Peter Farrell
The opening round heats of the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Irish St. Leger featured at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it was Toolmaker Josepe that set the standard as he bounced back to his best for Robert Gleeson and William Hyslop.
On the night, there were a number of fine performances and there was little to separate several of the heat winners on the clock. The two-time defending champion Clonbrien Treaty made a very impressive return in his quest for three-in-a-row, while the likes of Daleroad Duke and the ‘Blastoff’ duo of ‘Heffo’ and ‘Cooper’ also caught the eye. That said, it was Toolmaker Josepe that made a winning return to Limerick as he expressed his massive engine in coming from off-the-pace to score.
Running in heat six, Toolmaker Josepe went to traps as the 2/1 favourite despite a run of four straight defeats which saw his last victory come in the shape of a 28.19 spin in the Kirby heats back in March. After a poor exit from trap two, ‘Josepe’ looked in all sorts of trouble early doors, however, he once again showcased his massive engine from the halfway mark to score. Benefiting from early traffic to sit just two lengths adrift of Magical Sapphire entering the back straight, the writing was on the wall passing the sprint boxes as ‘Josepe’ powered to the front upon entrance to the penultimate bend. Thereafter, it was a case of how far for the son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer as he shifted through the gears to romp home, four and a half lengths clear of Magical Sapphire in second. The time was 29.68.
IMPRESSIVE TREATY CAUGHT LATE BY STRONG HEFFO
All eyes were on the defending champion in heat seven as Clonbrien Treaty made his return and despite being caught in the dying strides, he lost little in defeat and will be a huge player going forward.
The 2/1 joint favourite alongside Untold Dollar, Clonbrien Treaty broke level with his market rival but once again showed his explosive early speed to round in front from six. Holding a two length lead over Untold Dollar down the back, Blastoff Heffo (Dorotas Wildcat - Blastoff Kat) was making steady progress in third and emerged as a real threat rounding the bottom two bends as he improved into second. Given it was his first start in several months, Clonbrien Treaty would have been expected to tire in the closing yards and this so proved as Blastoff Heffo, owned by Philip Buckley, stayed on stoutly to reel in his rival late on. Crossing the line one and a half lengths clear, the time for ‘Heffo’, a 5/2 chance, was 29.78.
COOPER KICK-STARTS BUCKLEY DOUBLE
Prior to the exploits of ‘Heffo’, Blastoff Cooper got the ball rolling in heat five for Philip Buckley as he held off the late advances of unlucky Tipperary Cup runner-up, Cagey Billy.
This one jointly owned by Robert Bradshaw, Blastoff Cooper was returning after a three month break, however, the 5/1 chance showed no ill-effects as he led early on from trap four. Holding a narrow lead down the back, the fawn son of Ballymac Wild - Blastoff Apache was being chased hard by the strong-running Cagey Billy in second. In truth, given the stamina abilities of the latter he looked the most likely winner around the bottom two bends, however, ‘Cooper’ showed brilliant determination to cross the line with a half-length to spare. The time was 29.73.
HEAT WATCH
Heat 1 - Hello Diego got the Classic off to a flyer in the opening heat as he justified 5/4 favouritism for Paul Hynes and Paul Hennessy. Chasing an eighth victory, the son of Jaytee Yankee looked to have plenty on his plate as he set off in chase of the lightning start, In Good Time. The latter is a strong runner himself and looked to have this contest sewn up, however, ‘Diego’ turned on the afterburners in the final fifty-yards to collar his rival late on. Just a half-length between the duo, the time was 29.81.
Heat 2 - There was a really battling performance in heat two as Ballyhimikin Ben (Good Cody - Ballyhimikin Hun) came through to score for Kenny Glen and Graham Holland. A 9/4 chance heading to traps, ‘Ben’ showed a fine turn of early speed to recover from a moderate start in five. Tetra Destiny was at the head of proceedings at this point, however, the Holland pairing of Ballyhimikin Ben and Bartley Mainoo launched their charge at midway point. Taking over at the penultimate bend, ‘Ben’ developed daylight thereafter and he held off his kennel companion in the closing stages to emerge a one length winner, in 29.94.
Heat 3 - A recent Dundalk International runner, Daleroad Duke justified his 1/2 billing in heat three as Pat Guilfoyle’s tracker romped to victory. Donning the white jacket, the son of Good News and Burgess Sarah broke moderately from three, however, quickly outpaced the fast-starting Knockard Hero out wide to lead. In doing so, Thomas O’Keeffe’s runner held a commanding lead down the back and he kept on expertly to cross the line with five lengths to spare. The time was 29.74.
Heat 4 - Graham Holland notched a double in heat four as the ever-reliable Faypoint Harvey made every inch of the running. Installed as the 7/4 jolly, Patricia Flanagan’s star was as consistent as ever at traprise as his blue jacket showed first to lead on the inside. Thereafter, the son of Droopys Sydney - Roaming Shari opened a three length lead over Ventry Faith and despite the latter closing the gap around the bottom two bends, ‘Harvey’ found a second win to emerge a one length winner. The time was 29.81.
Heat 8 - The concluding heat of the night was landed by the Peter Cronin-trained Swithins Jim as he brought up a half-dozen victories for The-Swithins-Syndicate. A 7/2 market chance, ‘Jim’ was forced to settle for second fiddle for the majority of this contest as Drombeg Banner set the pace, however, the son of Ballymac Cashout struck late to reel in his rival and win by a head. The time was 29.90.