This summer is turning out to be a vintage one in Kilkenny, not only for the weather, but also for the superb pups that are turning out on the track, and last night was a special one. The standard was right up there with any of the Red Mill Unraced nights.
In the €3000 track supporters N1, we saw a superb prospect from Declan Byrnes kennel in Millies Tavern. This daughter of Droppys Vieri out of Whiteys Millie (dam of Produce stakes winner Whiteys Hawk), showed a nice bit of early pace to lead her rivals around the opening bend and power away, recording a very smart 28.99. 2 from for this Jan '12 Puppy. Declan started off a number of good pups in Kilkenny in recent times, including staying star, White Sox Rox and Oaks runner up, and Oaks runner up Melodies Diamond. This one looks the best yet.
Then in the very next race we January puppy produce a good run, in Margaret Barrett's Beautys Whisper (Ballymac Bull - Ballymac Sasha). This pup didnt trap at all well, but showed huge pace to the bend, and once he got away down the back he was very powerful in winning in a smart 29.25 by an 8 length margin.
In the A3 Puppy stake, the talking dog was Liam Walsh's Chicago (Milldean Panter - Bebo Babe). Coming off the back of an impressive spint in Waterford, this dog showed tremdous pace from the second bend, and the way in which he ran away from Barefoot Arthur, returning in a 4L win in an impressive 29.01.
But, to top them all in the last race, it was Stephan Behan and Donal Lanigan's Bellmore Torres (Ja Mann - Shelbourne Capri) stole the show. It was arguably the most competitive of all the heats. Torres was away well, but surrounded by a lot of early pace, he shipped a couple of bangs well and absolutely ragged his rivals from the sprint box to home, returning a 5 length winner in a superb 28.95.
The above stakes due to culminate on the summer party night on Sunday 25th of August there is a lot more to come from these pups.
Next Wednesday also sees a 12 dog Novice Open stake starting, and the word from the track last night is that there are a couple of special pups in the book for that stake also.
Come to Kilkenny, you will see a star !
