Gone to the dogs: Only three Offaly winners

After the weeks racing, the Irish St. Leger is down to the final six dogs all vying to get their names on the trophy second only in stature to the Derby. It should be a super final on Saturday with all six in with a chance to win. Some great racing around the provincial tracks too with plenty of prize money being dished out.We had to wait till Friday for the first Offaly winner of the week but then the quality shone through.

Early Week Racing

Two finals of note on Thursday. In Enniscorthy, in the final of the A2 November Members stake, Swift Halo (Droopys Sydney - Swift Raven) won by six lengths in 28.80 (20 slow) at 2/1 with the cheque for €1.5k going to local trainer Cora Doyle.

In Shelbourne Park, in the final of the Retired Greyhound Trust A5 stake, Droopys Morag (Droopys Buick - Droopys Saab) was also a six length winner in 28.79 at 4/5 fav with first prize pot of €1.5k going to Murt Leahy.

Friday Racing

In Newbridge, in the final it the N.T.S.C. A2 stake, the classicly bred  Capitan Garfio (Droopys Sydney - Ballymac Petsy) was an easy four length winner of the €1.4K purse for Kenneth Busteed at a very short 4/7 fav. This was this young dogs eight win from eleven starts and certainly looks to be going in the right direction.

Shelbourne hosted the first round of the Dublin cup and two valuable finals also. In the conclusion of an A2 sweepstake, worth €2.25k to the winner, Verratti (Droopys Jet - Droopys Megan) owned by Edenderry’s Keith Duffy came out on top in the fastest run of the night in 28.29 by four lengths at 4/1 for Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson. Top class performance.

In the final of the RCETS dual distance stake with the final over 575 yards after the semis over 550 yards, Mustang Thiago (Ballymac Eske - Mustang Markle) won the €1.75k first prize for Dolores Ruth in 31.34 by six lengths at 4/6 fav.

In the first round of the Dublin Cup A1 stake, sixty dogs went to traps in ten heats. This annual competitive stake was won last year by Ballymore Border for Owen McKenna. There was a double on the night for John Byrne with Outdoor Eagle winning in 28.69 and Courty Girl in 28.65. Fastest of the ten heats was He's The Greatest for Brendan Mathews in 28.34 by three lengths at 7/4 fav.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park in Cork staged the final of the Davy O’Brien Memorial A3 tri-distance stake, over the 575 trip, a worthy winner here as Timmys Rover (Droopys Sydney- Trusted Exile) had won his semifinal over the 550 yard trip and first round over the 525 distance, his winning time of 31.41 is top class with seven lengths back to the runner up at a price of 5/4. A first prize of €2k went to Master Tim Cliffe.

Waterford held the quarter-finals of the Slaneyside Kennels Solutions and WTSC ON2 unraced stake. Fastest of the heats was Help Me Out for local handler Declan Byrne in 28.96 (10 fast) by one length at 2/1. The first round of the Paula Bergin Memorial A2 550 was also on in Waterford, won last year by Lynchy Boy for T.J. Campion. Four heats with Gortatlea Dream going fastest in 30.11 (10 fast) by eight lengths at 4/5 fav with Vincent Morris at the helm. Sadly no Offaly winner in Mullingar which is a rarity on a Saturday.

In Shelbourne Park, in the final of the valuable IGOBF National Puppy Stakes, a quality field lined up to see which dog would get its name on the trophy to follow Scooby Prince and Jennifer O’Donnell from last year. As expected it was a final to remember as class won out when Up The Style (Pestana - Unlock Unlock) showed massive early pace and drove clear to go on and win by three lengths at 2/1 for Robert Gleeson. A huge cheque of €12.5k heading to the winning connections here, with €3k going to Liam Dowling as Ballymac Johnjo finished second.  One Offaly winner on the supporting card, Thirtynine Winks won an AAO 525 for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 28.40 by four lengths at 3/1 with David Murray training.

St. Leger

A massive crowd in the Dock Road Stadium in Limerick for the semi-finals of the Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St. Leger. Two great heats, both won by the progeny of leading stud dog Droopys Sydney. Bobsleigh Dream was first across the whitewash in the first for Pat Buckley in 29.54 by four lengths at 7/4 with Mustang Jet in second for Dolores Ruth and Trinity Junior in third for Peter Cronin. The second semi went to Annagh Bailey for Rachel Wheeler in 29.51 by two lengths at 7/1 with Romeo Magico in second for Graham Holland and Wi Can Dream in third for Pat Guilfoyle. As well as the two Sydney dogs in the final, Droopys Jet, Laughil Blake, Magical Bale and Cabra Firmino had one representative each. The only Bitch in the final is Bobsleigh Dream and expect her to be in the mix near the finishing line.

Six worthy finalists, hopefully a clean run race and we have a worthy winner. Should be a great night Saturday in Limerick.  One final was held on the supporting card Saturday, the Hayes Forklift Services A2 550, Gimme Patience (Droopys Sydney - Faithful Jane) won in 30.18 by three lengths at 4/6 fav with a pot of €1.3k going to trainer Pat Moloney.

Sunday racing

Just the one Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, Ollys Mary won an A5 contest in 30.62 (50 slow) by six lengths at 5/1 for Banagher owner Mary Moran with Gary Moloney training.

Upcoming events

Friday, second round of the Dublin Cup. Saturday, semifinals of the Slaneyside Kennels Solutions unraced and semi-finals of the Paula Bergin Memorial in Waterford. Final of the Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St. Leger in Limerick.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Verratti gets the nod this week for Edenderry owner Keith Duffy winning an A2 sweepstake final in Shelbourne on Friday in a super 28.29 by four lengths with Robert Gleeson training.

Offaly winners

After the eleven wins last week, it was a more modest three this week for the Faithful county.  Well done to all connections of winning dogs.