IT'S always nice to see the 29secs barrier broken a few times and 18secs being well bettered for the sprint distance, all of which happened at Tralee Track last Friday night, but these achievements paled by comparison with a wonderful record-breaking run produced over 750yds by an Abbeyfealeowned bitch called Zulu Ella.

Jointly owned by Patrick Ahern and Joseph Collins, this February '07 daughter of Head Bound and Ellas Pride was taking on very formidable opposition, including Rathanny Billy, which had greatly distinguished himself in Corn Cuchulainn at Harolds Cross earlier in the month.

Rathanny Billy was, in fact, the 6/4 favourite and he did run a very fine race, but it was to be Zulu Ella's night in a big way. She broke very smartly from trap 1, gained an early advantage over Cool Model and she totally dominated to the line where she had three and a half lengths to spare from Rathanny Billy in 41.60, with two lengths back to Cool Model. Her magnificent time was ten spots inside the existing record of 41.70, which was set in January of this year by Shakira Live, and she was gaining her fifth victory from sixteen starts.

The feature event on an eleven-race programme, the start of which was delayed by thirty minutes because of a problem with the starting traps, was the final of the Startrite Dogfood A1 550 Sweepstake (winner, € 850). This was over 550yds and victory went to Flat Week ( Top Honcho – Quanns Lady), which Maurice O'Connor trains in Scartaglin for a syndicate headed up by John O'Donoghue, of Glenflesk.

Essentially, the break decided the outcome, with Flat Week taking a flier from trap 3 and opening up a lead, which enabled him to hold off the challenge of Lystoll Ash by three-quarters of a length in 30, which represented 28.60 for 525yds. It was his fourth victory from eleven starts and, remarkably, he has been unplaced just once.

The two winners to get inside 29secs for the standard trip were Gaytime Derek and Flying Wonder. Gaytime Derek ( Top Savings – Gaytime Hingis) produced a career best run of 28.82 for Blarney owner, Timothy O'Connell. Drawn in trap 1, he disputed the lead with Madrafaointuath at the first bend and very little separated the pair rounding the third bend. However, the superior finishing pace was shown by Gaytime Derek and he saw off the challenge of Madrafaointuath a length and a half.

Flying Wonder

by

( Top Honcho – Nikitas Song), from the Cork kennels of Shane Murphy, enjoyed no luck in running when a _ favourite in just his third race at Cork in early July. He actually finished fifth in an estimated 30.27, but it was clear that he was well above the ordinary and he came good this time in quite brilliant fashion. Drawn in trap 1, he led off the first bend from Weighbridge Dave and he finished four and a half lengths ahead of Change Of Heart in 28.77.

Honourable mention also has to go to the Liam O'Ca l l a g h a n - t rained Rushmoor Frazar (Hotshow Ben – Rushmoor Cash), for the very good reason that he clocked 17.85 for the 325yds trip. He showed excellent early foot from trap 5 to get.himself into a winning position and he won by a length from Dan Paddy Andy.

A 525yds hurdle race also formed part of a fine varied programme and this was won by Bayside Eagle ( Top Honcho – Parkill Snow), owned by Mrs Marie O'Shea, of Tralee. He led off the first bend and, jumping very efficiently, he scored by two lengths from Flying Patsy in 29.44.

Other winners: Gentle Katie, 29.45; Clever Moet, 29.40; Kilree Harvey Go, 29.56; Cu Na Hoiche, 42.48 (750yds); Derry Phantom, 31.44 (570yds)