TRAPRISE - Conway darling is Galway final Star

A number of local kennels contested a hugely competitive WGOBA Tri Distance A3 Stake at Galway Greyhound Stadium over recent weeks and following stealthy progress through the heats, the 575-yard final saw Patrick Conway’s Curraghmorestar (Droopys Jet-Fire Back) complete his campaign with victory in an eventful showdown.

Campaigned solely at Limerick before venturing further west for the opening round, Curraghmorestar had been in sparkling form with a recent hattrick over 525-yards but was grateful for generous qualifying conditions in Round One at Galway when settling for fourth in a bumpy outing. Progressing to a pleasing runner-up effort over 550-yards at semi stage, the Ballina charge held realistic claims ahead of Saturday’s final and once breaking well from her ideal trap 1 berth, she ensured crucial clear passage while commanding the rails throughout. Behind the Conway leader, local legend Five Alley Crakl made a slow start and trailed the field on the run to the opening bend where bunching rivals suffered significant crowding, however, Curraghmorestar had led all to that point and settled the race when skipping clear to a winning lead on the run to the backstraight. Reversing semi-final form with Honkwhenyouhome, the thoroughly likeable Curraghmorestar repelled that fast finisher by two lengths while posting 31.83 (-20) as Paul Hogan’s wonderful veteran Five Alley Crakl was just a further length back in third following his poor start.

For the latter Hogan stalwart, he will remain in A3 grade and despite rapidly approaching his sixth birthday in September, younger rivals will have a task to contain the old boy at that level. That smart winning time will, however, see Curraghmorestar rise to A2 for her next outing, but that level will hold little fears in her current form.

Staying with that Saturday meeting at Galway, there was further local cheer on the night and a kennel in flying form at present, Abigail Morrissey’s Abigail’s Mystery (Belles Direction-Geelo Lu Lu) gained due reward for consistency when claiming his fifth career win following a trio of runner-up performances.

Ideally suited by a step up to 550-yards for his A3 contest, the August 2019 whelp broke just behind the lead from trap 3 and tracking a brace of rivals throughout the initial exchanges, reached the second bend with two lengths to recover. Always impressive along the backstraight, the Morrissey winner duly challenged for the lead at halfway and forcing his way to the front on the outside, gamely swept across his closest rival to settle the race at the third turn. Bounding clear thereafter, Abigail’s Mystery ran-out a commanding five length winner while posting a career best time of 30.28 (-20).

Facing a stiff upgrade to A1 next time, extended four bend trips may well be the key to coping with the rise while his laudable consistency will always ensure a competitive presence.

Also on Saturday, Shelbourne Park was busy with top grade sweepstake action and having safely guided Magical Poppy (Confident Rankin-Cabra Twister) to the second round of the 2022 Corn Cuchulainn Open 750 when a pleasing neck second to Generous Angel in 41.64, trainer Pat Guilfoyle saw Vincenzo (Droopys Sydney-Alien Nipper) secure a brilliant victory in the first-round heats of the Shelbourne Champion 550.

This dual classic winning trainer and owner combination with Peter Sutcliffe have crafted a light campaign for Vincenzo in 2022 but a massive eye-catcher when second in his recent Shelbourne debut despite much bumping, the February 2020 whelp produced a stunning career best when fastest of the heats on Saturday.

Ensuring clear passage in the early stages when breaking well from trap 5 this time, the Guilfoyle charge tracked The Other Kobe at a two-length deficit to the top of the backstraight. Still with those two lengths to recover at the third bend, superior strength in the latter stages saw Vincenzo reduce his arrears despite charting a wide course to the home stretch and maintaining a powerful gallop to the line, he would secure a most game one length verdict over The Other Kobe in a sublime 29.46. The fastest of the heats, Vincenzo’s assault on the major events of the sport over coming months has well and truly taken off!

Once again, it was the Thursday fixture at Limerick which commenced the winning action last weekend and doubling his win tally over 525-yards was Noel Nagle’s Goodman Johnjoe (Droopys Sydney-Liosgarbh Ene) who got to grips with his recent upgrade to A4 in a most game winning performance.

Successful in A6 grade a month ago, the August 2020 pup went close when second last time out and building on that promise, the Nagle pup tracked PJ Ryan’s previous week’s winner Williams Buick throughout the early stages when breaking adeptly from trap 3.

A length adrift of the leader when tackling the first bend, Goodman Johnjoe switched wide of that trap 6 rival when briefly checked while turning but immediately rallying on the run to the backstraight, joined the Ryan charge approaching halfway. Crucially forging a tight half-length lead with command of the rails entering the third bend, the local tussle was settled when Williams Buick was forced to check markedly behind the new leader.

In command to the home-straight thereafter, Goodman Johnjoe completed his second career success when fending off the late attentions of a fast-finishing rival for a three-quarter length verdict in 29.41. That winning time will keep him in A4 grade next time and will offer every chance for a repeat victory.