TRAPRISE - Johnny’s Gem shines on epic Tipp Cup Final night at Thurles
The biggest night of the season at Thurles Greyhound Stadium last Saturday brought the final of the 2021 Centenary Agri 525 Yard Tipperary Cup and while our local challengers from the John Byrne kennel were ultimately out of luck, a home favourite did claim the title as track regular Kathleen Pomfret saw her Freedom Epic complete his wonderful campaign with a brilliant final performance.
A September pup, the champion was having just his seventh career start and bursts onto the Open race scene having just about led throughout his one and a half length defeat of Edencurra Brae in 29.02 (-20) as Meduza and Knockalton King were made to settle for minor honours following tardy beginnings.
The night did not pass without some local compensation, however, and having impressed in her semi-final victory a week earlier, Johnny Richardson’s Cozzys Gem (Droopys Roddick-Malteaser) emphatically backed up that performance when a dominant winner of the Track Supporters A5 525 Yard Stake Final.
Almost a year without tasting success, the July 2018 whelp sparked a revival when posting 29.63 (-20) to advance to the final and confirming her return to top form on Saturday, the Richardson charge progressed on the clock while leading throughout a polished final victory.
Swift to stride from trap 1, Cozzys Gem took a one-length lead to the opening turn and always strong at the standard distance, duly converted with the minimum of fuss thereafter. Striking the line with three and a half lengths to spare, she progressed to a smart 29.34 (-10) and a rise to A3 may not contain the Richardson darling in her bid for a hattrick next time.
MELODY STILL HUMMING
The major events were not kind to local runners over the weekend and the semi-finals of the Bar One Irish Sprint Cup brought only a bumpy passage for the Four Culchies Syndicate’s Coolemount Boss on Saturday when bowing out in fourth place behind fastest winner Ela Supremo in 21.00 for the 400 yards.
It was not a wasted trip to Dundalk for the Rafferty kennels however, as they had already tasted victory on the undercard when their Treaty Cup hero Millrose Melody (Ballymac Matt-Laughil Linda) found some compensation for his own Sprint Cup elimination, scoring SS0 victory over the same 400-yard trip.
Breaking just off the pace from trap 1, the Ballingarry speedster displayed all of his top-class early pace to strike the front on the approach to the opening bend and galloping the turns at pace, settled the race on the run to the home straight. Repelling Fridays Voyage by three parts of a length at the line, Millrose Melody endorsed his position amongst the elite of sprinting when posting a fast 21.36 in a fifth career success.
Mac is back with bang
A wonderful weekend for the Lorrha kennels of Michael Hogan returned a trio of winners at two venues but with pride of place as an exciting young star of racing, Grangeview Mac (Ballymac Best-Portumna West) returned to winning ways in most impressive fashion at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
Commencing his career in the Kilkenny Champion Unraced Stake with three heat wins before final defeat when runner-up back in May, the October 2019 pup announced himself as a future star but returning to action in the capital a week ago, he endured a luckless comeback when missing his break under the guiding hand of Pat Guilfoyle. However, our local owner and trainer combination have proven prolific in the past and hoping to follow in the paw-prints of his half-brother Grangeview Ten, Mac was back in sparkling form to claim Open victory over 525 yards on Saturday.
Breaking much better from trap 3 this time, the Hogan pup just showed in front approaching the first bend but charting a middle path, was flanked on both sides by early paced rivals around the bends. A leading trio were still locked together nearing halfway but bravely edging to the front once more, Grangeview Mac revealed pleasing battling qualities in addition to his slick pace and asserted around the closing turns.
Drawing clear to a one and a half length verdict, Grangeview Mac posted a fast 28.39 when seeing out the trip stoutly and remains one of the most exciting prospects on the national racing scene for the remainder of the season.
Irish Derby commences on Friday
Not seen since his Race Of Champions victory at Tralee in mid-June, our local challenge in the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby commences from Heat 2 this Friday at Shelbourne Park with the return of the Pat Guilfoyle trained Explosive Boy.
In sizzling form when last seen, the Tralee track record breaker bids to add racing’s biggest classic to the Produce Stakes he claimed at Clonmel and from the top of the outright market at 10-1, is fancied to begin his Derby campaign with victory.
Also on Friday, Pat Guilfoyle kennel companion Magical Jasper starts his campaign from Heat 4 while the Borrisoleigh kennels of Sean Kenny will contest Heat 12 with Gunboat Showman who displayed smart form in his recent A2 sweepstake at Limerick before final defeat on Saturday last.
A second session of first-round Derby heats on Saturday sees Michael Mackey’s exciting Salmic Sunset contest Heat 18 for trainer Pat Guilfoyle before Karen Murphy’s Trap Joey goes to trap 1 for Heat 21 following his brilliant Trial Stake success at Kilkenny.
Making his first appearance since victorious on English Derby Final night at Towcester, William Rigney’s All About Ted will round out the local challenge in Heat 23 and all the action on both Friday and Saturday can be viewed live on Talking Dogs Tv. For details visit the Talking Dogs tab on www.grireland.ie.