The weekend headlines were obviously dominated by Clonbrien Treaty’s victory in the €80,000 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial for owners Jim and Muireann Murphy and trainer Graham Holland. The 78lb blue was beaten in his first five races but has shown huge improvement to win the last three clocking a best of 28.05 in the final.
At Shelbourne Park, Lets Go Bubbles set about emulating her half sister Susie Sapphire by landing the Puppy Oaks. The future Derby winner clocked 28.44 in the 2021 decider, Bubbles clocked 28.47 on Saturday night. The meeting also featured the first round of the RPGTV 600 (who doesn’t still think Guinness 600?) where Ballinabola Ed went quickest.
At Waterford, Callaway Pro Am clocked the quickest semi final run in the Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes.
At Clonmel, there was a flying run from Borna Mick over the 550 course – 29.76. By means of comparison, the fastest clock last year was Explosive Boy’s 29.65. Carefree King achieved something similar for the Cork 550 with a 29.58 run. (Romeo Magico’s 29.28 was the fastest in 2022).
The week included a sting of noteworthy performances from September ’21 whelps. First up, a 27.46 from Canya Hot Shot at Derry, just three spots off the FOY. The similarly aged Newline Lightning was only two spots off the quickest 400 at Dundalk while Rosshill News was eight spots short of the quickest 350 yard run at Galway.
While there was a FOY sprint at Newbridge for Hes Made It. Great Dale equalled the year’s quickest 525 at Drumbo.
Last but not least – a historic event with the victory of Minor Dorotas at Clonmel on Friday. The daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Minor Race was the first ’22 whelp to win a race. She was followed three races later by the second, March On Monster. Both are January pups.
