TRAPRISE - Good prospect Doubles down in Galway victory
Always a fiercely contested graded sweepstake at Galway, the Liam Brussells Memorial 525 perennially demands performances well in excess of it’s advertised A5 billing and local aspirations were two-fold ahead of Friday’s final before the Ducking And Diving Syndicate’s Double Good (Good News-Bull Run Kite) settled the showdown with a fourth victory on the spin!
Always a fiercely contested graded sweepstake at Galway, the Liam Brussells Memorial 525 perennially demands performances well in excess of it’s advertised A5 billing and local aspirations were two-fold ahead of Friday’s final before the Ducking And Diving Syndicate’s Double Good (Good News-Bull Run Kite) settled the showdown with a fourth victory on the spin!
A September 2018 youngster, the Tommy Fletcher trained prospect entered the opening round following a maiden win in the same grade at Thurles but clearly primed for improvement, readily progressed when posting 28.97 (-20) on his Galway debut.
Again, displaying strong running abilities when successful at semi-final stage in 29.00 (-20), it appeared that his biggest rival ahead of the final could be the John Byrne trained Raparee Bawn. The latter claimed her semi-final in impressive fashion despite slower on the clock in 29.42 (20) but she would ultimately be held as Double Good returned a brilliant final performance.
From only a moderate beginning on the rails, the Roscrea youngster would trail the pacesetters to the first bend before negotiating a path to second place on the inside at the top of the backstraight. Reducing a three-length deficit to just a half at the third turn, he would have his run checked briefly but rallied when a gap appeared on the rail entering the home run. Seeing out the trip stoutly, Double Good bounded clear thereafter when holding over three lengths in hand while posting 29.10 (-20). On a rapid upward curve at present, he is a very bright prospect for all connected with obvious scope to progress yet further with extra yardage sure to suit!
Alice advances in sizzling St Leger quarter final
Securing a first Irish St Leger title with Skywalker Rory in 2016, Moneygall trainer Pat Guilfoyle was double handed in search of further classic glory at Limerick ahead of the 2020 quarterfinals on Saturday and while there was disappointment for a gallant Magical Jasper, the wonderful young talent Amazing Alice did reach the final twelve with a truly brave passage in the fastest heat of the round.
From Trap 4 in the opener, Amazing Alice (Aero Majestic-Droopys Coast) made just a moderate start as Derby finalist Ballymac Wild was very quickly to stride on her inside. Switching towards the rails, Alice would bump with Epic Hero before racing on the fence in third approaching the first bend. Retaining her position to the backstraight when over four lengths adrift of the leader, the order didn’t change thereafter although the Guilfoyle star did close to within a length of Epic Hero close home. Back to his brilliant best, Ballymac Wild posted a stunning 29.40 for the 550-yard St Leger trip which is truly remarkable given the winter going conditions at present.
Safely qualifying in third, such was the quality of this quarterfinal that Amazing Alice was in fact the third fastest runner of the heats and capable of a much swifter start, she remains a big player in the St Leger as she seeks a first classic victory having filled second in the Irish Cesarewitch at Mullingar just a few weeks ago.
Drawn closer to the inside in Trap 2 for this Saturday’s opening semi-final, she will again face-off against Ballymac Wild and has that rival housed to her inside. Flanked by Liam Dowling runners, the first round’s fastest winner Ballymac Kingdom occupies Trap 3 but our local hopeful can be expected to contain all runners, which includes her Cesarewitch conqueror Meenagh Miracle, to her outside on the run to the bend.
Clearly the presence of Ballymac Wild to her inner is a complication but if that duo avoid bumping, Alice can turn in a handy position and it would be difficult for any of the field to harbour realistic hopes of passing the Guilfoyle star if she occupies a qualifying place at any point in the race.
Akay shoots from the hip
Having impressed with a gutsy debut victory at Clonmel back in July, a seasonal break saw Akay Forty Seven (Holdem Spy-Mustang Vienna) off the track for over three months but back in action and switched to the Pat Guilfoyle kennels, the bright young talent has now scored her second A3 525 yard victory on the bounce and advances to Open class following a stunning Shelbourne Park victory for owners Sean Bourke of Newpark Stud and Labour Party leader Alan Kelly.
Remarkably securing a dead-heat in 29.27 last time out while recovering from last position, the September 2018 youngster revealed her strong staying abilities over the standard trip and with a more trouble free passage to the backstraight on Friday, she duly found significant progression. From trap 1, she would reach the backstraight in third place with three lengths to recover but powering to the closing bends, had closed to the leader’s tail before striking the front on the inside on the run for home. Extending readily clear thereafter, Akay Forty Seven put five lengths between herself and the pursuers while stopping the clock in a brilliant 28.54.
A third win from four starts, she will be obliged to tackle exalted company going forward but clearly possesses limitless potential with extended four bend trips an obvious option in the future. In the perfect kennel to foster her progression, the aptly christened Akay Forty Seven is a name to remember!
The Saturday fixture at Thurles rarely passes without a local winner and taking his tally to double figures in a second win from his last three starts, Pat Moore’s Glaise Blue (Droopys Jet-Invinciblejackie) dominated his A3 525-yard contest.
A slick early pacer at the standard trip, the Pairic Campion trained July 2017 whelp slipped his rivals following a level break from Trap 3 and tackling the opening bend with command of the rails, settled the race when streaking clear to halfway. Well in command to the closing turns, he would cede late ground to a strong staying rival but was full value for a two-length verdict in 29.58 (-40) and will hold obvious claims in the same grade next time.