TRAPRISE - Classic Dream still alive in St Leger

With our local aspirations in the 2022 Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger resting in the Moneygall kennels of Pat Guilfoyle, a turbulent quarter final session at Limerick on Saturday saw a three-strong challenge reduced to a single hopeful ahead of this week’s semi-finals but in another hugely game passage, Lars & Anita Wicander’s Wi Can Dream (Cabra Firmino-Cabra Angel) registered a hat-trick of heat wins to remain unbeaten in the final classic of the season.

Backing up his opening night 29.86 effort with a smart 29.68 score last time out, the Juvenile Classic winner was pleasingly drawn on the fence this time and breaking on level terms, he crucially matched fellow early pacers Deadly Showtime and Kilcolgan Zeus to retain command of the rails approaching the first bend. In tight quarters upon turning, Wi Can Dream used his rails pitch to perfect effect and fully secured the lead when striking the front at the crown of the bends. Stretching to his winning margin before halfway, the Guilfoyle winner enjoyed a virtual solo passage thereafter and reaching the line with six lengths in hand of Kilcolgan Zeus, posted a pleasing 29.74.

Drawn in trap 3 for the second semi-final this week, Wi Can Dream will need to be sharp at trap rise with Romeo Magico and 29.49 winner Ballymac Run to his inside but expected to contest the early lead once again, clear passage may suffice for qualification as he now finally enjoys an extended run of form following an interrupted 2022 season.

There was only woe on offer for trainer Pat Guilfoyle in the remaining heats with Magical Mary baulked out of the event at the third bend of Heat 2 behind fastest winner Bobsleigh Dream before a cruel exit for racing superstar Vincenzo as he took a tumble when appearing nailed-on for victory at the opening bend of Heat 3.

RASPER OF A RUN FOR ROJA It was in September of last year that our greyhound community bid a final farewell to Ger O’Meara of Ardcroney, and his most amiable presence remains a huge loss to nights spent at the track. However, set to spark memories with each race outing, Roja Rasper (Droopys Sydney-Cooladerry Blaze) claimed his maiden victory at Limerick on Thursday under the ownership of Ger’s son Mark O’Meara.

Lightly raced as an October 2020 whelp, the last greyhound to be owned and named by Ger had just a sole previous outing before contesting his S5 350-yard contest and delivered on the promise shown when a close third on debut despite significant bumping.

Bearing a wide seed from trap 6, Roja Rasper found an adept break but still learning his trade, was slower to reach full stride than a brace of rivals to his inside. A length in arrears throughout the early exchanges, the O’Meara winner displayed smart dash when ranging up on the outside of the leaders approaching the first bend. Holding strong against a bump while turning, he would reach the home straight with a length to recover once again before relishing the long run to the line. Striking the front close home, Roja Rasper eased to a cosy one length verdict in strong running fashion and posting 19.28 (+10), left the strong impression that further improvement was imminent!

With the training responsibilities remaining within the extended family of Ger O’Meara, Aaron Morgan takes the bulk of those plaudits for this first and poignant career success, and appealing graded without a rise for this victory, only clear passage may be needed for a repeat next time.

ELMO’S FIRE STILL BURNS AT GALWAY

It had been hoped to be reporting on Galway Oaks Final success for Magical Poppy this week, but Donal Guilfoyle’s wonderful talent lost next to nothing in her runner-up defeat to Irish racing’s leading lady as Raha Mofo completed victory in the event with three and a half lengths to spare over the Moneygall charge, posting 28.52 having twice lowered the 525-yard track record in preceding heats at the Sportsground.

However, an undercard littered with local challengers returned a trio of winners to cheer with Paul Hogan’s bright prospect Five Alley Elmo (Confident Rankin-Vinneys Beauty) leading the way in a warm Croker’s Kennels A0 525 Stake.

A last time out winner in 28.74 (-20), the lightly raced August 2020 whelp appeared to have a tricky final assignment when drawn widest of the inside seeded finalists in trap 4 but ensuring crucial clear passage in his seventh career outing, the Nenagh winner charted a true line throughout the early exchanges while advancing to a narrow lead before tackling the opening bend.

A forceful gallop into the turn would bring a bump with a rival to his inside but displaying admirable determination while maintaining forward momentum, the Hogan winner fully struck the front at the crown of the bends. A very strong runner at the standard trip, Five Alley Elmo could almost be called the winner at that point if not pursued to halfway by fellow strong runner Crokers Spirit for the sponsor. Kept up to his work by that rival throughout, Five Alley Elmo was not for catching and duly seeing out the trip in strong staying fashion, he posted a brilliant 28.57 and will seek a hat-trick in the same grade next time.

Earlier on the same programme, there was a most welcome and overdue winner for after some time away from the track, and frustrating bumpy outings added to some narrow defeats, John O’Meara’s Ballygibbon Lad (Droopys Jet-Liosgarbh Elsa) roared back into the winner’s circle with an emphatic winning performance to commence the action at Galway on Friday.

Last successful in A3 grade back in May, the October 2018 whelp reached veteran status just a matter of weeks ago but clearly in the full flush of health, readily accounted for younger rivals once producing his best break to race more prominently throughout the early stages this time.

Ceding a tight one-length advantage on the long run to the corner, the O’Meara winner used all his wily track craft when railing tightly while negotiating the turn and easing clear of bumping rivals, settled the race as a contest when powering clear to the backstraight. In isolation to halfway while certain to stay stoutly, Ballygibbon Lad registered a facile tenth career win with ten and a half lengths to spare and posting 30.84, will take just a small rise to A4 for his next outing.

In a wonderful start for local kennels on Galway’s big night, the following Greyhounds Make Great Pets S5 350 saw Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue Ten (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Vicie) further impress in his career start, registering back-to-back sprint wins in the west.

A 19.39 (-5) winner on debut, the Vincent McKenna trained July 2021 pup duelled for the lead throughout the early stages from trap 6 but proving strongest in the home straight, overturned a two-length deficit when easing to a one and three-quarter length verdict in 19.32, leaving ample scope for further improvement while seeking a hat-trick next time.