ONE record-breaker being upstaged by another! That was the big story at Tralee Track last weekend when 12-race programmes were run off on both Friday and Saturday nights.
The record-breaker to lose his title was the Abbeydorneyowned Iflookscouldkill, a real specialist over longer distances. In July of last year, Iflookscouldkill set new a new figure of 41.79 for the 750yds trip at the Oakview venue and three weeks later, at Galway, he broke the 810yds record with a run of 45.09.
However, he came up against another long distance star at Tralee last Friday night in Shakira Live, which former Ballyduff hurling star, Chris Houlihan, trains for Sarah Gallagher, of Tarbert. Not surprisingly, these two dominated the betting in what was the ninth race, over 750yds, and magnificent victory belonged to Shakira Live, which had recently carried the Kerry flag with great distinction in the Ted Hegarty Marathon Sweepstake at Harolds Cross.
Victory, not to mind a new record, seemed unlikely for Shakira Live as the race progressed, but she stormed through the field from last place to beat Iflookscouldkill by three lengths in 41.70, which was a hugely impressive nine spots inside the record established by Iflookscouldkill.
It all speaks very highly for the training expertise of Chris Houlihan, who achieved classic success in the 2008 Irish Laurels with Cashen Legend. This record-breaking performance by another of his kennel stars could be the start of another great year for him. The weekend's racing at Tralee featured many outstanding performances. On Friday night, for instance, a novice bitch called Kilkenny Partner flew around in 28.85 and there were further runs of 28.87 and 28.88 by Scarty Rules and Namedandshamed, respectively.
On Saturday night, outstanding doubles were achieved by Vincent McMahon, son of local trainer, Pat McMahon, and by Jeremiah Hanafin, of Ardfert. Vincent McMahon initiated his double with a novice called Send It Izzet, which clocked 29.29 on her debut run, and he completed it with Send It Sally, which produced a run of 28.95 in just her second race. Jeremiah Hanafin struck first with Farran Giggs, a winner over 325yds in 18.20, and he followed up with Farran Els, which won in 29.39.
Another highlight on Saturday night was a runaway victory in 28.89 for the Castleislandowned Marazion Queen, while Gneeveguilla trainer, Ray Fleming, introduced a most promising novice in Your Some Wink, which showed remarkable early foot after a tardy enough break and went around in 29.11.
Tralee Track races again this Friday and Saturday nights, with no Tuesday night racing until February 10. On Saturday night, much interest will centre on televised action from Shelbourne Park, especially on Kerry greyhounds running in second-round heats of the € 30,000 John J Casey Open Sweepstake over 575yds. Particular attention will focus on Tip And Tin, brilliant winner just before Christmas of the Comerford Cakes Sweepstake at Shelbourne Park, and on Headleys Bridge, which gave such a wonderful account of himself in the 2008 Paddy Power Derby.
Tip And Tin produced his trademark finish to win heat 3, while Headleys Bridge finished second in heat 8 to the fastest first-round heat winner, Kilkenny Lonjack, which recently ran in the Greyhound and Petworld Kingdom Derby at Tralee and won a race on final night. The field includes 2008 Paddy Power Derby winner, Shelbourne Aston, which won heat 7, and that is a measure of the challenge faced by both Tip And Tin and Headleys Bridge.
Source:http://www.kerryman.ie/sport
