TRAPRISE - Cody a very Good Laurels champion for Guilfoyle
A prolific partnership which has combined for success at the highest of level of greyhound racing, which includes Irish Derby victory with Good News in 2017, the Kennedy family of Gortnahoe and trainer Pat Guilfoyle tasted further classic success on Saturday when the brilliant Good Cody galloped to Irish Laurels victory at Curraheen Park in Cork.
Already a National Sprint champion in 2021, his campaign this season was targeted at the major events of the sport but took a big knock in the second-round heats of the Irish Derby when his highly realistic chances were scuppered by a fall having returned a scorching performance in the opening round.
Versatile from sprint trips up to 550-yards however, the prestigious 525-yard classic was always going to be a late season target for Good Cody and having produced a brace of heat wins in addition to brave qualifying efforts from precarious positions within his Laurels tilt, the champion elect produced a timely and brilliant final performance under yet another masterfully crafted campaign by his prolific trainer, who completes the full set of original Irish classic titles with this success.
Well housed in trap 2 while always likely to outpace Ballymac Whispa to his inside, Good Cody did just that despite only moderately to stride. Crucially retaining command of the rails on the approach to the opening bend, the Guilfoyle star used his pitch to perfect effect when tracking the scorching early pace of Serene Ace around the turns and sneaking his way to second place, had only a length and a half to recover on the run to halfway. Drawing to within a length at the third bend, Good Cody (Definate Opinion-Soho Ark) would have Swords Rex on his tail while attempting his passing move on the outside of the leader off the final turn. However, in a steely display of determination while forced wider than optimum in the home straight, Good Cody struck the front close home and repelling the late effort of strong stayer Ballymac Whispa by three parts of a length in 28.20 (+20), claimed the Irish Laurels title that his wonderful career has so richly deserved.
Kind times for Kennedy at Thurles
Striking form over the past fortnight at Thurles Greyhound Stadium, the kennels of Pat & Brian Kennedy produced their Kind Cian (Slippy Cian-Ballinakil Clare) in sharp form for his first public appearance when a very impressive winner of the ON2 525 contest on Saturday.
Choicely bred, the February 2021 whelp found an adept break from a tricky trap 3 draw before coursing the hare with a gradual drift towards the outside throughout the initial exchanges. Matching an early paced rival to his inside however, the Kennedy pup challenged for the lead while tackling the turns and eased his way to the front off the second bend before extending to a two-length halfway lead. Never under serious pressure thereafter, Kind Cian completed victory in strong running fashion and leaving a highly pleasing impression on debut, posted a smart 29.52 (-20). That winning time will afford him the opportunity to compete in A5 grade next time and with progress likely, he will prove extremely tough to contain at that level on the evidence of Saturday’s performance.
A busy night for the kennels, Kind Soul (Dorotas Woo Hoo-Nametab Gigi) would later contest the second-round heats of the Dinny Mackey Memorial Cup A5 525-Yard Stake and having shed her maiden tag with victory in the opening round, the Kennedy charge safely advanced to the semi-finals with a most game second placing.
Made to wait for her first race success, the August 2020 whelp had greatly impressed a week earlier when leading throughout a facile nine length score in a smart 29.46 (-20). However, and despite breaking on level terms again this week, she was unable to fully round a rival to her inside from trap 2 in the early exchanges and would be forced to absorb a hefty bump upon reaching the opening bend. Battling her way through traffic in game fashion, Kind Soul performed with huge credit to emerge in second on the run to halfway but with a strong staying Paul Hennessy trained Hello Jacko clear out front at that point, Kind Soul settled for a gallant second while eight and a half lengths adrift in a fast 28.96 (-20).
That same rival will be a warm favourite for outright honours on the back of that performance but progressive of late, Kind Soul can advance from this week’s semi-finals at the very minimum!
Ready for Limerick hat-trick
Having returned from a three-month layoff to claim her third race victory in a new career best time at Limerick in mid-October, Aoife Loughnane’s Ready For Aoife (Kinloch Brae-Mt Heaton Daisy) faced a much stiffer task when upgraded for last Thursday’s A2 525 contest in the Treaty county but in the form of her career, went back-to-back in typical early paced fashion.
The hugely likeable May 2020 whelp broke just off the pace from trap 4 but bravely advancing past a leading rival to her inside, the Roscrea charge forced her way to the front before tackling the opening bend and had eased to a two-length lead at halfway. Challenged to her inside while negotiating the closing bends, the Loughnane winner displayed admirable resolve on the run to the home straight and fending off all rivals, retained a one length advantage to the line. Posting 28.95 (+20), Ready For Aoife will remain in the same grade for her next outing and in her current form, can be fancied for a bold bid in the hat-trick attempt.
Likely to steal headlines here next week, the Vincent McKenna assault on the 2022 Liam Brussels Memorial A4 525 Stake at Galway continued at pace last Saturday with Lisk Falcon remaining unbeaten when again fastest at the semi-final stage in 28.84 (-10) while So Its Rapid safely advanced in his neck second in the opposing 28.98 (-10) heat. With obvious hopes for final success, the final is strongly expected to be heading to Borrisokane this Saturday.