GMHD to continue sponsorship of Juvenile Classic at Tralee
This competition, along with the Champion Unraced Stake at Clonmel, ensures the best possible start to the year, and both stakes continue to attract the best young greyhounds in the country.
The 2015 renewal of the Tralee race was won by Sidarian Vega, who went through the four rounds unbeaten and did likewise in two rounds of the Champion Stakes.
Amongst the vanquished in the Juvenile Classic decider was subsequent Gain 600 and Irish Derby winner Ballymac Matt, while Derby third Farloe Rumble and Night of Stars winner and Christmas Oaks finalist Yahoo Perlena were both knocked out at the semi-final stage.
With an ability to attract such a wealth of talent it is also a great shop window for would-be sellers. Congratulations must go to everyone involved in ensuring GMHD’s continued support.
The 2016 renewal, confined to February ’14 whelps and younger, will get underway on February 12.
More immediately, Tralee will host its gala night at the track next Tuesday, December 22, and the on-track action will feature the final of the Vulturi@Stud Kingdom Derby, the semi-finals of which take place tomorrow night.
The Track Supporters’ Club will sponsor a number of races on the night, while there will also be presentations to the track’s award winners for 2015.
The Cork GOBA Christmas Party Night takes place this Saturday night at Curraheen, where the final of the Macroom Motors Services Open 575 is the feature. Witches Belle has, thus far, been the star of the stake, and it’ll take a special performance to lower her colours.
Should Edel Twomey’s bitch land the spoils, she’ll be taking the trophy from another bitch, Drive On Royal, who upset odds-on shot Ballyana Foxtrot in last year’s final. The winner, owned by Thomas O’Donovan, went on to reach the final of the Laurels, in which she finished fourth behind Midtown Raffa.
Coincidentally, Mimis Ace, who is, arguably, the danger to Witches Belle in this weekend’s decider, finished one place in front of Drive On Royal in the Laurels final.
Saturday’s action will conclude the action at the track until Saturday January 2. However, there will be trials over the Christmas period (Monday December 21 and Monday December 28), for which booking is essential.
The 2016 Guinness Trophy (A1 525) is also on the horizon. Starting on Saturday, January 23, it is open to 36 greyhounds, and will have a winner’s prize of €3,000. Entry costs €30, and the stake is open to back-graders.
Youghal will race tomorrow night and again on Monday, December 21, but will not race again until Monday, January 4.
There’s a big night of action at Harold’s Cross tomorrow night, featuring the finals of the Track Bookmakers’ Marathon and the Deegan Kennel Supplies Gold Collar.
In the Marathon Tradition is a long way clear on the clock, but anyone who saw Ballymac Bonnie’s performance in the semi-finals will know it could be a special final.
Harold’s Cross track itself remains on the Green Mile. It’s more than a year since we first heard word of its impending sale, and that fear has not gone away. Earlier this week there was an open meeting at the track, at which a number of supporters gathered to discuss potential action to try to save the stadium. With each passing day a step closer to its closure, the next few weeks are extremely important.
