Salmon set for McKenna final showdown
Continued racing behind closed doors has certainly not curtailed a steady stream of local winners since the turn of the year with a plethora of winning returns once again over the past week with Galway in particular proving highly fruitful.
We commence, however, with a defeated runner on Saturday, but trainer PJ Tynan will remain undeterred following the hugely pleasing passage to the final of the Paul McKenna Memorial A5 575 Stake by young Sean Hackett’s Port West Salmon (Droopys Jet-Trout Or Salmon).
Closely related to a host of top-grade classic performers, the March 2019 pup was having just a fourth career start when shedding her maiden tag in impressive fashion while posting 32.21 (-20) in the opening round of the stake. Backing up that effort with a second round 32.46 (-20) victory, the Tynan charge took leading claims to Saturday’s semi-final when facing-off against fellow unbeaten contender Kiss An Angel.
Breaking smartly from Trap 2, Port West Salmon unluckily took an early bump from a rival to her inner and forced to recover ground on the run to the bend, set about reducing a two-length deficit. Possessing early pace at the extended trip, she duly ranged up on the inside of the afore-mentioned rival while tackling the bends and cornering proficiently, struck the front entering the backstraight. Unable to fully shake off the attentions of Kiss An Angel, the Ballinderry charge ceded the lead when checked at the third turn before chasing that same rival to the line at a deficit of four and a half lengths.
A warm contest in 31.71 (-20), Port West Salmon remains the second fastest of the finalists on this effort and there are plausible hopes for a reverse in this week’s final. Drawn in trap 2, she can command the early action on the inside with a slow starting rival to her left and if avoiding a bump this time, can be expected to forge a more telling lead. A precious opportunity for her trainer to gain victory in a prestigious event named in honour of his late neighbour, expect a bold bid from Port West Salmon on Saturday!
On the same Galway card, the opening two races were claimed by Pat Guilfoyle where is own Magical Sienna (Confident Rankin-Cabra Twister) sparked the double in the ON3 525. An August 2019 pup, she showed some signs of greenness in the early strides of her debut appearance but more than hinted at a real touch of class beyond the halfway point. Fourth at the top of the backstraight with four lengths to recover, the penny had dropped by halfway and making rapid inroads to the closing bends, a sustained effort saw her strike the front entering the home stretch. Powering to the line thereafter, Magical Sienna posted 29.76 (-20) in a seven-length verdict while leaving big scope for imminent improvement.
Also owned by Pat Guilfoyle, the pleasing early signs for the May 2019 litter by Good News out of Mystical Moll were extended when Alice Wants Cash also scored an impressive debut win in his ON2 350.
Almost a length in arrears following a moderate break from trap 5, he quickly began to display the best early pace once in full flight and securing a one length first bend lead, readily converted while powering to the line thereafter. Stretching to three and a half lengths in 19.32 (-10), expect steady improvement from this pleasing introduction to racing.
Sparking the Galway winning parade with a second career victory from just four starts, Ballygraigue Jim (Silverhill Shay-Newlawn Minnie) further enhanced the first ownership experience of young Charlie Bourke as the sharp July 2019 whelp dominated Friday’s S3 350-yard contest.
The Bourke pup has been displaying the early paced attributes of his local sire in his short career and swift to stride from Trap 3, never sighted a rival this time when immediately securing a lead from traps. Defending a two-length advantage to the opening bend, the Bourke charge was never seriously threatened thereafter when reaching the line with that same margin in hand, and avoiding a rise in grade, can hold realistic claims to repeat the feat next time.
Closer to home, the Saturday fixture at Thurles added further to a hugely successful week for the Guilfoyle kennels in Moneygall as Magical Jasper and Explosive Boy repeated their Open race victories of a week earlier, over 570 and 330-yards, respectively.
Stalwart Magical Jasper (Head Bound-Laughil Louise) posted a fast 31.48 (-40) to set up a hat-trick bid next time but as impressive as that was, it was the performance of the Peter Sutcliffe owned Explosive Boy (Good News-Delightful Girl) which eclipsed all on the night.
Highly impressive in his 17.90 (-10) sprint win following a slow start the previous week, a more adept break this time went some way to revealing the true extent of his raw speed. Still behind the pace leaving Trap 1, he quickly recovered his half length deficit when reaching full flight and was visually stunning in his demolition of a high-quality field. Bounding clear throughout a five-length victory, Explosive Boy posted 17.68 (-10) and looks increasingly like a future star who can make a real imprint on the sport.
On the same Thurles programme, Tina Morrisey’s Abigails Sky (Toolatetosell-Mandeville Can) rounded off the action with a second win from her last three starts when claiming the A3 570 event. Posting 31.93 (-40), she just avoids a rise in grade and will hold obvious claims to repeat next time, a comment that also apply to Eddie Ryan’s Moneygall Queen (Romeo Recruit-Bull Run Spice) after she secured a first career win in the preceding A6 525.
Just an April 2019 whelp, the Ryan pup had shown promise despite defeat in both previous outings. Bumped in those contests, she found pleasing improvement on Saturday when leaving little to chance with an improved break from Trap 5 which saw her in command throughout the early exchanges.
Reaching the bend with two lengths in hand, Moneygall Queen extended further to halfway and although ceding ground to a strong staying rival late on, retained a three-quarter length margin at the line in a smart 29.59 (-10). In the infancy of her career, she remains open to imminent progression.
We may have to wait a couple of weeks to see these winners back in action at Thurles for this coming Saturday brings the commencement of the 2021 Champion Bitch Stake. A prestigious event as a perennial highlight on the Premier circuit, the stake has a new sponsor this year with Reddan Windows & Doors of Nenagh. With a strong entry already reported ahead of last Monday’s deadline, management and the Track Supporters Club expressed thanks to Dave Reddan ahead of certain scintillating action over the coming month.