The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Plenty of Razldazl at Tralee Greyhound Track
IT was nice to get it right in tipping Razldazl Monarch to win the final of the John and Mary (Killeacle) Dowling A1 570 sweepstake at the Oakview venue on Friday night and, for Limerick trainer, Neilus O’Connell, it meant a lot more than getting within five winners of the magical 1,000 mark.
Neilus, you see, contested the last seven Dowling sweepstake finals with a total of eight greyhounds and never won it even once. A family wedding in Bunratty Castle meant that he wasn’t able to enjoy the pleasure of seeing Razldazl Monarch achieve his victory, but he was, of course, kept well informed and one can well imagine his sense of joy at finally coming good in the sweepstake.
“I am just over the moon, to be honest with you,” he said in the aftermath of victory. “I had some really good greyhounds running in that sweepstake final and just couldn’t win it. This is a pretty special victory on a pretty special family day.”
Razldazl Monarch, which was 6/4 joint favourite with Berkie Browne and Kieran Bourke, is an October ’17 whelping by Makeshift out of Razldazl Pru and he is a litter brother to last year’s Derby runner-up, Boylesports King (beaten by just a neck by Lenson Bocko), and another proven star in Razldazl Peaky.
Neilus O’Connell was a little worried by a trap 1 draw for Razldazl Monarch in Friday’s final, but it proved to be no problem to him. He railed brilliantly at the first bend, with the Jerry Griffin-trained Rockburst Mike (trap 5) alongside him into that bend, and he actually held a three-length lead over Jerry Griffin’s charge straightening out on the back straight.
He was still three lengths in front of Rockburst Mike rounding the third bend and that sufficed well, enabling him to hold off the expected finishing thrust of Rockburst Mike coming home by a length in 30.92 (.10 slow), with seven lengths back to the Timmy Carmody-trained Ardfert Rooster.
It sweetened it all nicely for Neilus O’Connell and the three-person syndicate which owns Razldazl Monarch that the estimated time of 30.82 was the fastest in the entire sweepstake and was within 20 spots of the record of 30.62 set in 2008 by Raparee Molly and equalled in 2012 by Toms Brett.
That three-person syndicate, which enriched itself to the tune of €3,000, is made up of brothers, Frank and Jay Shaw, of Naas, and Karen Geoghegan, a Boston woman who lives in Kilcolgan, Co Galway.
Said Frank Shaw: “Myself and Jay have been here every night of the sweepstake and it was great that Karen Geoghegan was able to join us tonight. It was a wonderful victory and we are so delighted.
“The dog was bred by Dolores Ruth and only for her we wouldn’t be in the doggy game. A very special lady is Dolores Ruth. It’s marvellous for Neilus O’Connell to finally win this sweepstake. Maybe he should go to weddings more often!”
Three more winners over the weekend brought O’Connell to 998 winners and the magical 1,000 figure could well be achieved by him this weekend, which will surely be recognised with a presentation from the Tralee track management.
Friday’s supporting card saw Castleisland trainer, Johnny O’Sullivan, enhance a very strong reputation by supplying the two fastest winners over the 525yds trip in
Jirano Jet (28.79) and Killahan Ganster (28.85), while there were runs of 17.68 and 17.79 (both .05 slow) over 325yds by Knocknaseed Gem and Misty Hataway, respectively.
Killahan Ganster was actually winning the re-run of a 525yds race declared void a week previously and it was tight between himself and Cosard Jet at the line, with just a neck separating them, while the other winners were: Looster Jamie, 18.61; Darn Hot, 29.73; Slippy Con, 29.52; Quivers Run, 29.42; Careful Puma, 29.20.