Lanody Mike’s time puts everything else in shade
SATURDAY night’s programme at Tralee featured one sweepstake final and three sweepstake semi-finals, but all the winners were put in the shade big-time by Lanody Mike, which clocked a quite brilliant 28.56 (.10 slow) for trainer, James O’Regan, and owner, Michael Mangan, of Beaufort.
Yes, Lanody Mike was competing in an open 525yds race compared to A6 and A7 class for the sweepstakes, but 28.56 was pretty exceptional all the same and the August ’16 son of Storm Control and Perles Bay did it by absolutely catapulting out of trap 2 and sailing home three and a half lengths ahead of the Pat Buckley-trained Jock.
As it so happened, Lanody Mike won the €3,500 Tote Pick Six for a couple of very shrewd local investors, it being the last leg of it.
The sweepstake final in question, for A6 class over the standard trip and worth €600 to the winner thanks to sponsorship by the Kerry GOBA, was won by the Dan Brassil-trained Sleepy Doireann, which ran on powerfully to beat Knocknaseed Suzy by three and a half lengths in 29.30.
The three sweepstake semi-finals were for A7 class over the standard trip and one winner most definitely stood out – Farran Mikado, owned by Jeremiah Hanafin, of Ardfert. Few winners at the Oakview venue over the years have won by 18 lengths, but that was this lady’s margin of victory in a time of 28.79 and she is going to be at short odds to win the final this Saturday night, especially from a trap 1 draw.
The other semi-final winners were Steeple Rd Magic (29.33) and Slippy Denny (29.27) and it should be pointed out that Saturday night’s programme is acting as a fund-raiser for Listowel, Duagh and Lixnaw Comhaltas groups.
The draw for the final is (trap order): Farran Mikado, Ballyhar Duchess, Mileheight Matt, Steeple Rd Magic, Sporting Harry, Slippy Denny.
Other winners: Kielduff Loch, 17.78; See Clearly, 29.31; Steeple Rd Magic, 29.33; Inislosky Patric, 29.22; Gulleen Queen, 29.18.
SUNDAY SIS SESSION
THE star of the show was Spirit Invincible, which clocked 28.74 in the seventh race (A2 525) after bombing out of trap 3, while the other winners were: Solo Style, 29.11; Superior Lady, 29.09; Fermoyle Daithi, 29.20; Hadtobe Rory, 29.08; Courancove Dick, 29.49; Brexit Polka, 29.32; Johns Cod Actor, 29.44.