The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Breton litter sisters win for Garnham and O’Regan
OWNER Richard Garnham, of Ballymacelligott, teamed up with Castleisland trainer, James O’Regan, to score a terrific double at Saturday’s meeting at the Oakview venue, with very much the highlight being a run of 28.69 (.10 slow) in the ninth race (A2 525) by their October ’18 bitch, Breton Avril (Skywalker Puma – Royal Dilemma).
This lady was a 3/1 outsider with Patsy Browne, the only bookmaker framing the odds, but she won like a long-odds-on shot, absolutely flying out of trap 3 and winning by six and a half lengths from Gulleen Andy.
It was a lovely follow-up to the victory in the first race (ON3 525) by her litter sister, Breton Agnes, which short-headed Kalgoorlie Gold in 29.38.
A double was also recorded by Ardfert owner, Peter Regan, who won the second race (S6/ S7 325) in 18.29 (.05 slow) with Oak Forest and who followed up by winning the seventh race (A4 525) in 29.43 with Oak Comet. Both greyhounds ran from trap 1 and, indeed, four winners on the night wore the red jacket, which doesn’t often happen.
The night ended well for the oldest greyhound (marginally) at the track, Lassa Excitement. It was some tribute to her that Patsy Browne chalked her up as the even-money favourite and, at six years of age (the equivalent of 42 years in human terms), she absolutely dominated from traprise and won by two and a half lengths from Minor First in 29.42.
She has now won €13,121 from 134 starts for her joint owners, Frank O’Donnell and Michael Costello, of Tralee. What a brilliant servant to them!
There was a superb run of 17.63 over 325yds by Scart Sean, while 29.00secs was beaten by Impact Ohio (28.98) and Knockunder Jake (28.95). The other winners were Hawthorn Slippy (29.87) and Quivers Secret ( 29.49).
SUNDAY SIS MEETING
ARDRAHAN Justice might have been something of an outsider at 4/1, but he outshone everything at Sunday’s SIS meeting by clocking a brilliant 28.63 in the fourth race (A1 525) for Ardfert owner, Daniel Nolan. Mind you, 6/4 favourite, Slipalong Magic, made a real battle of it, with just half a length separating the pair at the line.
Also inside 29.00 seconds were Brindle Beauty (28.90) and Oak Express (28.96), while the other winners were: Stayaway Caoimhe, 29.17; Confident Cavell, 29.07; Lennys Specks, 29.12; Stayaway Blake, 29.23; Caspian Bleu, 29.19.