TRAPRISE - Johnjoe proves a very Good Man in Freedom final at Thurles

The final of the Freedom Kennels A5 525 Yard Stake was the feature of the Saturday action at Thurles Greyhound Stadium last weekend and completing an impressive competition campaign with final victory, Noel Nagle’s Goodman Johnjoe (Droopys Sydney-Liosgarbh Ene) found timely progression to a new career best in a dominant winning performance.

A wide margin opening round winner when sharing the spoils, the August 2020 youngster backed that up with victory at semi stage but ensured sole custody of the final’s €1500 prize when the strong runner turned closer to the pace following a smart start from his ideal trap 5 draw this time.

Exiting traps on level terms, Goodman Johnjoe reached the opening bend on the outside of an early paced rival with only a tight length to recover before ranging up on that leader’s shoulder off the second turn. Striking the front when straightening for the run to halfway, the Nagle winner eased clear while settling the race with powerful backstraight pace. Drawing eye-catchingly clear with every stride thereafter, Goodman Johnjoe crowned his unbeaten competition campaign when registering a six-length victory while stopping the clock in a very smart 29.00 (-20).

That winning time represents a new career best in his sixth race victory and a stake tilt which was crafted to a tee by the Rathmartin kennels will see him rise to A1 for his next outing. However, highly consistent while clearly still progressing as a member of a smart litter, there may well be more to come from Johnjoe, now fully exiting puppyhood.

Wichita Guns down rivals in Dapper final

Thurles has been a fruitful circuit for competition hopes of late as featuring at the Premier venue in recent weeks, the Dapper Kennels A3 525-Yard Stake concluded on the previous Saturday and crowning a smart campaign through the 24-runner competition, Sean Kenny’s Gunboat Wichita (Droopys Sydney-Group Supergem) claimed the €1,650 winner’s prize in most game fashion.

Progressing to a career best in opening round victory, the July 2020 youngster was forced to settle for second at semi stage but finding further improvement in his tenth outing, the Borrisoleigh winner reversed that form following a swift exit from trap 3 in the final. Immediately in command, the Kenny winner took a strong one-length lead to the opening bend with slick early dash and extended to four lengths at the top of the backstraight. Still in command to the closing bends, Gunboat Wichita would have his lead reduced in the latter stages but not for catching while seeing the trip out well, the Kenny charge punctuated a smart stake campaign in 29.05 (-30) and will continue his career in A1 next time.

Guilfoyle Derby dream remains alive, just!

Third will do! That’s the mantra ahead of any Derby heat and one that trainer Pat Guilfoyle stood over on Saturday as both his remaining hopefuls in the 2022 Boylesports.Com Irish Greyhound Derby were forced to battle for their survival in exhilarating quarterfinal heats.

First into action, Vincenzo (Droopys Sydney-Alien Nipper) faced a daunting assignment in Heat 2 when flanked by the early paced duo of Cryptopunk to his inner and Derby favourite Coolavanny Hoffa to his immediate outside before breaking on terms from trap 4. It was the latter Michael O’Donovan charge who led to the opening bends but although bumped back to third place approaching the backstraight, all appeared in place for safe qualification before Vincenzo was forced to markedly check his stride at the closing turns. Forced into a desperate scramble for the last remaining qualifying spot, a wonderfully game rally on the approach to the line saw the Moneygall star deny Callaway Masters for third by just a shorthead when five lengths behind Coolavanny Hoffa in the fastest time of the round, 29.24.

The concluding heat also harboured a wealth of early pace and not finding his best break from trap 1, Explosive Boy (Good News-Delightful Girl) was led around the opening bends by the unbeaten Owen McKenna runner Callaway Pro Am and the wide running Bulletfromagun. Third to the top of the backstraight however, the Guilfoyle kennel stalwart had a clear path to qualification or would have had if not for the presence of powerful finisher Crafty Kokoro on his tail. The latter duly advanced past Explosive Boy as the pursuit of the leader got tight at the closing bends and our big local hope was forced to find a rallying effort on the home straight when bravely securing third, four lengths behind Callaway Pro Am in 29.41.

All three qualifiers from that latter heat have been drawn in the opening semi-final this week and a stacked contest, it also includes Coolavanny Hoffa and slick early pacer Born Warrior. However, from trap 2 with the slower starting Crafty Kokoro to his inside, Explosive Boy can command the rails throughout the early stages and is taken to qualify at the very minimum.

From trap 4 in the second semi-final, Vincenzo can be expected to contain Gortkelly Nestor and Droopys Nice One to his outside in the early stages and is selected for victory in a likely buckle with Saturday’s 29.59 winner Ballymac Finn.

Private double is public News

Having both endured bumpy passages in debut defeat, a brace of John Ryan owned litter comrades progressed for experience when claiming the concluding events on the Thursday card at Limerick last weekend as Private Pixie (Good News-Sidarian Pixie) led the way in her impressive A5 525 win for Knockalton trainer John Byrne.

Denied clear racing room for much of her debut appearance, she ensured a more pleasing run when contesting the lead following her level break from trap 5 this time. On the outside of the field, the May 2021 pup struck the front despite a bump with a rival to her inside while tackling the opening turns and drawing clear to the backstraight, dominated the race thereafter. Completing a strong running victory with five-lengths to spare in 29.09, the Byrne trained pup looks a smart recruit indeed.

Having enjoyed a highly successful run with their Private Jet over the past two seasons, the double for connections was completed in the following A8 525 when Private News (Good News-Sidarian Pixie) also stepped up from her debut to record maiden success. Striking the front at the third bend for a five and a half-length victory, she posted 29.74 while leaving much scope for imminent improvement.