|
|
 |
You are > Home > Headley’s Jake storms to hospital sweep win
|
Friday, July 09, 2010
Headley’s Jake storms to hospital sweep win
By Murt Murphy
IT was another bumper night at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, Tralee, on Friday night when the Kerry General Hospital benefit meeting drew huge crowds and they were treated to a great night’s entertainment.
Not only were there 10 sponsored quality races but there was a donkey derby, a terrier race, a best dressed lady award, as well as singers, dancers and a comedian.
There was also an auction of two greyhound pups who were donated by Larry Keane from Rathanny. The dog made €1,600 while the bitch made €600.
With the guaranteed reserve of €1,500 is added on, then that made it €3,700, which was divided between the Kerry Hospice in Tralee and Marymount Hospice in Cork.
The big race of the night was the Kerry Group Hospital sweepstake final which was worth €3000 to the winner.
Kingdom Derby winner Ballymac Bull just shaded favouritism from Headley’s Jake, principally because the Bull looked ideally drawn in trap one while Jake was in four.
However, unfortunately for connections Ballymac Bull missed his break and ran no sort of a race to finish last.
It was Tipperary raider Gortkelly Sky who got away quickest of all and he was in front at the opening bend, with last year’s winner Clohur Blue also getting off to a flyer on the wide outside. But he raced very wide was finding it difficult to go past the leader as they raced down the back.
However, Headley’s Jake who did not enjoy a clear passage at the second bend suddenly began to make rapid progress along rails as they round the second last bend.
It was still Gortkelly Sky from Clohur Blue as they headed for home but Headley’s Jake made his winning move on the run in. To a huge roar, he hit the front half way down the finishing straight, before staying on strongly to win by a comfortably two lengths from Gortkelly Sky in a quick 28.71.
The winner, who is owned by Nick Cotter from Headley’s Bridge was trained by Edward O’Sullivan, did well to win from trap four as he is more a railer.
He also proved that his semi-final win in 28.51 was no fluke and clearly he is above the ordinary.
Favourite backers enjoyed a good night and it was the even-money favourite Shiraz Surprise who was quickly away from trap five in the Nolan’s Garage Hospital sweep final.
She led all the way to hold off the persistent challenge of Petite Ninucci, winning by two and half lengths in 29.00 for her Middlesbrough owner, R A Vickers, and trainer Chris Houlihan from Ballyduff.
Ballyfidora One had to overcome being badly baulked at the opening bend to take the Costello Construction sweep final over 570 yards when he came from behind leader Anotherfinemess, who threatened to spoil the party.
The even-money favourite Ballyfidora One struck the front at the top of the home straight, before racing clear to win by an impressive four and half lengths in 31.15, for Joseph and Noel O’Sullivan from Tralee.
Mileheight Crash was another favourite to oblige when he was quickly into his stride in the Patsy Byrne Hospital sweepstake over 550 yards.
There was never any doubt as he routed his opponents with a bold front running show. He had six and a half lengths to spare on the line, winning in 30.08 for Michael Costelloe and the O’Donnell twins, Frank and Jim from Tralee.
Coolavanny Tim made a miserable finish to for the layers when he was a rather fortunate winner of the Feale’s Bridge Co-Op Hospital sweep final after three greyhounds, Send It Haunted, Oak Free and Southern Spain, were knocked over when Hydro Rocket drifted wide from trap one at the opening bend.
This caused carnage at the opening bend, and Coolavanny Tim did well to stay on his feet, but he was left in front and went on to take the race with ease, winning by six lengths from Hydro Rocket in 29.82 for Noel Browne from Castleisland.
Hudson Bay was all the rage to take the Tony and Eileen McElligott Hospital Sweepstake final but he was well beaten by the fast breaking General Dogsbody who led all the way. He stayed on strongly to win for the Kerry General Hospital Social Club, by four lengths in 29.04, with the winning cheque of €1,000 going to the hospital fund.
Main News Page |
Previous Page
|
|
|
|
