LIMERICK'S biggest greyhound prize of the year is up for grabs this Saturday night in the Markets Field.
Two locals are in the line-up for the final of the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger, where the top prize is €35,000.
Things didn't go quite as anticipated in the semi-finals of the Leger over the weekend, with Kilmallock's Shaneboy Maria the surpri
se qualifier.
Bred, owned and trained by the Kiely family from Ballymac in Kilmallock, Shaneboy Maria is drawn in trap four for the final.
The solitary female in the final, the south Limerick dog will need a very fast start to clear the inevitable first bend crowding in Saturday's final.
The second Limerick dog in the final is Goldmine Emre, a dog owned and trained by Alan Higgins in Adare.
A son of Droopys Vieri and Miss Jackson he was bred by Grace O'Sullivan in Clonmel and has a great record around the Limerick circuit.
The draw for Saturday's St. Leger final is: 1. Graigues Shadow; 2. Goldmine Emre; 3. Line Of Fire; 4. Shaneboy Maria; 5. Jaxerback; 6. Boherash Gaoithe.
The semi-finals saw a number of the fancied contenders fail to survive, but the final line-up is very representative as owners from Limerick, Cork, Tyrone and England are in contention for classic honours.
Likely favourite for the final is Graigues Shadow, a dog trained in Laois by Jim Morrissey on behalf of Sheffield-based owner Anthony Rhodes.
Morrissey is seeking his second St. Leger success as he was on the mark with Indesacjack two years ago.
Line Of Fire, in three, is bidding for a 14th success in the St. Leger for the McKenna dynasty from Borrisokane.
The legendary Ger McKenna dominated the Leger for many years and last year his son Owen maintained the tradition when winning it with Lughill Jo.
Meanwhile, the Pick 4 wasn't won at the Limerick track on Sunday evening, which means there is a rollover of €943 to Saturday night - Leger final night. The Tote has announced that the Pick 4 will be guaranteed to €4,000 on the night. Incidentally, the Trio in the second semi-final of the Leger was not won on Sunday and there was a carry-over of €1,100. In the following race the Trio pool rose to nearly €4,000 and the winning dividend was €187.
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