Timor Blue unlikely to race again
“Unfortunately, our worst fears have been confirmed” said Morrissey yesterday. “Veterinary examination confirmed a damaged ligament in the wrist. In fact the wrist is out of place and has been put in a cast. I have been told that he has very little chance of racing again but obviously we will give him every chance.
It is tough luck on Morrissey and owner Larry O’Shea who has a big string of greyhounds and has enjoyed considerable success in recent years, landing two classics with Indesacjack (Leger) and Almightyjack (Sprint Cup).
St Leger winner Bar Blackstone could make a quick reappearance in the Lynch Family Race of Champions at Tralee tomorrow week. Originally owner Sean Dunphy suggested that the dog would not run until the Irish Derby but he has had a rethink and is now considering the valuable Tralee one-off before giving his classic winner a break. The line-up for the race will be completed over the weekend but already Daleys Buzz, Ja Mann and Bar Blackstone have been lined up as possible starters.
That Tralee event promises to be the year’s highlight at the Kingdom Stadium. Quite apart from the Race of Champions which will have a winner’s prize of €15,000, there will be four valuable supporting Open races: 525 (€1,000), 570 (€700), 750 (€700) and Sprint (€500). There will be a Gate Prize of €500 to be decided by the result of the big race while there will be a Best Dressed Lady competition with a prize of €1,000 in cash and a weekend away.
There will also be Free Draws for a host of top class prizes, such as Table for 4 at 2010 Punchestown Festival (€1,000), two tickets for the Ireland v Australia rugby international in Croke Park with overnight accommodation, two tickets for a Show at the Point Theatre; four tickets for the All Ireland Football Final and four tickets for the All Ireland Football semi-finals.
The classics continue at the two Dublin tracks this weekend. Tomorrow night at Harold’s Cross the second round of the Accelerated Drain Cleaning Corn Cuchulainn will be staged and an absentee will be the injured Jemmy Doodlebeag. There will also be a healthy Pick 7 carry-over of €7,500 at the meeting. Then on Saturday it will be semi-final time in the Sporting Press Irish Oaks at Shelbourne where Skywalker Queen is back at the top of the betting after her return to top form last week. But she simply must get away fast from traps in the second qualifier where she has the likes of Lady Glenard, Faypoint Lauren and Rising Smoke in opposition.
The McCarthy Insurances Cork Oaks heroine Maireads Fantasy has done absolutely nothing wrong and carries an unbeaten record into the first semi. Fraser Black’s bitch is running out of her skin and she can again show the way home in a very hot heat where Another Issue is surely the main rival.
Probably the meeting of the week takes place at Kilkenny on Sunday where a huge crowd is anticipated for the annual BEAM meeting. Highlight of the programme will be the final of the Red Mills Champion Unraced Stake but it will be finals all the way as well as the valuable one-off Red Mills Open Cup.
Curraheen Park patrons are reminded that the new early start time comes into effect tonight and racing will commence each evening at 7.47 p.m. This will mean an earlier weigh-in schedule of 6.45 to 7.15 p.m. Top race at Curraheen this week is the final of the Paddy Power Derby Trial Stake on Saturday and here Kathleen Murphy’s Carrowkeal Sam is the fastest qualifier.
The next Sales at Curraheen will be on Tuesday, August 11th and entries are now being accepted.
The following sweepstakes are coming up at Curraheen: Closing June 20th: 24 dog €1,200 Breda Finn Memorial A6 525 (No Bg). Closing June 23rd: 24 dog €1,300 Charleville Cheese A3 525 (No Bg) & €500 Getting Out A2 575. Closing June 26th: 24 dog €1,250 A4 525 (No Bg). Closing June 30th: 24 dog O’Coileans Bar A2 550 (No Bg).
Tomorrow’s card at Youghal features the final of the Track Supporters A3 as well as the full first round of the Shanagarry A4 Stake. Then next Friday it will be the turn of the Paddypower.com Irish Derby Trial Stake with the two semi-finals for decision.
Due to the hurling replay between Waterford and Limerick, racing at Thurles will have a late start on Saturday with the first race going off at 9p.m. and the weigh-in between 8 and 8.30 p.m.
It has been confirmed Thurles Fresh Milk will again be sponsoring the Tipperary Cup which will have a total prize fund of €32,000 of which the winner will recent €15,000. It will be for 48 dogs and it will get under way on Saturday, July 4th with the final to be run as the main event on a Gala programme on Saturday, July 25th. There will be a special trial session for contenders on Saturday, June 28th between 5.30 and 6.30 p.m.
It promises to be quite a Sunday at Clonmel where the semi-finals of the Munster Derby tops a high class card that also includes the semi-finals of the Express Ego Munster Dash, the Mercury Kennels A2 550 and the Springwood Kennels A1 575. Munster Derby final night will be a gala affair as it will also include the final of the Dash while entries are invited for opens over 525, 550 and 750 as well as an S0/S1 300.
