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You are > Home > Colourful Champ scorches his way to big final
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Thursday, June 17, 2010
Colourful Champ scorches his way to big final
By Murt Murphy
THE quality racing at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, Tralee, on Friday night certainly drew a crowd as punters enjoyed some top-class performances from some of the top dogs racing at present.
The highlight of the night’s racing were the two semi-finals of the Paddy O’Sullivan Race of Champions, sponsored by the Lynch Family, which carries a winner’s cheque of €20,000 this Friday.
The opening semi-final appeared to be between the 5/4 favourite, Colourful Champ, who looked ideally drawn in trap one, while the Conor Fahy-trained Tyrur Dylan was also well supported at 2/1, with local punters hoping that Lassa Extreme and Three One Three might get into the frame.
However, it was Colourful Champ who was quickly away on the rails. He led from Lassa Extreme and Beaming Dilemma at the opening bend, and that was more less the way things remained all the way around.
Colourful Champ really motored clear down the back and at one stage it appeared as if the track record was under threat as he moved clear of the running on Lassa Extreme.
In fact, Lassa Extreme was finishing best of all and though he never looked like getting to the winner, he did close to within a length and half.
But Colourful Champ was not to be denied and 29.68 was less that a length off the track record.
Colourful Champ is owned by the Have-A-NiceDay Syndicate from Gowran in Kilkenny and trained by Paul Hennessy.
Lassa Extreme kept the Kerry flag flying for Michael Costello and Frank O’Donnell from Tralee while Beaming Dilemma also made it to the final.
The second semi-final looked a hard race to call between 2/1 shots Tullymurry Act and Bar Blackstone and the classy Oran Legend who was available at 3/1, while Sevenheads Bay was another that could not be left out of calculations.
In fact, it was Sevenheads Bay who displayed the best early pace from Very Urgent on the outside and Tullymurry Act who stumbled leaving the traps.
Sevenheads Bay was in front around the opening two bends and half-way down the back, where Tullymurry Act made his move.
After challenging at half way, Tullymurry Act was soon in front with Sevenheads Bay sticking to his task with gusto.
However, there was never any danger that the favourite Tullymurry Act was going to get caught as he strode away to win by two and half lengths from Sevenheads Bay in a quick 29.80, considering the start he made.
The winner is owned by Keith Allsop and trained by Pat Buckley. He ill make a bold bid for victory in the final on Friday night.
The draw for the final of the Paddy O’Sullivan Race of Champions is as follows:
Trap one: Beaming Dilemma
Trap two: Lassa Extreme
Trap three: Tullymurry Act
Trap four: Sevenheads Bay
Trap five: Colourful Champ
Trap six: Bar Blackstone
Meanwhile, the O’Neill’s Sportswear sweepstake semi-finals produced some top-class performances over 525 yards.
The first semi-final looked to be between the Frazer Black-trained Forest Boss and the Patsy Byrne-owned Ballymac Under and so it transpired.
Skidroe Joe took it out early but Forest Boss was soon up with the pace was just behind the leader as they headed down the back.
Ballymac Under had dropped back to last as Womanizer was crowded at third bend and now Forest Boss was really building up a head of steam.
Indeed, Forest Boss stormed to the front between the final two bends and was in front coming into the home straight.
Meanwhile, Ballymac Under was running on through the field and he was closing fast as they headed for the line. But Forest Boss was not to be denied as he held on to win by a half length in 28.91 for joint owners Paschal Taggart and Jimmy Deenihan, who will be delighted to have a runner on the GAA Night of Champions.
The second semi-final saw Killorane Boy being sent off the slight favourite ahead of Mustang Johnny. Clearly, Killorane Boy likes the rails so he was in front at the opening bend where there was a lot of crowding.
Killorane Boy led down the back but Mustang Johnny was not going to be denied as he led at the final bend, before going on to win by two and half lengths from Killorane Boy, in 28.87 for joint-owners Patsy Byrne and Patrick Collins. He will be hard to beat in the final.
Another winner who caught the eye on the night was Rafa Baby in the College Causeway/Killahan Phanter@Stud semi-final when she took over from early leader Ballyfidora Pal and raced right away to win by four and half lengths in 28.66, the quickest time of the night.
The winner is owned by Noreen O’Connor and Lorraine Keane from Gneeveguilla and this daughter of Maybe Baby will be all the rage this Friday night.
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