TRAPRISE - Kate is Taylor made for top grade

The quality of racing at Thurles over recent weeks has been from the very top drawer with the prestigious Reddan Windows & Doors Champion Bitch Stake delivery scintillating action ahead of this week’s final showdown.

However, there has been another of the fairer sex grabbing attentions of late and going back-to-back over 570 yards on Saturday, David McGrath’s Taylor Kate (Tyrur Big Mike-Leamaneigh Breda) completed her graduation to Open class racing in another facile winning performance.

It had been suggested in these pages that her future would lie at the very top level, given the manner of her latest A2 victory and taking a minor upgrade in her stride when contesting this week’s A1 570 event, Taylor Kate compounded that assertion in emphatic fashion.

Breaking on level terms from Trap 2, the January 2019 youngster contested the lead on the long run to the opening bend and turning on the inside of Cabra Dawn, seized an advantage to the backstraight despite a bump with that much-respected rival. Closely pursued to halfway with just a length in hand, it was from this point that the Toomevara prospect again revealed her Open class credentials when bounding clear to the closing bends. The verdict settled before reaching the home straight, Taylor Kate extended to seven lengths at the line and posting 31.50 (-40), rises to Open class following a visually stunning third career win.

On a wonderful Thurles card, the Champion Bitch Stake’s Nenagh sponsor will have been delighted with the quality of semi-final performance in the main event where the Mark O’Donovan trained Skywalker Cilla went fastest, grabbing Mucky Harbour in the dying strides of their 28.96 (-40) thriller over 525 yards after young Thurles owner Paddy Scally claimed the opening semi, also getting up late to deny Azzabi in 29.06 (-40).

Meduza magic in local Limerick quartet There was scarcely time to catch breath between winners as local kennels rattled off a quickfire hattrick in the early part of Saturday’s Limerick programme, but a wonderfully successful night would get better in the concluding A1 525 as, saving the best for last, the hugely likeable Meduza (Good News-Jaytee Osprey) ensured her return to Open class when adding a fourth local success while fastest of the entire card for John Meelam & Sean Ryan.

Trained by John Byrne, the February 2019 youngster endured a luckless outing in the Champion Bitch Stake at Thurles last time but back to her best breaking form, gained quick compensation as the strong runner took command of the race in the early exchanges from Trap 4.

A length to the good at the first bend, Meduza extended clear while impressively galloping the turns and had the race settled when five lengths in advance of smart rivals to halfway. Never likely to surrender such an opportunity with form at further, she duly converted in comfortable fashion when repelling a strong staying rival by two and a half lengths. Posting a brilliant 28.62, Meduza now returns to Open class with an exciting 2021 season ahead.

Sparking the local party at Limerick, the first leg of a litter double for the Sean Mulcahy bred, October 2018, litter by Ballymac Bigmike out of home favourite Greenisle Athena was delivered by the Carrigatoher kennel’s Corporate Memory who shed her maiden tag in the A5 525.

Not seen since October, Corporate Memory had failed to secure a clear run in three previous races and as such, remained unexposed ahead of her return. Again, finding more than the odd brush when only moderately to stride from Trap 4 this time, she did however find herself in a close-up fourth at the top of the backstraight. Impressing while passing rivals to claim second entering the closing bends, a daring run on the inside saw the Mulcahy charge bravely draw level with the leader before striking the front in the home straight. Staying stoutly to the line thereafter, Corporate Memory gained a most deserved first career win with a half-length to spare and left ample scope to build on her time of 29.31.

In a campaign which almost mirrors that of her comrade, Jack Duff’s Well Boys completed the litter double soon after and, also returning form a layoff to secure a first career win, presented in sparkling form to dominate her S5 350-yard contest.

Her four previous outings had come at 525 but with early pace shown, the switch to sprinting proved ideal as the Duff charge produced her best break to immediately contest the lead from Trap 3. Displaying much the best early pace once in full stride, Well Boys never sighted a rival thereafter when drawing readily clear to a two length first bend lead. Maintaining her powerful gallop throughout, Well Boys posted a smart 19.12 in a three-length verdict and remaining lightly raced, appears primed for further progress despite a rise to S3 next time.

Sandwiched between those comrades, yet another local runner secured a first career win and at the fourth time of asking, the Ducking And Diving Syndicate’s Double Pay (Laughil Blake-Beeves Rock) was hugely impressive while shaking off his maiden tag in Saturday’s A4 525.

Just a July 2019 whelp, the Tommy Fletcher trained pup had twice filled second in three previous outings and having repeatedly shown pleasing promise, gained due reward when bravely battling his way to the front following a level break in Trap 5. Gradually edging clear to a one length lead before tackling the opening bend, the Roscrea pup effectively settled the race with a smooth gallop to the backstraight. Reaching his three-length winning margin at halfway, he kept all rivals at bay with that same distance in hand at the line while posting a smart 28.96. That effort will bring a rise to A2 for his next outing but with time on his side, Double Pay is another exciting recruit for canny connections.