McKennas stick with Easter Cup

FEARS that the current economic problems would decimate the sponsorship scene have proved unfounded and there was double good news this week with confirmation that existing sponsorship of the Easter Cup at Shelbourne and the Produce Stakes at Clonmel is to continue this year.

Yesterday Red Mills signed up for another year as sponsors of the Produce Stakes with the prizemoney maintained at last year’s levels. Today we are able to report that the McKenna family will again sponsor the College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup.

Prizemoney has yet to be confirmed for the Easter Cup but the 550 yard competition will commence on Saturday, March 26 with the final to be run on Saturday, April 16.

Before we leave the subject of Clonmel Track, the local supporters club has announced that it will present awards for the top performers of the year. However to be eligible for an award you must be a member of the Supporters Club and membership is available at €20.

For the first time ever a multi-venue Family Benefit Night will be staged on Saturday in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland. The Irish Examiner are media partners in the staging of this event which will see DSI meetings being run at Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Limerick, Mullingar, Newbridge, Shelbourne, Thurles, Tralee and Waterford.

Family tickets to the tracks will cost just €20 which includes two adults and up to four children.

The only final of any real note this weekend on the tracks will be the John & Mary ‘Killeacle’ Dowling 570 at Tralee tomorrow. On semi-final running the Neilus O’Connell trained Croom Star will take some beating, although he only beat Friendandcomrade then by a head in 31.20. However the one for me here is Ken Duce’s Nicken Shaw whose form has dipped a little since his sensational first round run.

However the son of Black Shaw is capable of going up much faster than he did last week and he can lead all the way.

These are very exciting times at Tralee where the current Rose of Tralee, Clare Kambatettu, will be present on Saturday for the Down Syndrome Ireland meeting.

But the big talk of the Kingdom Stadium is the Gallivan-Murphy-Hooper Dolan Insurances Juvenile Classic which is due to commence next Friday, with entries closing on Tuesday.

The big publicity has surrounded Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh’s ‘retirement dog’ Razldazl Rioja and he had a spin on Thursday over 525 yards when he beat his litter sister Razldazl Lily by four lengths in 28.84. Observers report that he has stunning early pace and is a terrific railer.

But he is going to have some very stern opposition from the likes of Pat Buckley’s Jamaican Man (Go Wild Teddy/Minnies Farina) which went around in 28.69 when beating a race dog that had won around Shelbourne in 29.26 in October.

Another worth noting is Michael O’Donovan’s Positivity (Ballymac Maeve/ Lady Freckles) which clocked 28.97.

Paul Hennessy’s De Ex Factor will be defending his Tote Gold Cup title when he contests Heat 7 at Shelbourne on Saturday. Among his rivals are John Linehan’s Broadstrand Lad, which was so impressive last weekend, and the highly regarded Tyrur O Gorman.

The opening heat will set the trend as it brings together six very smart trackers. Liam Dowling’s General Dogsbody will have strong opposition from early pacer Caletta Venture, Tyrur Henry, Razldazl Barack, Jonny Whitesox and Fatboyz Tyson. Whatever leads here will likely go on to win.

Another race that makes special appeal is Heat 3 which has Joey Jojo Junior, Bling Bling Buzz, Razldazl Lord and Tyrur Brian in the line-up. The other big event starting this week is the Roches Feeds Oaks at Limerick and there will be 12 very interesting heats on Saturday night. Mozzletoff looks the likely outright winner but there is a lot of racing to go before we get to that stage.

Draw for the Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne on Saturday

Heat 1: 1 Caletta Ventura; 2 General Dogsbody; 3 Tyrur Henry; 4 Razldazl Barack; 5 Jonny Whitesox (w); 6 Fatboyz Tyson (w).

Heat 2: 1 Priceless Chef; 2 Modern Man; 3 Joey Jojo Junior; 4 Bling Bling Buzz; 5 Razldazl Lord; 6 Tyrur Brian (m).

Heat 3: 1 Judicial Academy; 2 Movealong Tony; 3 Rockchase Zico; 4 Razldazlbroadway; 5 Quick Lee; 6 Tolerton Crasher (w).

Heat 4: 1 Magical Ozzie; 2 Tyrur Carey; 3 Hello Ringo; 4 Martinstown Rose; 5 Slippery Bob; 6 Cappakeel Bound (m).

Heat 5: 1 Liamos Bebo; 2 Moes Tavern; 3 Oran Jaguar; 4 Aptitude Test (m); 5 Allowdale Prince (m); 6 Ballymac Tipp (m).

Heat 6: 1 Tyrur Domingo; 2 Paradise Casino; 3 Colourful Fox; 4 Headleys Mentor; 5 Ballymac Lomu (m); 6 Cabra Legend (w).

Heat 7: 1 A Decent Lad; 2 Hats My Boy; 3 Broadstrand Lad; 4 De Ex Factor; 5 Tyrur O Gorman; 6 Cians Fantasy (w).

Heat 8: 1 Tyrur Lohan; 2 Clareen Prince; 3 Croom Star; 4 Razldazl George (m); 5 Christmas Box (m); 6 Cian Abbey (w).