TRAPRISE - Super Sally sparks Premier Singalong
Providing exhilarating action over the past three weekends at Thurles Greyhound Stadium, the 2022 Sean Byrne Painting & Decorating Champion Bitch Stake has been amongst the warmest events ever staged at the Premier venue and completing her campaign without defeat, Gilbert Anderson’s racing sensation Singalong Sally (Tullymurry Act-Droopys Smasher) again scorched the Thurles sand on her way to a brilliant final victory on Saturday.
From the outset, last season’s Derby runner-up set the standard with a sensational 28.35 (-30) over the 525-yard trip on opening night and remaining in sharp form, the Pat Buckley superstar was at her very best again this week when ensuring a virtual solo passage for a third week in succession.
Well drawn in trap 1, the confirmed rails runner showed just in front at trap rise and edging gradually clear of Kilara Odessa, took a tight one-length lead to the opening bend. Having impressed with her ability to gallop the bends at pace in each round, Sally once again settled the race when bounding clear on the run to the backstraight and held her three and a half-length winning margin over Kilara Odessa when straightening for halfway. A near carbon copy of her heat wins, her gallop to victory was visually stunning with an imperious air and striking the line with three and a half lengths in hand of Kilara Odessa, with three more back to Farranrory Megan, the Champion Bitch Stake found a truly exceptional winner as Singalong Sally posted a brilliant 28.43 (-30).
No Change in novice Double
There was plenty for local kennels to celebrate on the night also and featuring on the undercard to the main event on Saturday, the Thurles Track Supporters Club ON3 525 Stake Final housed a cast of promising pups but confirming the form of his fastest debut score a week earlier, the Ducking And Diving Syndicate’s Double Change (Droopys Sydney-Kilgowan Pippa) again led throughout.
Presenting in sharp form for that semi-final win, the August 2020 whelp was very quick to stride but went even faster to the sectional clock this time when registering a brilliant 1.60!
Extending to two lengths at the opening bend, the Tommy Fletcher pup eased further clear to the backstraight with the verdict all but settled at halfway. Never under serious threat thereafter despite a gallant chase by runner-up Killenaulespirit, Double Change saw out the trip well for one with such early gears and posting 29.43 (-30), held two and a half lengths in hand at the line.
With precious early pace his forte, the Roscrea pup is an exciting prospect to follow closely over coming months.
That final victory followed a most eye-catching start to the evening’s action when, progressing for the experienced gained when third on debut, Brendan Kenny’s Avas Group (Droopys Sydney-Group Supergem) thoroughly impressed while shedding her maiden tag in the opening A6 525.
A July 2020 whelp, the Borrisoleigh pup tracked the early pacesetters to the opening bend but with command of the rails from trap 1, bravely forced her way to the lead on the inside while turning. Edging clear into the backstraight, the Kenny charge impressed greatly with a smooth galloping gait at the halfway mark and had reached her four-length winning margin before the closing bends. Never seriously threatened thereafter, Avas Group posted a very smart 29.20 (-30) with the impression that there may be significant improvement to come from an exciting youngster.
Concluding a hugely entertaining night of competitive action at Thurles, young Abigail Morrissey’s Abigails Power (Belles Direction-Geelo Lu Lu) bounced back to winning ways in his A3 525 contest as the August 2019 whelp secured a dominant sixth career victory.
Last successful in A2 back in November, the Morrissey charge had caught the eye last time when bumped while racing above his grading and taking full advantage of this ease to A3 level, impressed following his very even break from trap 2.
Crucially commanding the inside while in a wave of tightly packed runners to the opening bend, he matched an early paced rival to his outside around the turns before fully asserting when straightening along the backstraight. Settling the race while bounding clear to the closing bends, Abigails Power held a cosy five and a half-length winning margin at the line while posting a smart 29.28 (-30) and should not be overly inconvenienced by a rise to A1 for his next outing.
There was host of smart efforts from local kennels over last weekend with much to catch up on over coming weeks but having reported on an overdue fourth career victory for Peadar O’Dwyer’s Banter Blitz (laughil Blake-Southwind Penny) at Galway in last week’s issue, it was strongly suggested that the Ardcroney charge remained very well graded at A4 level and confirming the suspicion, the June 2019 whelp duly doubled up when returning to the winner’s enclosure in the west on Friday.
Back to his best breaking form at present, Banter Blitz appeared too hot for the grade despite posting just 29.86 (-20) last time and offered a highly plausible opportunity at the same level on Friday, set up a hat-trick bid in a performance that saw him draw closer to his very best form.
Again, swift to stride from trap 3, the O’Dwyer stalwart took command on the run to the opening bend and never likely to surrender his chance when remaining clear to halfway, Banter Blitz ran out a winner with one and a half lengths to spare in 29.34 (-20) and should have no fears of a rise to A3.