Oaks and Tote Gold Cup draws deferred

THE draws for both the Roches Feeds Oaks at Limerick and Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne were deferred until today, though both events had achieved their target number of entries.

A late rush of entries at Shelbourne saw some 50 names in the book for the 48-dog Tote Gold Cup but a couple of the intended runners were due to have veterinary examinations last evening and so it was decided to delay the draw until this morning.

Late entries for the €25,000 to the winner event include six Tyrur dogs, Domingo, O Gorman, Carey, Henry, Brian and Lohan. The Paul Hennessy runners will be De Ex Factor, Colourful Fox, Priceless Chef and Hello Ringo while Pat Gordon has Fatboyz Tyson and Owen McKenna both Allowdale Prince and Bling Bling Buzz. Pat Buckley’s three entries are Modern Man, Paradise Casino and Hats My Boy while Liam Dowling, who had three finalists in the Tyrur McGuigan 575, has General Dogsbody and Ballymac Lomu in the line-up. Other entries received were Croom Star, Croom Upper. Moes Tavern, Martinstown Rose and Soviet Marco.

The late entries for the Oaks at Limerick included Millridge Focus, Bawna Amber, Blackabbey Rose, Soraya, Olympic Gift and Cornamaddy Swift. However both Fahy bitches Tyrur Fergie and Tyrur Alice were withdrawn as they were not fully recovered from knocks received.

Liam Kennedy said: “We decided to put the draw back as a few of the bitches were due to run at Tralee on Tuesday night and so we will hold it on Wednesday morning”.

Meanwhile, Red Mills have confirmed they will again sponsor the Produce Stakes at Clonmel and the winner’s prize will again be €25,000.

The Goresbridge company have been supporting the Produce Stakes since 2000 and the event remains the premier puppy event in the calendar.

Said Clonmel Racing Manager Eddie Anderson: “On behalf of the Directors and Management of Clonmel Greyhound Stadium, I would like to sincerely thank Red Mills for their continued support of this prestigious puppy classic. The Produce Stakes is our flagship competition and year after year it never fails to produce the goods or attract the crowds”.

The Red Mills Produce Stakes will be for 96 greyhounds whelped in 2009 and the first round will be run on Thursday, March 31 and Sunday, April 3. The runner-up will receive €7,500 with the third set to collect €3,300 and the unplaced finalists €1,400 each.