The rain swept accross James' park last Friday evening and most people of sound mind would take one look out the window and seek solace in a hot cuppa tae and turf fire. However, doggy people are often questioned for their relative levels of sanity, and they all came out in force to witness a superb nights action at Kilkenny Track.
The showpiece being the Langton Derby, and this year it has again given us a very good winner, in Co. Cork dog Burgess Star. The stake has had its share of thrills and spills throughout and the final followed true to form, with near carnage at the first bend which all but ended the chances of every dog bar 'Burgess', whose superb foot to be bend saw him sneak ahead of the trouble of open up down the back straight and go on to score by 5L from Cool Disguised, in an impressive 29.19.
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| Burgess Star - 2011 Langton Derby Winner |
It would however, be disingenuous in the extreme to put the victory of Burgess Star down to the trouble at first bend. The key to the victory was without doubt the ability of the dog to improve each and every week he visited Kilkenny. Both his sectional and his overall clock improved every round, and this made this son of Droopys Vieri an very hard dog to beat.
This is the second 'Derby' of the year for progeny of his dam, Rising Angel, as her younger son, Taylors Sky, by Westmead Hawk, managed to pick up the English Derby in Wimbledon !!
Before the showpiece event there were also an number of other races that merit reporting. One of the biggest roars of the night was reserved for Emma's Assurance, who produced a superb run to take the laurels in the Aries Son @ Stud A4 525. This lady has been very impressive since she first set paws on the Kilkenny track, and continued her superb form here leading all the way in a very good 29.26, to the delight of the connections, Mickey (trainer) & Jimmy Doran (joint owner) and Emma Breen (joint owner), and their extended group of supporters.
Emma's Assurance is one the first pups from Barefoot Bolt, and superb new addition to the stud scene standing at Paul Hennessy's Black and Amber kennels in Gowran. Along with the prizemoney, the winner will also now have the option of a service to Larry and Mary Buggy's Aries Son, one of the best early paced trackers to have grace the Irish Scene in recent years. After our stud market being saturated with Austrailian and American trackers for the past decade, both these dogs (Aries Son and Barefoot Bolt) really do deserve their chance at stud. Connections of Emma's Assurance would be well advised to hold onto the free service for herself, as it lookes superb on paper, offering a much sought after 4x3 cross though the great Larkhill Jo.
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| Emma's Assuarance - Aries Son 525 Winner |
The other trophy up for decision was the Kilkenny track novice 725 which looked to be a foregone conclusion after Killough Harry's superb effort in the semi-final, that saw Tom Dwyer cheers him home from the first bend. It wasn't quiet as straight forward in the final though, as the confirmed railer was drawn in 6 and it took him all the way to the home straight to negotiate a path to the front, but he did oblige none the less, to take the race from Glencroft Design by 1.5L in 41.38.
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| Killough Harry and conections. |
Friday night was not only about the racing though, as it also marked the retirement of a legend of our local Greyhound Scene, our control steward, Jim Ryan. Jim has been officiating over this game for over 30 years, and his service to the Kilkenny track was marked with a presentation by Mary Nolan on behalf of all of the local dog owners and track patrons to mark the occasion. We wish Jim the very best in his retirement, and his yarns will be sorely missed form not only the weighroom in James' Park.
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| Jim Ryan, 'wait an I'll tell you...' |
