GREYHOUND racing has a habit of throwing up the unexpected and that was certainly the case at Tralee Track last Friday night when the semi-finals of the most important event of the year to date at the Oakview venue were run off.

The event in question, for A1 class over 570yds and honouring the memory of well-known Killeacle (Ardfert) doggy couple, Mary and John Dowling, looked to have boiled down to a match between Usual Story, from Meelin, Co Cork, and Lassinagh Brae, from The Spa, Tralee.

These were the undoubted stars after two rounds of the event and it looked long odds-on that both would qualify from the second semi-final last Friday night and face off against each other for a winner's purse of € 3,000 in the final this Friday night.

However, one of them, Lassinagh Brae, was eliminated and the other, Usual Story, only managed to scrape into the final by finishing third, a short head in front of Lassinagh Brae.

It was something nobody really expected, but, at the same time, the winner of the second semi-final, Lisnakill Ross (Killahan Phanter – Lisnakill Cindy), achieved his victory totally on merit for Dromina (Co Cork) trainer, Eamonn Finn, and Butlerstown (Co Waterford) owner, Michael O'keeffe.

This wide seed showed outstanding early pace after an average start to occupy second place behind the fast-starting Herself at the first bend and he proceeded to establish clear superiority on the back straight, to the extent that he was two and a half lengths clear of Herself rounding the third bend. He kept the gallop going really well and raced home two and a half lengths ahead of Herself in 31.27, with two lengths back to Usual Story.

Surreal Beauty, which appeared to have a great chance of qualifying after being well ahead of Usual Story and Lassinagh Brae, weakened coming home and actually finished last.

The time recorded by Lisnakill Ross, very much to his credit, was five spots faster than that produced in the first semi-final by Ballyfidora Pal (Hades Rocket – Sallowglen Snow), jointly owned by Joseph and Noel O'sullivan, of Tralee. This lady was expected to be right up there at the first bend and, sure enough, she was, but it looked ominous enough for her when Surreal Rambler, which also started very smartly, swept into a two-length lead on the back straight.

However, Ballyfidora Pal is nothing if not gutsy and she kicked on quite superbly from Surreal Rambler rounding the third bend, with Mossend Folly seriously coming into contention at this point. Nothing was going to catch Ballyfidora Pal, however, and she drove home a length and a half ahead of the strong-finishing Seans Ranger in 31.32, with the same distance back to Mossend Folly.

So, what's going to happen in the final this Friday night. Early pace helped in a big way to determine the outcome of the two semifinals last Friday night and will probably do so again. That puts Lisnakill Ross and Ballyfidora Pal into the picture in a very big way.

The trouble with Usual Story, which will probably go off favourite despite his defeat last Friday night, is that he is not blessed with early pace and he will have to be reasonably well positioned rounding the first bend from his trap 1 draw. If he is, he can undoubtedly motor on to victory, especially seeing that he broke 31secs in the second round, but cases can now be made for just about every one of the six finalists and it will surprise nobody if Lisnakill Ross manages to pull off another giant-killing feat. He is well capable of it.

The draw for the final is (trap order): Usual Story, Ballyfidora Pal, Herself, Seans Ranger, Mossend Folly (M), Lisnakill Ross ( W). Other winners last Friday night were: Took The Lady, 29.56; Twist Swallow, 18.18; Bower Show, 29.56; Kilcurra Zoe, 17.96; Lissivigeen Joy, 29.51; Teevee Sparkle, 29.13; Marinas Blue, 43.06; Fermoyle Fantasy, 43.19.