TWO POLISHED PERFORMANCES IN PAUL MCKENNA MEMORIAL

Peter Farrell

With the action fast and furious all over the country on Saturday night, the semi-finals of the Paul McKenna Memorial 525 served as the highlight at Galway Greyhound Stadium.

With handsome prizemoney on offer to the eventual winner of this stake, both semi-finals produced very impressive winners in the form of Magical Be Nifty and Flyers Penney.

Of the pair, it was Magical Be Nifty that went quickest, as the Pat Guilfoyle-trained youngster followed up a dominant opening round performance. A winner in 28.91 last time out, the daughter of Droopys Jet–Magical Poppy was duly installed at odds of 4/9, but may have caused her followers a flurry early on after missing the break from trap one. However, the June whelp quickly recovered as she flew up the inside on the run-up before taking charge entering the second bend. In truth, it was a matter of how far thereafter, with Magical Be Nifty stretching out brilliantly to emerge a five-and-a-half-length winner over Orbsen Fixit in second. The time was 29.13 .10s, and she will go into the decider a hot favourite to emerge unbeaten.

SIX FROM SEVEN FOR PENNEY

In the second semi, Flyers Penney also claimed an odds-on victory, as the Colm Fitzgerald-trained runner justified her 1/2 billing.

Owned by The Flyers Racing Syndicate, Flyers Penney was chasing a fourth straight victory coming into this contest, and the consistent daughter of Signet Ace–Pennylane Sheba made no mistakes. Drawn in two, ‘Penney’ took a thunderous break from the inside to lead Highview Exotic on the run-up. The latter pressed the leader for the majority of the contest; however, Fitzgerald’s charge came into her own late on. Pressing home her advantage, ‘Penney’ stayed on stoutly to claim a three-length victory in a time of 29.42 .10s.