TRAPRISE - Billyray is boss in Limerick unraced stake final

TRAPRISE

 

Billyray is boss in Limerick unraced stake final

 

On yet another weekend where the weather dictated the racing schedule and saw the Saturday card at Thurles postponed, Limerick Greyhound Stadium withstood the inclement conditions which allowed Donal Guilfoyle’s Magical Billyray to complete his career start with novice stake victory in most game fashion.

Successful in his debut outing a week earlier, he posted 29.45 in that semi-final victory but with little separating all three heat winners on the clock, the final retained a very open complexion ahead of Saturday’s final showdown.

Drawn in Trap 2, a smart break would see the Pat Guilfoyle trained pup contesting the lead in the early stages and superior early pace on the run to the first bend would see him with a slender lead before tackling the turn. Keenly coursing the hare, he would drift to the middle of the track and would continue to chart a wide course while defending his lead to the back-straight. Extending his advantage passing the halfway mark, he stretched to a near three length lead before again offering hope to his closest pursuer when swinging wide into the home-straight. Once straightening for the line however, he would again ease clear for a ready success when posting 29.27 in a four and three-quarter length verdict.

A July 2018 whelp, the performance was full of promise when considering just how green Magical Billyray (Droopys Nidge/Skywalker Mandy) was at the bends and in the best hands to foster his clearly evident latest abilities, he looks another very smart prospect for the Moneygall kennels and can be expected to improve rapidly over the coming weeks and months.

 

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