A PROPHET is, they say, never recognised in his own land, but, as far as the doggy game is concerned, a very definite exception to that rule is Liam Dowling, of Ballymacelligott. Over the years, Liam has proved himself to be a very exceptional breeder / owner / trainer, with a lot of results there to prove it, and he gave another small example of what he is able to achieve at two venues 200 miles apart last Saturday night.

On his home patch, which is Tralee Track, he provided a terrific double, with one of his greyhounds, Ballymac Farrah, getting inside the 29secs barrier in the first round of an A4 sweepstake, and on the much bigger stage of Shelbourne Park in Dublin he sent out Three One Three to score a quite brilliant victory in the second semi-final of the € 13,500 John J Casey Open 575 Sweepstake.

Three One Three (Hades Rocket – Ballymac Floss), which is owned by the Inside The Door syndicate, of Tralee, was taking on some real hot-pots, including Corporate Affair, and he was very much an outsider in the betting at 5/1.

But he took an absolute flier from trap 4 and he won unchallenged by two and a half lengths from Ashcarne Jack in 31.50, with three lengths back to Corporate Attack.

The going was .50 slow for the 575yds trip and, although the first semifinal was won in the faster time of 31.39 by Whatsupjack, a repeat performance by Three One Three in the final this Saturday night could well bring victory for Three One Three.

Turning to Liam Dowling's double at Tralee Track, it was initiated by Ladies of Inniscara Social Tralee had an enjoyable night out at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium Tralee on Saturday night. In photo from l-r: Aine Ferris, Aileen Condon, Catriona Dowling, Michelle Costello, Norma Costello, Trish Breen, Danelle Fitzpatrick, Kate Dineen, Bernadette Costello, Jennifer Carmody and Avril Leahy Ballymac Farrah (Green Heat – Ballymac Freddie) in a first-round heat of the Kerry Schoolboys Soccer Buster A4 Sweepstake (winner, € 1,700).

Running from trap 4, Ballymac Farrah left her rivals for dead on the run to the first bend, just like Three One Three had done in Dublin, and she really burned it up all the way to the line where she finished eight lengths ahead of Darcys Pearl in 28.91, a time that was a long way ahead of the winning times in five other firstround heats.

It means that Ballymac Farrah becomes very much the leading contender in the event and she will certainly command a lot of interest as the sweepstake unfolds. Liam Dowling completed his double with Ballymac Teddy (Ballymac Kewell – Lindas Sinead), which, like Ballymac Farrah, he owns himself. Ballymac Teddy came in as a reserve in the very last race of the night, for A3 class over the standard trip, and, just like Ballymac Farrah, she was in control from trap to line, having two and a half lengths to spare from Seomra Misty in 29.29.

Racing was watched by a good crowd and there were no happier owners on the night than Patrick and Fionnuala Keane, of Causeway, who saw their bitch, Glanna Gypsy (Annamore Billy – Sahara Cailin), score her first victory from 24 starts in the very first race on the card, for A7 class over the standard trip.

Glanna Gypsy might not have recorded the fastest of times, which was 30.41, but that won't matter in the slightest to her joint owners. The important thing for them is that she finally broke her duck and she did so by a length and a half from Cindy.

This kind of story will give hope to all owners who feel that their bad luck will never change.

Blushing

Other winners last Saturday night were: Petrovna, 18.31; Andallivedone, 29.84; Firm Hold, 29.69; Marlyns Book, 29.46; Jeffs Brett, 17.94;Greenville Girl, 43.53; Bibs Baron, 29.45; Endesa Star, 29.44; Riverfield Dave, 29.29.