TRALEE Track's No 1 event, the Mike Cronin Readymix Juvenile Classic (winner, € 20,000), got under way last Friday night and a huge crowd generated a marvellous atmosphere. Leading owners and trainers from all over the country targeted the event, as they have done since its inception, and activity in the betting ring was by far the liveliest since the turn of the year.

The Tralee layers certainly showed that they can rise to the occasion when a big event comes along and it was very pleasing to see that.

The pity is that the betting ring doesn't hum like this on a more regular basis. Interestingly, the Mike Cronin Classic was advertised for 48 greyhounds, but such was the response that 60 were accommodated.

This meant ten firstround heats and it also meant that six greyhounds, which finished fourth qualified for the second round this Friday night, along with three automatic qualifiers from each heat.

Could it ever happen that one of those six greyhounds will go on to ultimate victory? Timewise, it can't be said that the event opened with a particularly big bang, even if the 29secs barrier was broken in five of the first-round heats. Quite a big percentage of the runners were experiencing the Oakview venue for the first time and the strong likelihood is that faster times will be produced in the second round.

The honour of recording the fastest first-round time, which was 29.75, fell to Soldier Laddie (Razldazl Billy – Sli An Eolais), jointly owned by Joyce and Adrew O'Regan, of Tramore, Co Waterford. This fellow was a complete John Paul O'Connor (centre of photo), Asst. Secretary of Cahersiveen Rowing Club, presents the winning trophy to Mary McNamara, owner, after Christy's Diamond won the Cahersiveen Rowing Club Buster Sweep Final at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, Tralee on Saturday. Included from left are: Tom Lynch, Neilus O'Connell, trainer, Bernadett O'Connell, Donal O'Sullivan, secretary of Cahersiveen Rowing Club, Jack O'Connell and Declan Dowling, KGS Sales and Operations Manager outsider at 4/1 in heat 6 , but he dominated more or less from traprise, leading the charge off the first bend and quite brilliantly extending his lead to six and a half lengths at the line (over Mailroad Ardfert), with four and a half lengths back to Womaniser.

The other winning times varied from 28.84 to 29.26 and, arguably, the most impressive winner of the lot was the greyhound which won heat 9 in 29.04. That was Dromore Dazzler (Razldazl Billy – Graigues Echo), owned by Mrs Elizabeth Murphy, of Brosna. Dromore Dazzler, another 4/1 outsider, totally missed his break from trap 6, but he showed massive power to come through the field and beat evenmoney favourite, Destined Fortune, by two lengths. Huge interest will focus on him in the second round this Friday night and a significant improvement in time can be expected with a slicker start.

Last Friday night's programme also featured the final of the 3 Mobile A1 525 Sweepstake (winner, € 800) and that great Ballybunion doggy man, James McMahon, tasted sweet victory with his bitch, Fortfield Meg (Ballymac Maeve – Finuge Lass). Fortfield Meg blew out of trap 1 and she was always going to win once that happened. Saleen Paris and Bluestar were closest to her at the first bend, but the one which chased her home, a length adrift, was the fastfinishing Send It Sally. The time was 28.98.

The 3 Mobile company has committed itself to sponsoring a series of sweepstakes at Tralee Track and it was nice to see the final of this particular sweepstake getting the kind of billing it received last Friday night.

The other heat winners in the Mike Cronin Readymix Classic were: Killahas Ginger, 29.11; Big Appetite, 28.88; Hollys Wish, 29.15; Sizzling Rambler, 28.87; Shaws Bellamy, 29.02; Big Ego, 28.84; Ballymac Lomu, 28.98; Holly Wood, 29.26.