Issue with hare sees race voided
Centre of photo on right Dan Lynch (KGSSC- Club Secretary) presents the winning Trophy No. 5 for his efforts on the night to Winning trainer Patrick O'connor from Tarbert after Heady Days owned by Noreen Mcmanus & Declan Moylan won the Kingdom... Credit: PICTURE: DENIS WALSH
IT'S a real rarity to have a race declared null and void at Tralee or any other track, but Saturday night was one of the exceptions at the Oakview venue and it was all down to a problem with the mechanical hare. The power didn't fail, or anything like that. It was, quite simply, a case of the hare cover coming off as the race progressed and, under the rules, the stewards of the meeting had no option, but to void the race.
It was very tough luck on Castleisland owner, Mrs Cathriona O'connell, who saw her bitch, Seomra Dochas, come from off the pace in quite impressive fashion to bet Stormy Millie in 29.52.
The re- run will take place this Saturday night and, having seen the trailer, as they say, the punters will surely be backing Seomra Dochas to win it. She should definitely oblige, though it is possible that she will not get the run of the race this time.
The rest of Saturday night's programme was completed as scheduled and it was great to see those two marvellous veterans, Ar Kid and Took The Okee, fill the first two places in the hottest race of the night, for A1 class over 550yds.
Ar Kid ( Elite State – Mweevoo Rose) emerged as the victor for Jane Bradley, of Lisselton, and, in justifying 11/ 10 favouritism, he was gaining his 20th victory from 45 starts. Indeed, he has been unplaced just twelve times.
Drawn in trap 4, Ar Kid occupied second place behind Gurteen Shaw rounding the first bend and, as he has done before, he really turned on the power into the third bend, to be in a great winning position off it. He then stuck it out well to the line where he had a length to spare from Took The Okee, with half a length back to Gurteen Shaw. The time was 30.78.
Local trainer, Johnny Kelly, followed up a double on Friday night by winning the fourth race, for A5 class over the standard trip, with Astronomic Mick, owned by his wife, Nora. This fellow had been without a win in 27 previous starts and fair play to Johnny Kelly for persevering with him. Astronomic Mick got up on the line for a head victory over Westwind Beauty in 29.89.
A double was recorded on the night by that irrepressible Tarbert trainer, Patrick O'connor, who clicked in the very first race with Cracking Rambler (29.70) and followed up by winning the seventh race with Saleen White Tip (29.71).
Very much the fastest over the standard distance on the night was Conor Pass Jill, on 29.13, while the other winners: Redstone Aibell, 29.70; Woodcraft Sarge, 29.42; Scart Scolari, 17.99; Spruce Willis, 17.98; Gentleman Farmer, 29.54; Almighty Village, 30.14.
