TRAPRISE - Meduza and King seek Tipp glory for Byrne
The semi-finals of the 2021 Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup were the feature of an early Sunday fixture at Thurles, and always a coveted prize for local kennels, trainer John Byrne is double handed ahead of this Saturday’s prestigious final showdown.
The Knockalton kennels had been without a heat win before both John Meelam & Sean Ryan’s Meduza, and Dominic O’Brien & John Byrne’s Knockalton King went side by side into traps 4 and 5 respectively for the opening semi-final.
Forced to contest behind the early pace set by fast starting Freedom Epic, the Byrne duo raced amidst a tightly packed field approaching the first bend before Knockalton King (Good News-Newlawn Minnie) bravely rounded rivals to claim second while turning. Closer to the rails, Meduza (Good News-Jaytee Osprey) firstly took a bump to her inside before ushered outward into further traffic. Admirably maintaining forward momentum, the Golden Muzzle finalist kept her Tipperary Cup hopes alive when chasing the unbeaten Auxerre to the back-straight before settling down to battle that rival for a crucial qualifying third. Out front, Freedom Epic had stretched clear of all bumping and ultimately dominated the heat but halving his arrears, Knockalton King retained second place when three lengths adrift at the line in 29.25 (-20) while Meduza produced a performance of real merit when staying the 525 yards stoutly to reach the final while just a length behind her kennelmate.
Final Draw; 1) Borna Aoife 2) Meduza 3) Freedom Epic 4) Edencurra Brae 5) Dark Devil (m) 6) Knockalton King (w)
Sure to start favourite, Murt Leahy’s Dark Devil has won each of his last two heats and led home Edencurra Brae by half a length in their classy 28.90 (-20) semi clash. However, Meduza matched up very well with that rival in their second-round meeting and her draw in trap 2 now gives ample hope to believe that she can be more forward on the run to halfway than in any of her previous heats.
Enduring a luckless final passage in the Golden Muzzle at Limerick having won all heats, a complete reversal of that campaign remains highly plausible as she can lead Borna Aoife for crucial command of the rails around the opening bends.
To Meduza’s right, the early pace of Freedom Epic can complicate the early stages for favourite Dark Devil and the highly respected Edencurra Brae while ideally drawn, Knockalton King will also vie for the lead on the outside.
All assessed, there is a plausible clear path to victory for Meduza as the leading hope for the Byrne kennels and it is only with the merest touch of bias that she is given the vote to atone for her Golden Muzzle Final defeat while delivering a precious first Tipperary Cup for trainer John Byrne.
Ryan’s Lasting legacy
Set to constantly spark memories of his recently passed uncle, a weekend double for Ballina’s John Ryan featured a poignant third career win for Last Attack (Corporate Attack-Sopwell Magpie) as one of the last runners under the care of the late Tommy Ryan.
Three times filling second place since his last victory, the September 2018 whelp has always been a strong runner over four-bend distances and ideally housed in trap 2 for Friday’s A5 550 at Galway, he ensured clear passage when finding one of his better breaks. Commanding the rails on the run to the first bend, the Ryan stalwart ceded the lead to an early paced rival before reaching the back-straight with three lengths to recover. Setting sights on the pacesetter, a powerful effort beyond halfway saw Last Attack steadily reduce his arrears before his daring move on the inside around the closing bends saw him forcefully strike the front entering the home stretch. Staying strongly to the line thereafter, Last Attack drew clear in imperious fashion while pronouncing the legacy of his late friend Tommy to be very much alive, posting 30.72 in a four and a half-length verdict.
The first leg of the Ryan double came on Thursday at Limerick as Call Me Jane (Rockybay Foley-Lemon Jane) won in thrilling fashion as she got up in the dying strides of the A4 525 for a third career success.
Sneaking a run on the rails around the opening bends from her ideal trap 1, the January 2019 whelp recovered a near three-length deficit beyond halfway when getting up close home for a most game neck verdict in 29.76.
Boss makes Cool progress in Sprint Cup
Having claimed Limerick’s feature sprint event of the season with Treaty Cup victory for Millrose Melody, the Rafferty kennels of Ballingarry are back in the hunt for major success amongst the elite sprinters of Ireland and there was much to enthuse over following the game passage of the Four Culchies Syndicate’s Coolemount Boss (Iso Octane-Coolemount Bally) in the Bar One Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk on Saturday.
Opening his campaign with a qualifying third over the 400-yard trip, the Rafferty speedster progressed to a smart time of 21.16 when second to Buttys Bengal next time. Remaining without a heat win following Saturday’s quarterfinal, there nonetheless was plenty of encouragement as he chased home the unbeaten hotpot Corbrack Prince in the fastest heat.
Breaking well from trap 3, Coolemount Boss held a narrow advantage before the hot favourite ranged up on his inside at the opening bend. Negotiating the bends on his tail, Coolemount Boss was clearly inconvenienced with his racing line blocked to the home stretch and there was no disgrace in his subsequent four and a half-length defeat in a sizzling 20.88 which left much scope for further improvement ahead of this Saturday’s semi-finals.