TRAPRISE - Devil makes winning debut in Kasko at Thurles
A major highlight of every season at Thurles Greyhound Stadium, the 2023 Kasko Dog Foods ON2 525 Yard Stake commenced on Saturday, and making a wonderful start to the event was the Roscrea kennels of Tommy Fletcher when guiding a brace of litter comrades to semi stage as De Foxy Devil (Broadstrand Bono-Kilgowan Honey) led the way with victory in Heat 2 of the prestigious annual.
Breaking on terms from trap 3, the March 2022 whelp crucially outpaced Bogger Rocky for command of the rails when approaching the corner on the inside of Borna Captain. Turning with a length in hand, the Fletcher pup continued to contain that latter rival along the backstraight and pleasingly seeing out the trip stoutly, completed his dominant debut passage with a commanding four lengths to spare in 29.13 (-20), a winning time that was surpassed just once in the 24-runner event.
Connections will be in no doubt as to what is required to prevail in the 2023 Kasko as Jason Fletcher’s litter comrade Two Slip Jigs (Broadstrand Bono-Kilgowan Honey) was the one chasing home the event’s fastest winner in Heat Three.
It was the David Bourke trained Vis A Vis who dominated the race when displaying sharp early pace and though the Fletcher runner-up was well held while nine lengths adrift of that rival in a classy 28.94 (-20), it is reasonable to expect that Two Slip Jigs can improve greatly if swifter to stride and managing to avoid the crowding at the opening bends which he endured on Saturday. The fact that he had defeated his full brother in qualifying trials also hints at his future improvement and both Fletcher runners will be big players come this Saturday’s semi-finals.
HARRY HEADS MONTORE BRACE
Staying with the Saturday card in the Premier, a kennel which has remained in fine form throughout the 2023 season landed the Thurles 75th Anniversary Gala Night A4 525 as James Treacy’s Montore Harry (Farloe Blitz-Montore Sally) secured his sixth race win from fifteen career starts while also completing an impressive double on the night.
A winner under the same conditions when claiming sweepstake final victory at Thurles last month, the May 2021 whelp again displayed all of his smart early dash having begun well from trap 6 before rounding rivals for a lead off the second bend. In command to halfway, Montore Harry would come under some late pressure in the home straight but full value for victory, posted 29.54 (-20) in a half-length verdict. That winning time means the Treacy charge avoids an upgrade, and he can clearly be fancied to further enhance his smart strike-rate next time.
Sparking the kennel brace in the earlier A5 525 was older half-brother Montore Phill (Ardnasool Jet-Montore Sally) as he too led throughout when taking his career total to ten victories. Also possessing the smart early paced family traits, the May 2020 whelp dictated throughout the initial exchanges when commanding the rails position from trap 1 and though hard pressed in the home straight having led from trap rise, retained a half length advantage at the line in 29.87 (-20), and will also remain in the same grade for his next outing.
Groucho leaves more marks on Shelbourne
With each passing heat in the 2023 TIME Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby, the classic task becomes more treacherous for a cast of prodigious young racing talents but avoiding the chop once again last weekend, the Paddy Last Syndicate’s Grouchos Duke (Grangeview Ten-Mystical Luna) bounced back to winning ways in most game fashion, securing his place in the semi-finals of the sizzling puppy contest.
An opening round winner in 28.19, the John Byrne trained December 2021 whelp was forced to settle for a qualifying third last time and faced another daunting assignment when drawn wider than optimum in trap 5 for the second quarter final at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
However, breaking adeptly before outpacing rivals to his immediate inside, he would contest the lead on the approach to the opening bend with his Paddy Cocoman owned litter sister Short Grip. The comrades would exchange a bump while tackling the turns but admirably holding strong while crucially maintaining forward momentum, Grouchos Duke struck the front on the run to the backstraight. He would subsequently find his sister rallying beyond halfway but containing her effort by half a length at the line, posted 28.35 in a fourth win from his seven races outings.
Amongst the most exciting young talents in the sport, Duke will contest the second semi-final this Saturday from trap 3 and will again face his rails drawn sister who clearly poses a big threat once again, as does Saturday’s 28.13 winner Droopys Flytline but granted a smart break, Grouchos Duke can secure qualification from the heat, at the very minimum.
There was further success for the Knockalton kennels of John Byrne on Saturday with a very special victory in the Go Greyhound Racing ON2 525 when the first pup to race out of the John Meelam owned kennel star Meduza secured victory at the first time of asking!
Contesting from trap 2 for Stephanie Ryan, Knockalton Mooza (Premier Fantasy-Meduza) presented in sharp form when breaking very smartly from trap 2 and in command to the opening bend with slick early dash, led throughout a half length winning verdict while posting a smart debut time of 29.07. An April 2022 pup, Mooza looks a forward recruit and choicely bred, she will continue her early career in A2 grade next time and may prove tough to contain in her bid to repeat.
On another busy weekend with a host of smart performances from local kennels at various venues around the country, next Saturday evening at Galway will see Abigail Morrissey’s Abigails Hope (Premier Fantasy-Geelo Lulu) contest the final of the Talking Dogs A2 Tri Distance Stake after she backed up opening round success with a highly pleasing runner-up performance at semi stage. Second throughout when three and three-quarter lengths adrift of the winner in a fast 30.09 (-10) for the 550-yards, Hope will relish the final distance of 575-yards and retains highly viable claims for victory.