Derry Greyhounds: Sniper Roro on target in Sprint Shoot Out at Brandywell

The remaining first round heats of the competitions that culminate in Finals on Track Lotto Gala Night, were decided at Brandywell on Monday. Additionally there was a 3 dog Sprint Shoot Out event with £100 and a trophy going to the winner.

Maisies Susie (Ballymac Cashout x Wee Maisie, Oct ’21) is approaching the veteran phase of her career but she showed she still has plenty of enthusiasm for racing given the manner of her victory in Race 1 which was Heat 3 of the Managers Select Sprint. Evenly away from trap 2, Susie’s early pace took her to the first bend in front and from there she ran on well to win by 5 lengths in 16.99 for James Lafferty. This was her fourth career success.

Fresh from his win in Lifford on Sunday evening, Thomas Brennan’s Country Curly (Magical Bale x Mystic Ann Marie, Aug ’22) made it three wins in a row when landing Race 2 which was Heat 3 of the Bookmakers 500. Fast away from trap 6, he made every yard of the running and crossed the line 3.5 lengths ahead of his nearest rival in 28.37. This was a fifth career success for Curly.

Track specialist Inniskeen Mandy (Superior Panama x Slaneyside Kerri, Sep ’21) put up her usual gutsy performance to win the 2nd Semi-Final of the Billy & Sheila Quigley Memorial 525. Mandy was racing from trap 1 and tucked in behind the early leader Eager Colm. She entered the back straight with a couple of lengths to find on Colm and was upsides him at the third bend. Turning for home Mandy’s stamina kicked in and she ran on well to win by 2.75 lengths in 29.59.

The John O’Brien owned and Michael Taggart trained Belindas Laila (Ballymac Best x Drive On Robyn, Nov ’22) was impressive when winning Race 4, Heat 2 of the Bill McKinney Memorial 500. Evenly away from trap 2, Laila had the superior early pace which took her into the lead at the first turn. She showed good pace throughout and won by 1.75 lengths in 28.01. This was a fifth career success for Laila.

Brandywell on Monday; Cealach & her little sister Elea Ming with the Golan Kennels trophy sponsored by Leslie Hunter. The trophy was won by Patrick Doyle’s (owner) Brandywell Pride who was voted favourite performer at last week’s meeting. Barry Holland (left) is representing the trophy sponsor.

Heat 3 of the Bill McKinney Memorial 500 was Race 5 on the programme and the Pearce O’Neill owned and Kieran Morgan trained Gabriels Dream (Broadstrand Bono x Ardevan Jewel, Dec ’22) made the most of his trap 1 draw to lead at the first turn and run out a 5.5 length winner in a fast time of 27.88. Dream had won his semi-final heat of the Brandywell Gold Cup and was the runner up in the Final in May. He followed up with a sprint win in Drumbo in June and has now won 3 from his last 4 races.

Race 6 was quite the spectacle as 3 talented sprinters lined up for the Sprint Shoot Out. Generous Cashout was fastest away from traps but Kevin O’Kane’s Sniper Roro (Broadstrand Bono x Sniper Ria, Aug ’22), racing from trap 2, showed great early pace to reach the first turn on the outside of Cashout. Roro ran strong bends to lead and crossed the line 1.75 lengths clear of his rival in a fast time of 16.70.

Meet More Often (Magical Bale x Maid Me Country, Aug ’22) made it two wins in a row for Eamonn Curran in Race 7, heat 2 of the Benny Barrett Memorial Sprint. She was well away from trap 1 but had to relinquish the early lead to Tri Bella. Meet More Often was hot on her heals and when Tri Bella moved wide off the second bend, More Often took the opportunity to regain the lead and ran on well to win by 1.5 lengths in 16.88. This was a ninth career success for Meet More Often.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 4, Bill McKinney Memorial 500. Rd 1, Ht 2 was won by BELINDAS LAILA in 28.01. Pictured with Emma Anderson.

The finale was heat 3 of the Benny Barrett Memorials Sprint and Harry McClelland’s Roseville Bob (Ballymac Wild x Roseville Dawn, Jul ’22) made no mistakes to win in 16.94. Fast away from trap 2, Bob made every yard of the running. Glenbowen Joey was 2.75 lengths away in second. This was a fifth career success for Bob.

The feature event at Lifford Stadium over the weekend was the final of the June Novice 325 and this resulted in a one-two for Eddie Hurson’s very promising litter sisters, Saoirses Girl and Saorlaith. Coming into the event the latter had posted a scorching 17.56 so it was no surprise to see her head to traps as the 4/5 favourite to prevail. However, she was only moderately into stride as Glenbervie Dylan once again pinged out to lead comfortably from trap four.

In doing so, the 4/1 chance led around the opening bend, however, a slight coming together with the advancing Saorlaith, before going on to be the meat in the sandwich on the run for home, quickly put an end to his unbeaten streak.

In contrast, the likes of Moyola Eitlean, Saoirses Girl and Saorlaith were all rattling home but it was Saoirses Girl (4/1) that just held her litter sister by a neck. A thrilling encounter, which was arguably one of the hottest unraced stakes in some time at Lifford, the time was a smart 17.74. There is no doubt we will be hearing more from several of the finalists, however, Saorlaith in particular looks a little special.

Over the standard trip on Saturday, Cloneden Flash (6/4) was stepping well down in grade in the concluding contest and he made no mistake for Enda Currie and Paul O’Donnell. A former AAO performer, the son of Makeshift is all about early speed and he rocketed from four to post a slick 2.61 sectional. In truth, his rivals never got close to the veteran performer as he proved a class above to run out a five and a half length winner in 28.93.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 6, The Sprint Shoot Out was won by SNIPER RORO in 16.70. Pictured with Kealan O’Kane.

On Sunday’s SIS card, there was a nice double for the kennel of Willie Mullan as both Blackstone Story and Cappaneale Bono won their respective contests. The most impressive of the pair was ‘Bono’ as he produced an outstanding performance to win at odds of 7/2. Slowly away from six, he showed a blistering turn of early speed to sweep around his rivals and in doing so, excelled into a five length lead down the back. The gap got wider as the race progressed as Cappaneale Bono crossed the line over eight lengths clear of Monogore Bill in second. The time was a fast 29.15.

In the race prior, Blackstone Story also caught the eye as he took charge at the halfway mark to recover brilliantly from a tardy start. Drawn in red, the son of Skywalker Canny (5/2) was searching for a second career win and after taking over at the midway point, he held off the customary flying finish of Stellas Secret in second. The time was 29.62.