Brandywell; Race 4; The Greyhound Trader 525 was won by CALS RANGE in 29.51. With winning owner Michael Calvert.
The feature event on the 7 race programme at Brandywell on Monday was the Greyhound Trader 525. It was sponsored by Nathan Corden and was the first of four of these events scheduled to take place this year.
It was Michael Calvert’s Cals Range (Out Of Range ASB x Coolavanny Dream, Jul ’21) drawn in trap 1 that relished every yard of the Greyhound Trader’s 525 trip. As expected, Starcash Barry was the early leader but both Bogger Molly and Cals Range were hot on his heels approaching the third bend.
Molly ran a strong bend to emerge the leader exiting the fourth bend but Range came with a surge around the outside and her stamina carried her to a 2.25 length victory ahead of Molly in 29.51 with Galliagh Black a fast finishing head away in third place. With the Red Shilling Marathon over 745 yards scheduled for next week in Brandywell, connections of some of these hounds may have that on their radar.
Racing got underway with sprint action and Roy Ball & Trevor Pearson landed a quick fire double in races 1 & 2 with their talented and well-bred novice pups which were both have their first career starts. First up it was Spring Thing (Black Parachute x Velvet Spring, Oct ’22) who was drawn in trap 2.
She was evenly away from traps and held her inside pitch bravely at the first bend. From there she ran a strong bend and galloped on well up the home straight to win by 3.5 lengths, recording a decent 17.10 for the 300 yards. Velvet Spring’s first litter to Deerjet Sydney are excelling on the track and this second litter to Black Parachute are starting off in style too with Daires Sydney also winning on debut a fortnight ago at Brandywell.
The Ball/Pearson combination completed their double with La Calabaza (Ballymac Bolger x Coolavanny Chick, Nov ’22) in the second race. Drawn in trap 4, she emerged from the pack at the first bend, kept an inside course and ran on strongly up the home straight to clock a fast 16.97 with Tinas Woody a creditable 1.5 lengths back in second place.
This was Coolavanny Chick’s first winner from her Ballymac Bolger litter. Given Chick’s success as a brood in her first two litters which include Cree Jo Jo the Limerick sprint track record holder, dreams will no doubt be inspired around what the future might hold for this promising 67 pound La Calabaza who is only 15 months old.
Fastest Time
Darren Fahy’s De Three Divils (Burgess Bucks x Culdaff Blue, Jun ’22) won the third race in 16.91 which the fastest time of the night.
Brandywell; Race 6; Monday Night 500 Yds was won by PULLING MOVES in 28.21. Pictured with (from left) James Light, Geraldine McCabe & winning owner Thomas Light.
Drawn in trap 5, she was well away from boxes and won the battle for early pace to the first bend where she forged into a clear lead. Despite taking a wide course entering the home straight, she won by a decisive 3 lengths and now has a pleasing strike rate of 2 wins from 6 starts.
Leading lady at Brandywell of 2023, Finnside Gem (Droopys Biker x Googlesprog, Jul ‘21), was back on the podium for the first time in 2024 with a tremendous 27.77 trap to line victory in race 5 over the 500 yard trip. Joseph White’s Gem showed a glimpse of returning to form in her last race and certainly delivered on that promise on Monday with her 5.5 length win over the consistent Shelone Glory who has been filling the second and third placed positions in 6 out of her last 7 starts.
It was 12th time lucky for Thomas Light’s well-bred Pulling Moves (Pestana x Bobbers Meabh, Sep ’21) who got her first career success in race 6 over the 500 yard trip. Drawn in trap 5, this great granddaughter of Killdallon Maid had enough pace to be on the shoulders of the leaders at the first bend.
Brandywell; Thomas Brennan (centre) was presented with the Lenny McKinney, Greyhound Transporter Trophy by Kate Anderson after Townsend Swift was voted our favourite performer at the 19th Feb 2024 race meeting. With Barry Holland on right of photo.
She kept a middle course and surged into the lead exiting the second bend. From there she galloped on well to win by 4.25 lengths in 28.21. This was her first race at the Brandywell circuit and the course has played to her strengths.
My Revolut (Ballymac Bolger x Yahoo Perlena, Mar ’21) made it back to back victories over course and distance when he won the last sprint of the evening for Shea Cassidy. Drawn in trap 1, he bravely held his inside pitch at the first bend and made all to win by 1.75 lengths in a smart 16.92. This was his seventh career success and there may be plenty more to come from him.
Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium
The highlight on Friday night’s card at Lifford Greyhound Stadium was the semi finals of the Trackside Restaurant A3/A4 525 and both were landed in unexpected fashion by Maggies Aim and Unreliable. In the opening semi, Harrowgatetownbaz went off at the 2/1 favourite after an eye-catching performance in defeat, however, he was forced to settle for bridesmaid position yet again at the expense of the evergreen Unreliable (4/1).
Owned and trained by Derry native, Willie Mullan, the son of Over Limit broke smartly from two was outpaced early on as Do It Jella dictated proceedings. However, Unreliable is very strong late on and despite being cut adrift at the halfway mark, he produced his trademark finish to see of Harrowgatetownbaz by half a length. The time was 29.31.
The second semi final was landed in just as surprising fashion by Maggies Aim, who finished like a train to land the spoils. Wilms Blake and Ardnasool Arc were expected to battle this one out, however, despite being bang in contention throughout, they were unable to withstand the superior stamina of Martin Corr’s 6/1 chance.
Lifford; Race 9 - The TRACKSIDE RESTAURANT S1 325 (Grade : S1) Flat 325 was won by BILLY BOB JOE in a super time of 17.45. From left we have owner Charles Mooney & Millie Grant. Shane Mc Colgan is centre of photo.
A daughter of up and coming sire, Black Parachute, the March 22’ whelp stormed past Wilms Blake in the closing yards to seal a three parts of a length win, in 29.42.
Elsewhere on Friday’s card, there was no doubting the performance of the night as Glengar Whelan took off. Owned by Danny Kerr and under the stewardship of Michael Taggart, this choicely bred son of Burgess Bucks and Dolls Lady, who is a half-brother to the likes of Ballinabola Ed and Una, was surprisingly without a win thus far in his career, however, the 6/4 shot laid that particular statistic to rest in emphatic style.
Breaking well from five, ‘Whelan’ quickly asserted early doors before drawing clear of a talented field to win at his leisure. Over eight lengths clear crossing the line, the time was a brilliant 28.93.
Sunday night saw the semi finals of the NWGOBA ON2/ON3 325 take centre stage and the final promises to be a thriller based on the outcome of two top-class semis.
In the opener, the Charles Coyle-owned Droopys Cynthia was expected to build on her opening round win and as such, she was installed as the even money favourite to do so. Racing from three, the daughter of Droopys Fia pinged out from three and in truth, it was all over bar the shouting thereafter.
Brandywell; Race 5; Monday Night 500 Yds was won by FINNSIDE GEM in 27.77. Pictured with Joseph & Lorna White.
Running a terrific bend, the August puppy cemented her outright favouritism in coming home five and three parts of a length clear of Ardnasool Rebel in second. The time was a rapid 17.53.
That said, Bolgers Circle ensured that Droopys Cynthia won’t have everything her own way in the feature as he also produced a performance of real quality.
3/1 at the off, David and Jake McKenna’s April whelp obviously took plenty from his debut start as he stepped up emphatically to go some sixty spot faster. Donning the white jacket, ‘Bolgers’ broke smartly to record a 4.29 sectional and in doing so, put himself right in the driving seat.
Lifford; Race 5 - The N.W.G.O.B.A ON2/ON3 325 Semi-Final (Grade : ON2) Flat 325 was won by DROOPYS CYNTHIA in 17.53. With Charles Coyle & his son Shane in front of photo with the dog, Kieran Coyle at back left & Pauric O’Neill at the back right.
Snooty Rolo ran a fine race in behind as he chased the leader hard, however, McKenna’s charge crossed the line to record a facile three and three parts of a length victory, in 17.54.
On a card littered in sprint contests, the performance of the meeting was that of the Charles Mooney-owned Billy Bob Joe. Looking well handicapped on paper, the son of King Sheeran was installed as the 7/4 favourite in trap six and he was to bounce back from a shock defeat last time out to win comfortably.
Chasing a sixth win from his last seven starts, the Stephen Radcliffe-trained black was electric at boxes in posting a 4.25 early sectional. From here, it was all one-way traffic as he accounted for a three and a half length defeat of Dusty Dan in second. The time was a slick 17.45, a career best effort from this tracker.
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