Gone to the dogs: Seven Offaly winners

Sadly another week where racing was heavily curtailed by the weather,  we lost meetings in the early part of the week in Cork, Clonmel, Kilkenny, Thurles, Enniscorthy and Waterfront. However, it still turned out to be a brilliant week of racing culminating with the final of Ireland’s second richest classic, on Sunday evening, the Irish St. Leger in Limerick. There were also some great finals around the tracks with the usual mix of Christmas sweepstakes.

Some very decent Offaly winners added to the mix in what was another vintage week of racing.

Early Week Racing

Racing went ahead in Shelbourne on Thursday night which was a great testament to the staff who kept the track covered during the cold spell and uncovered it before racing. Some amount of work goes into this as you are covering a track ten yards wide by well over five hundred long.

On the night, one final of note, in an ON2 unraced stake, Highview Stage (Ballymac Anton - Highview Daisy) was first home in 28.99 by three lengths at 5/2 with a cheque of €1.25k going to Anthony Rooney and Owen Sweetman from the Man O War in north county Dublin.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Galway, in a semifinal of an A7 stake, Like The Mother won for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 30.58 (30 slow) by three lengths at 2/1.

Newbridge, two decent dual distance stakes both over 550/575 yard distances. In the semifinals of the A4 version, Bunlane Jumbo won in 31.87 by a neck at 2/1 for Mairead Corcoran. The second semi went to Ardilaun Bella for John Dooley in 31.59 by nine lengths at 5/2. In the A2 version, Sooty Centurion took the first for Shaun Conway in 31.12 by a head at 5/2 with the second going to Seamus Reilly as Vinegar Joe stopped the clock in 31.13 by three lengths also at 5/2. All these races in Newbridge were rated  .60 slow.

In Shelbourne, the quarter-finals of the 2022 A1 Dublin Cup were the highlights of a decent card. The fastest of the four heats was by an Offaly dog as Marshmello won for Edenderry owner Keith Duffy in 28.75, by four lengths at 4/1, with Robert Gleeson training. Other winner were Cheque For Sir for Karol Ramsbottom in 28.93, Courty Girl for John Byrne in 29.07 and Jaytee Wexford for Paul Hennessy in 29.41. In the final of the Barking Buzz A2 stake, Bromore Cliffs (Droopys Sydney - Casanova) won by three lengths in 29.14 at a short 1/2 fav with the €1.75k purse going to Ramsbottom aswell. All races in Shelbourne on Friday were rated .30 slow.

Saturday Racing

Three Offaly dogs in Mullingar, in the semifinal of an ON2 unraced stake. Last weeks Tribune dog of the week Kilbride Star won again for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in 31.24, by three lengths, at a very short 1/3 fav. In an A8 race Lahinch Dolly had her second win from three starts for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.86 by four lengths at even money fav. In an A3 contest Lingrawn Junior was first past the winning post for Moneygall owner Kevin Jones in a decent 30.18 by seven lengths at 2/1. All races in Mullingar were rated .70 slow. In Tralee, in the final of the Castleisland Tyre Centre A2 525, Dark Candy (Pat C Sabbath - Ballydoyle Candy) won for local trainer Liam O’Callaghan in 28.91 by one length at 9/2 with a cheque for €1.5k going his way.

Shelbourne, a bumper Christmas crowd enjoying the festivities witnessed some great racing at Headquarters. Three top class stakes all at semifinal stages. Firstly the AAO Christmas Oaks, Speedels About won the first for Rathangan owner Reggie Roberts in 28.26 by five lengths at 6/4 with Ballymac Run the second for Liam Dowling in 28.11 by one length at 5/1. In the semifinals of RCETS AO 600, Hello Mom won the first for Ray Melia in 32.63 by one length at 5/1 with the second leg going to Hoodoo Brown, again for Dowling in 32.61 by five lengths at 9/4. In the semifinals of the Barking Buzz AO 525, the first heat,  Wilms Blake was first across the whitewash for Martin Lanney in 28.40 by one length at 5/1, the second heat was won in identical time by Carrigmore Logan for Robert Gleeson by six lengths at 7/4 fav.

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, both for Kevin Jones, in  an A6 grade, Lingrawn Mike was first home in 30.66 (70 slow) by one length at 9/4. Our final Offaly winner of the week was Lingrawn Roxy in an A4 race in 29.56 (70 slow) by four lengths at 3/1.

St. Leger

After a weeks delay, Limerick hosted the final of the Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St. Leger, a super line up, on a Sunday night where over €100k was dished out in prize money. The final itself didn’t let us down as the money poured in for Bobsleigh Dream (Droopys Sydney - Bobsleigh Jet) and the favourite didn’t disappoint as after missing her break and finding trouble showed a massive turn of foot to get up on the line and win by one length in 29.84 at 11/8 fav. This was this young bitch fiftheenth career win and has brought her racing earnings to over €43k including the €30k she won for this stake. For her trainer Pat Buckley this was his third St. Leger having won it in 2014 with Paradise Silva and 2004 with Never Give Up.

Mustang Jet finished second for Deloris Ruth and got a nice cheque for €8k with Romeo Magico in third for Graham Holland and received a pot of €4K.

It turned out to be one of the best Leger in years and a great credit must go to the staff who had the track in pristine condition in what was a difficult week weather wise. Well done to all winning connections and especially Pat Buckley who keeps turning out the classic winners.

Other winners of note on the night where all received €2k were in the open 525, Killahan Sydney in 28.52 for Buckley, Garryvoe Joe in the open sprint for Holland, open 550 went to Ballinabola Ed again for Buckley, the open 750 went to Pablo Escobark for Karol Ramsbottom in 41.72 by a head with the open 600 going to Magical Mary for Pat Guilfoyle in 32.40. The consolation final of the Leger went to Ballymac Whispa (Ballymac Anton - Ballymac Minton) for Liam Dowling in 29.85 by one length at even money fav.

Upcoming Events

Friday, finals of the two dual distance stakes in Newbridge and semi-finals of the Dublin Cup in Shelbourne. All other stakes that are down to final stages will take place after the Christmas.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Marshmello gets the vote this week, winning the quarterfinal of the Dublin Cup on Friday in Shelbourne in a career best run of 28.75 (30 slow) by four lengths for Edenderry owner Keith Duffy.

Offaly Winners

Seven Offaly winners this week, congrats to all involved in any way.

Special note

Wishing all our readers of Gone To The Dogs a very happy Christmas, stay safe on the roads and keep dreaming of getting that derby winner, dreams do come true.