TRAPRISE - Hogan veteran still having the Crakl beyond Five
One of the most remarkable veteran racers to ever grace the local greyhound scene, Paul Hogan’s Five Alley Crakl (Skywalker Puma-Maldini Pops) maintains a hugely admirable level of form into his sixth year and confirming his current rude health, registered back-to-back victories at Galway when a thrilling winner of his A2 525-yard contest on Saturday.
A winner under the same conditions in 29.12 (-20) a week earlier, the September 2016 whelp was again headed in the early stages despite a level break from trap 2 but a thorough stayer over the standard distance, the Hogan veteran held every chance when negotiating his way to the third place on the inside despite a five-length deficit to the pacesetter on the approach to halfway. Predictably reducing his arrears to the closing bends, Five Alley Crakl loomed large as an ominous presence off the final bend and readily ranging up on the outside of the long-time leader in the shadow of the post, duly forged clear to a one length winning margin in the dying strides of a stunning win.
Posting 29.05 (-20), Five Alley Crakl will rise to A1 for his next outing which is admirably close to his career high of A0.
A masterclass of lifetime care within a laudable training campaign by the Hogan kennels, Crakl will fear none in his hattrick bid next time!
Boy best in Select Stakes
Having made his seasonal return to racing action with a pleasing second following a tardy break over 575-yards at Tralee last week, the Pat Guilfoyle trained Explosive Boy (Good News-Delightful Girl) registered his first victory of the new season when the fastest heat winner in the opening round of the 525-yard Select Stakes at Waterford on Friday.
With that pipe-opener blowing off any cobwebs for the 2021 Dog of the Year, the Peter Sutcliffe owned superstar got his season fully on track when claiming the concluding heat of the prestigious invitational event. Breaking well from trap 2, the Produce Stakes champion established a one-length lead on the run to the opening bend and extended his advantage when negotiating the bends at pace. In command on the run to halfway, Explosive Boy held the strong running Lisnakill Vernon at bay with three and a half lengths to spare while posting a fast 28.34 (+10).
The remaining heats were claimed by recent Gold Cup winner Skywalker Barry in 28.54 (+10), and Gold Cup runner-up Serene Ace in 28.76 (+10). So, although top of the Select tree at present, victory will be hard earned, especially as Explosive Boy has been drawn in a tricky trap 6 for this week’s second semi. However, the Guilfoyle star has coped with similar draws in the past and expected to continue improving in his carefully crafted return, can score at the likely expense of Serene Ace.
Joe doubles up in Montore brace
In fine form of late, the Montore kennels of James Treacy claimed a double for the week at separate venues and leading the way when going back-to-back at Limerick on Thursday was wonderful veteran Montore Joe (Laughil Blake-You See Bolt).
Easing to a highly plausible A5 level for his victory on the previous week, the December 2017 whelp took the opportunity to record his eleventh career success when posting 29.98 (-20) and without penalty on the grading table, made it an even dozen under the same conditions on Thursday.
Always possessing slick early dash, a smart break from trap 3 saw the Treacy stalwart forge a tight one length lead to the opening bend but as sprightly as ever when galloping the bends at pace, Montore Joe extended his advantage on the run to the backstraight. Nearly two lengths to the good at halfway, that lead stretched to five at the line and posting 29.71, he again avoids an upgrade with prospects of a hat-trick highly likely next time.
At the opposite end of his racing career, the kennel double arrived on Saturday at Thurles through the maiden victory of Montore Brian (Ardnasool Jet-Montore Sally) who claimed his first race win at the third time of asking.
A May 2020 whelp, the Treacy pup had been held in both previous outings at Limerick but clearly appreciating the switch to Thurles, he found smart improvement despite headed in the early stages of his A7 525 contest.
Breaking well from trap 2, Montore Brian ceded a narrow advantage to an early paced rival at the opening bend but remaining in touch to the backstraight, impressed when displaying much the best pace on the run to the closing bends.
Overhauling the leader for a two-length advantage while turning, Montore Brian stretched clear to a commanding six and a half length verdict in 29.76 (-20) and looks capable of further imminent improvement on the evidence of this eye-catching performance.
Another local runner seeking a hat-trick in their next outing will the Mary Ellens Gang Syndicate’s Dolla Ranger (Candlelight King-Cnoc Rosie) after the Ballinaclough favourite repeated his latest A2 525 win while commencing the action on the Dock Road last week.
The thoroughly likeable Pat Steed trained early pacer again broke well from trap 3 this time and seizing command of the inside rail, led throughout a one length victory in 29.17. The seventh win of his career, number eight is a distinct possibility next time having again avoided a rise in grade!
Easter champ Susie is the G.O.A.T
A one-week postponement for the final of the 2022 Bresbet Easter Cup meant that the greatest greyhound of the modern era, and almost certainly any other era, Susie Sapphire (Droopys Jet-Jetstream Lynx) went to traps for Saturday’s final bearing the 2021 Supreme Greyhound of the Year title but even the heavy expectation and burden of that exalted accolade could not prevent racing’s most prolific winner from inflicting yet further Shelbourne Park defeat on the elite exponents of the sport.
Visibly improving throughout the competition, a fastest semi-final victory made the Owen McKenna trained superstar a red-hot favourite against a stellar set of final rivals and following an electric break from trap 1, the race was as good as settled when super Susie reached the opening bend with near three lengths in hand. A gallant Romeo Magico impressively made eye-catching ground on the leader to the third bend but checked while turning, he in turn impeded Priceless Jet, fatefully ending the race as a contest and Susie Sapphire subsequently led home Beach Avenue with four and a half lengths to spare in a brilliant 29.48 for the 550-yards.
Some of her rivals may lament that third bend bumping but in truth, Susie was likely not for passing in any case and being the reigning Puppy Oaks, Oaks, Derby and Easter Cup champion, Peter Comerford’s Susie Sapphire is not only greyhound racing’s greatest of all time, but surely Ireland’s leading sports star, bar none!