Liam sweet on Ballinakill for Salver success
Breeder Liam O’Keefe gives his thoughts on Ballinakill Liam's chances in the ARC Kent Silver Salver final at Central Park
Liam sweet on Ballinakill for Salver success
It could be a double celebration for Liam O’Keefe if Ballinakill Liam can win the ARC Kent Silver Salver final at Central Park on Saturday.
Heading up the Cunnigar Racing team, O’Keefe bred the May 2023 son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Cunnigar Spice, and the exciting sprinter runs for the Mark Wallis and the MWD Partnership in the big final this weekend.
O’Keefe was originally due to be at the Kent track for the decider but the competition was put back a week due to the extremely wet weather on day of the scheduled first round, and the Category One decider now clashes with a big birthday in the O’Keefe family.
As a result, he has had to postpone his trip to the UK but he’ll still be watching from afar.
“It’s unfortunate timing because it is my Mum’s 90th birthday on Saturday and we can’t make it now,” said O’Keefe
“We had planned to go over to Central Park but my Mum’s birthday celebrations take precedence!
“Hopefully, we’ll get over to see him run later in the year.
“We bred him here and he’s part of a good litter. His sister Imokilly Roxanne is a really good bitch at the moment and she shows the same early gears that Ballinakill Liam does, so they seem to be a litter that are really fast away.”
The breeder was pleased to see his former charge draw trap six and he is hopeful of a big run.
He added: “Ballinakill Liam missed the break slightly last week but he was in the with track record holder in King Presley. He was only one spot off the track record week before with his 16.03 victory and the track was slow that night, so it was a massive run.
“He seems to like Central Park, so hopefully he is back to that form and he can do the business.
“I am happy he’s back out in trap six – he has the whole run up with nothing on the right of him and he’s a better dog than he showed last week.”
O’Keefe is under no illusions of just how good the race is and that Ballinakill Liam will need to be at his very best to land the £12,500 first prize.
He continued: “It’s an amazing final. You’ve got Rioja Oisin, who is another track record holder from Perry Barr, and Pavilion Team, who is also very fast. You couldn’t make a better sprint final at the moment.
“We wish everyone in the final the best of luck and, whoever it is, they will be a worthy winner.”
A finalist in the Monmore Puppy Derby in March, Ballinakill Liam has been a revelation since dropping to two bends but O’Keefe believes the best is yet to come.
“He’s taken time to settle into the kennels but now that he has, we’re seeing the best of him,” he explained.
“I believe this line of breeding really strengthen up once they’re two-years-old and we might see a better dog over 400m at Romford, or something like that, in the future.”
When asked if the dog was named after him, O’Keefe revealed the story behind the name and how he has returned the favour.
He said: “Adam Dunford had him before he went to England and he named him after me. Now we have an 11-month-old litter out of Dorotas Wildcat and Cunnigar Spice and we have called one Cunnigar Adam, in return for the good gesture.”
