseguy Shane (Crafty Gonzalo/ Avas Sweetheart) at the expense of Big Hero by a length and also scored with Wiseguy Ally (Mafi Magic/ Turning Pace) in the final of the 3-Course Duffer when defeating Rollonfriday.
The Munster Cup is the feature of next weekend’s two-day card at Newcastlewest, which starts on Saturday. The meeting has an 11am start on both days.