The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Ballymac Gina wins Novice sweep 325 final for Dowling
THERE is just no stopping Liam Dowling, is there? The man wins the Coursing Oaks at Powerstown Park in quite magnificent fashion with Ballymac Enya and three nights later he brings his number of winners at IGB tracks to a quite remarkable 991 by winning the final of a novice 325yds sweepstake at Tralee Track.
The novice winner in question last Friday was Ballymac Gina and this July ’17 daughter of Ballymac Best and College Quality was making it three wins from three starts. It was a crowded enough field into the first bend, but Ballymac Gina was the one at the head of affairs rounding that bend from her trap 3 draw and she went on to score by two lengths from the strong-finishing Stormy Jet in 18.11 (.10 slow), with a length back to Foildarrigh Lady.
Nothing went right for the fastest semi-final winner, Cashen Kaboodle, which ran from trap 2, and she actually finished at the tail of the field.
Ballymac Gina and Stormy Jet were the two 6/4 joint favourites with the only bookmaker framing the odds, Berkie Browne (in conjunction with Patsy Browne), and, while the €750 won by Ballymac Gina was a long way behind the €40,000 won by Ballymac Enya at Powerstown Park, there could be no mistaking the significance of her victory in taking Liam Dowling to just nine track wins from the magical 1,000 milestone.
The novice 325yds final was run off early on a 12-race programme which included two 750yds races and there were to be two brilliant runs later on over 525yds by the Pat Buckley-trained Chanceme Jay and the Ger Reidy-trained Lee Smasher.
Chanceme Jay (6/4 joint fav) stopped the clock on 28.60 in the tenth race, for A0 class, and, considering that the going for 525yds was .20 slow, it was one hell of a run.
Pat Buckley’s charge simply rocketed out of trap 5 and that was the deal done and dusted. He powered home four and a half lengths ahead of Millridge Blitz, with two and a half lengths back to Floury Spuds.
Turning to the victory of Lee Smasher (5/2), this fellow came into trap 4 as a reserve and he did really well to lead off the first bend from Samba Active and Looster Baxter. Just like Chanceme Jay, he was most definitely not for catching once in front and he raced home five lengths ahead of Samba Active in 28.73 (.20 slow).
The going for the 750yds races was .30 slow and two very good winners emerged in Ballyard Jenny (42.71) and Stormy Amie (43.28). Ballyard Jenny was always prominent in her race and she won by seven lengths from a reserve, Eminent, whereas Stormy Amie didn’t hit the front until the finishing straight – but what a show of power to the line by her for victory by six and a half lengths over Carmac Maura!
Three semi-finals of an 18-greyhound A5 525 sweepstake honouring the memory of Bobby Hickson (winner, €900) opened the programme and Miss Taff, owned by Francis Flavin, of Listowel, was very much the fastest winner on 29.25 (.20 slow). The other semi-final winners were Kilcurra Deacon (29.71) and Bayside Bridy (29.79) and the draw for the final this Friday night is (trap order): Mileheight Dolly, Ballyhar Duchess, Miss Toff, Kilcurra Deacon, Galken (W), Bayside Bridy (W).
Other winners: Coppeen Chance, 18.19; Mohane Odie, 18.18; Corrib Rose, 29.55; Impact Miami, 29.07.
SUNDAY SIS SESSION: Sporting Chick, owned and trained by Jerry Griffin, of Abbeyfeale, was the fastest winner at Sunday evening’s SIS session at the Oakview venue. She clocked 29.00 (.10 slow) in beating a reserve, Ballylane Vic, by two and a half lengths. Other winners: Courancove Tom, 29.26; Solo Style, 29.36; Brexit Polka, 29.25; Strideaway Spot, 29.29; Hopeful Aidan, 29.13; Rigil Kentaurus, 29.68; Confident Dara, 29.23.