Zodiac Jack delivers in Michael Heffernan Memorial Senior Draghunt
Gary and Nicole Freyne of Clogheen with What Now Betty, winner of the Michael Heffernan Memorial Senior Draghunt at Shanlyre.
A superb finish from Zodiac Jack of Southern/Carrigaline Harriers was good enough to win the Michael Heffernan Memorial Senior Draghunt at Shanalyre on Sunday.
To avoid a clash with the Munster football final, the hounds were slipped at noon and reports from the various vantage points suggested the heat of the day wasn’t affecting the hounds.
When the hounds showed on the finish the reigning champion Sean T of Griffin United looked to have a slender lead but when the call went up the winner showed a tremendous turn of foot to cross the tape a length to the good.
Northern Hunt trainer John O’Callaghan will be pleased with the performance of Applause who snatched third ticket with the winning trainers Ger and Jennifer Kenneally naturally thrilled with their hound’s display.
“Zodiac Jack had a slow start to the season but we have noticed she is coming good in recent weeks and I think her finish today was right from the top drawer,” said Ger Kenneally.
In the Senior Maiden Draghunt, consistency was rewarded when Not Now Betty, bridesmaid on four occasions this season, won her second draghunt of the campaign for Clogheen trainers Gary, Joe and Nicole Freyne.
In a draghunt where the winner took total control, she had the class to cross the tape a distance ahead of Knock’s Mac of Griffin United and Lewis Lass from Shanakiel harriers.
The puppy meeting at the same venue on Saturday saw two good draghunts and what a day it proved for Mayfield trainers Denis Wall and Denis Dowling when their charge Anyone on the Phone landed the spoils.
The Shanlyre terrain can be tricky for young hounds but credit to all hounds they managed to drive the hunt at pace.
In another classic finish the winner saw off the determined challenge of Charlotte’s Lass from Mary Barrett’s Shanakiel harriers kennel with Putting on the Style filling third ticket.
There was a natural elation in the winner’s camp with trainer Denis Wall praising his promising young hound.
“We are thrilled with the win as he has been knocking on the door for a few weeks and hopefully we will not have to wait as along for the next one,” said Denis Wall.
In the Puppy Maiden Draghunt, the recent winning run in this grade for Fireball continued as the Tristan, Olivia, Jaylyn and Ben Herlihy trained hound showed his class to win this third race of the season.
In another close finish the winner saw off Gypsy Rock trained by Emma Power of Northern Hunt with the Shanalkiel Harriers duo of Naoi’s Boy and Naoi’s Girl filling third and fourth tickets.
Next weekend the popular Sean and Monica Walsh Memorial Puppy and Senior meetings will take place at the Fornaght.
The Puppy draghunt will take place on Friday with a 7pm slip and on Sunday the senior hounds have a scheduled 4pm slip.
1. Zodiac Jack (Southern/Carrigaline harriers); 2. Sean T (Griffin United); 3. Applause (Northern Hunt); 4. Not now May (Clogheen); 5. Authentic (Northern Hunt); 6. Hannah Bawn (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill harriers).
1. Not Now Betty (Clogheen); 2. Knock’s Mac (Griffin United); 3. Lewis Lass (Shanakiel harriers); 4. Pixies Mexican Dream (Shanakiel harriers); 5. Magic’s Pride (Mayfield); 6. Born to Run (Northern Hunt).
1. Anyone on the Phone (Mayfield); 2. Charlotte’s Lass (Shanakiel harriers); 3. Putting on the Style (Clogheen); 4. One day at a Time (Clogheen); 5. Blue Lilly (Southern/Carrigaline harriers); 6. Mossy’s Diamond (Mayfield).
1. Fireball (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill harriers); 2. Gypsy Rock (Northern Hunt); 3. Naoi’s Boy (Shanakiel harriers); 4. Naoi’s Girl (Shanakiel harriers); 5. Mannix (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill harriers); 6. Mossy’s Reign (Mayfield).
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