TRAPRISE - Boss scores Cool Sprint win

One of the most consistent competitors in the sport over the past two seasons, the Four Culchies Syndicate’s Coolemount Boss (Iso Octane-Coolemount Bally) scarcely knows how to run a bad race and following a string of smart performances in the top grade of racing, he further enhanced his hugely appealing profile with a most game Gain Greyhound 28 S1 350 victory at Galway on Friday.

A busy fixture within race week out west, the warm sprint event represented an ease in grade for the March 2019 whelp and he duly seized his plausible opportunity when breaking sharply to lead throughout his eleventh race win.

Quickest to reach full stride from trap 4, the Michael Rafferty trained speedster immediately took command throughout the initial exchanges and led by over a length on the approach to the opening bend. Holding strong against a bump to his hind quarters from an advancing rival while tackling the bends, the Ballingarry winner maintained his powerful forward momentum into the home stretch and highly proficient at further, was never likely to surrender his winning position. Bounding clear on the long run to the line, Coolemount Boss put five lengths between himself and his nearest pursuer when stopping the clock at 19.38 (-10) and has now filled a forecast place in twenty-four of his 38 career starts. Without a rise in grade for this latest victory, he will prove very difficult to contain next time.

A Friday fixture which was entirely sponsored by Gain Feeds, there was further local success in the following Puppy & Sapling A2 525 where Abigail Morrissey’s Abigails Power (Belles Direction-Geelo Lu Lu) bounced back to winning ways in thrilling fashion.

Forced to settle for fourth place in a warm A1 525 Sweepstake Final when completely missing his break at Clonmel last weekend, the August 2019 whelp quickly atoned despite again being headed throughout the early stages this time.

In last position on the approach to the opening bend when only moderately to stride from trap 3, the Morrissey winner crucially advanced to fourth place when remaining within four lengths to the top of the backstraight. Producing a hugely eye-catching effort along the backstraight, Abigails Power rapidly reduced his arrears to the third bend and despite briefly checked while turning, advanced to second with a daring challenge along the rails entering the final bend. Setting sights on Jamie Hogan’s Grangeview Best in the home straight, a telling late surge saw Abigails Power deny that gallant early pacesetter with a length to spare in 29.21 (-20).

That winning time will keep him in A2 for his next outing and capable at higher, the Morrissey stalwart will hold every claim for a quick repeat.

Marvellous mammy Meduza makes sparkling return

Absent from the headlines throughout the 2022 season, John Meelam & Sean Ryan’s Meduza (Good News-Jaytee Osprey) had not been idle in her near eight-month sabbatical from racing as the hugely talented local star had become a mother to six thriving pups before returning to racing action at Limerick on Saturday with a stunning performance to land her A1 525 contest.

The proud mammy of three dogs and three bitches to famed sire Premier Fantasy since last seen on the track in December, the John Byrne trained February 2019 whelp is a very exciting recruit to the breeding sphere but clearly in the full flush of health with her rearing duties complete, Meduza chose the most effective way to advertise her credentials as a brood by returning to the track, again displaying her vast array of racing qualities.

Drawn in trap 2 for a warm A1 event at Limerick, last season’s Golden Muzzle finalist on the Dock Road presented in sharp form when commanding the rails position from trap 2. Defending her inside pitch at the opening bend while preventing the early paced Moonlight Macy from rounding her on the run to the backstraight, the Byrne darling began to nose in front on the run to halfway. Resuming normal service following her long absence, Meduza displayed her customary prowess from halfway and drew readily clear to the closing bends before stretching to a commanding six length verdict at the line.

A winning time of 28.76 is admirably only a few lengths off her wonderful best and remaining in A1 grade for her next outing, she can be fancied to extend her impressive profile yet further.

That victory was completing a double for the Knockalton kennels of John Byrne as the earlier S4 350 delivered a second career win for Jessica Reddan & Dominic O’Brien’s Taylormade Art (Magical Bale-Patterdale Lena).

Twice second over the trip in recent outings, the September 2020 pup took advantage of a minor ease in grade this time when breaking smartly from her middle draw in trap 3.

Much the quickest to reach full stride, Taylormade Art readily established a one length lead on the long run to the first bend and defending that margin while turning, reached the home straight with a brace of rivals on either flank while straightening for the line.

Remaining resolute out front however, Taylormade Art continued to repel all threats in a protracted tussle to the line and with a half length in hand, posted 19.28 which will keep her in the same grade with obvious claims again next time.