TRAPRISE - Max & Josie make Mystical debuts
Last Friday’s action at Galway proved highly fruitful for local kennels with a treble to cheer and hugely impressive in his first public appearance, Eoin Troy’s Mystical Max (Droopys Jet-Mystical Moll) announced himself as another immensely bright prospect for the Moneygall kennel’s wonderful brood Mystical Moll.
A patient approach sees this belated debut arrive just in advance of his second birthday next month and the immediate application of a wide seed proved suitable as, from trap 6, the Troy youngster broke just behind the early pace which was set by a rival from a familiar kennels!
Dictating matters on the run to the bend when displaying sharp early dash throughout the initial exchanges of the ON3 525 was Michael Hogan’s Grangeview Cool (Grangeview Ten-Blastoff Khalesi) but despite signs of greenness with some early bumping, the Troy charge tracked his Lorrha rival around the opening turn before striking the front on the outside at the top of the backstraight. A length to the good at halfway, Mystical Max displayed strong running abilities in the latter part of the race and extending readily clear, held six lengths over the Hogan pup when hitting the line in a very smart 29.06 (-20).
The runner-up loses little in defeat and Grangeview Cool is a certain big improver as an imposing 84lb pup, but Mystical Max could hardly have impressed more in a quality debut and is one to follow closely for the season ahead.
A hugely exciting second litter for Mystical Moll, Eoin & Jody Troy’s litter sister Mystical Josie completed a double of debut wins for the kennels over the weekend when a stunning winner of her ON3 525 at Limerick on Saturday.
In a facile victory, the March 2020 pup drew steadily clear throughout a fourteen-length score when stopping the clock in a wonderful 28.67, further confirming that her exciting litter can make a big imprint on the 2022 season.
Returning to Galway on Friday, the AA0 525 contest was the feature of the card and bouncing back to winning ways in a fastest of the night performance was Donal Guilfoyle’s Magical Poppy (Confident Rankin-Cabra Twister).
Last successful over 600 yards at Limerick in November, the August 2019 whelp spent the bulk of her 2021 campaign amidst the elite of racing and though connections would wish for a greater consistency, Poppy possesses stunning raw ability which was again on show in a dominant Friday score.
Finding one of her better breaks from trap 3, the eighth win of her career could almost be declared from the very first strides as the Guilfoyle star found a smart break from trap 3 and in command on the approach to the opening bend, was never likely to surrender such an opportunity. Turning with two lengths in hand, that advantage had doubled before reaching the halfway point and always strong at the standard four-bend trip, Magical Poppy duly completed victory with the minimum of fuss. Posting a brilliant 28.79 (-20), she will prove tough to contain in any company going forward when producing such an adept break.
Commencing the successful haul of local winners on that Friday programme was Paul Hogan’s Banjo Sally (Pat C Sabbath-Swift Foundry) who, as predicted, proved too strong for her S8 grading when registering back-to-back wins over Galway’s 350 yards.
Successful in a similar event on the previous weekend, the September 2018 whelp quickly built on that performance for a fourth race win while advancing to a new career best this time out. Very quick to stride from trap 3, she quickly established a two-length lead and defending that advantage to the opening bend, never sighted a rival while bounding further clear in the home stretch for a most dominant three and a half-length verdict. Posting 19.39 (-10), Banjo Sally will rise to S3 for her hat-trick attempt.
Kick starting the local winning action for the week when registering back-to-back victories at Limerick on Thursday, John Ryan’s Call Me Jane (Rockybay Foley-Lemon Jane) confirmed her current sharp form in a most brave performance.
Successful on the Dock Road in A4 last time out, the Ballina charge was afforded an opportunity in the same grade over 525 yards this time but was forced to battle for a prominent position throughout the early exchanges following an adept break from trap 3. In a keenly contested affair, a line of four runners reached the first bend as one but holding strong through bumping, the Ryan stalwart reached the backstraight on the inside of a two-way tussle for supremacy. Impressing while edging to the front at the halfway point, Call Me Jane led by a length at the third bend before seeing out the trip stoutly thereafter in a two-length verdict.
Posting a winning time of 29.60 in her seventh career win, Call Me Jane will remain in the same A4 grade and will hold every chance of completing a Limerick hattrick next time!
It had been hoped to be reporting a first major evet success of 2022 for the kennels of Pat Guilfoyle this week following the final of the RCETS 525 Gold Cup at Shelbourne Park but missing his start, Good Cody was forced to settle for fifth behind thrilling winner Skywalker Barry.
The latter Michael O’Donovan star collared kennelmate Serene Ace in the shadow of the post following a brilliant tussle in 28.36, ensuring a final forecast for the Tipperary Town kennel.