TRAPRISE - Rapid final performance for McKenna at Shelbourne Park

A kennel in an extended run of good form, the Friday programme at Shelbourne Park offered further opportunity of sweepstake success for trainer Vincent McKenna with the Paul Pardy owned So Its Rapid (Rosbirr Ranger-Classy Ebony) and completing a wonderful February at the capital venue, the hugely progressive racer secured final victory in the Runs Deep S1 350-Yard Stake.

A winner of the 2022 Liam Brussels Memorial A4 525 at Galway back in November, the August 2020 whelp began this month with a first Shelbourne victory over 525-yards when posting 29.17 but reverted to his wonderful sire’s discipline when claiming first round victory in the 12-runner sprint event, registering an impressive 18.84 in semi-final victory.

Suited by his repeat draw in trap 6 for the final, the wide seeded Borrisokane charge broke just behind the pace but displaying the best dash on the long run to the bend, reached the corner with a half-length in hand of rivals to his outside. Highly impressive while negotiating the turns at pace, So Its Rapid extended further clear despite charting a wider course and powering along the home straight, posted 18.89 in a cosy two-length verdict.

Winning all three of his February outings, So Its Rapid has now won eight of his fifteen career races with a canny and profitable knack of converting in finals! With options over both two and four bends going forward, the improving tracker remains an exciting prospect for shrewd connections when looking ahead to what is likely to be a busy season for the admirably consistent performer.

FOUR FROM FOUR FOR TEN!

Not content to settle for just that victory over the weekend, the McKenna kennels were on the score sheet again on Saturday when Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue Ten (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Vicie) remained unbeaten in his wonderful career start at Galway.

Confined to sprint trips thus far, the July 2021 whelp completed a hattrick of victories at the end of last season when bearing a wide seed but returning form a short layoff with that seeding switched to inside, the McKenna pup readily registered four in a row with trap 1 proving no impediment.

Breaking a length behind the pace in his S3 350 contest, Ballygraigue Ten began to gradually reduce those arrears when displaying the best dash on the long run to the bend. Defending a rails pitch, the unbeaten pup maintained his perfect set of figures when striking the front on the inside while tackling the turns and powering to the line, thereafter, posted a new personal best of 19.11 (-5).

That time will bring a rise to S2 for sprint trips going forward but clearly open to further progress with a step up in distance always an option, his winning streak may well extend yet further over coming weeks.

Staying over the sprint trip at Galway, the Friday action saw another promising local youngster progress to a new best as the improving Five Alley Din (Ballymac Best-Annual Tears) backed-up his latest maiden win at the same venue with victory in his S6 350 event.

Scoring at the fourth time of asking when posting 19.45 (-5) over the same trip last time, the Paul Hogan & Denis O’Brien owned January 2021 youngster found ready improvement when swifter to stride this time from trap 3 and immediately in command, never sighted a rival in a dominant performance. A length to the good at the opening bend, he stretched his lead with every stride thereafter and with three and a half lengths to spare at the line posted a swift 19.10 (-50).

Taking a significant rise to S3 grade, Five Alley Din looks infinitely capable of handling that level while retaining an unexposed profile for four bend distances which look a viable option given the strong running manner of his sprint wins.

The winning action for last week again began on the Thursday fixture at Limerick and bouncing back to winning ways with a first score in the new season was Patrick Conway’s Curraghmorestar (Droopys Jet-Fire Back) as the consistent July 2019 whelp took her tally to an even dozen in the Saturday Night Racing A3 525.

Last successful in A2 grade at the end of December, Thursday’s contest offered a plausible opportunity to step up on recent defeats and the July 2019 whelp duly converted in most game fashion.

Breaking well from trap 1, the Ballina charge commanded the rails on the run to the corner and turning with a tight one-length advantage, came under significant pressure at the closing bends when tackled and briefly headed by a rival to her outside.

Not to be denied however, Curraghmorestar displayed all of her admirable battling qualities when again striking the front off the final bend for a one-length verdict in 29.15. Avoiding a rise for this success, the Conway stalwart will hold every claim for a repeat next time.

The Saturday fixture at Thurles did not pass without a local winner to cheer and another bouncing back to winning ways following a run of placed efforts since last successful in A4 grade in December, Pat & Mary Kennedy’s Dromulton Jet (Droopys Jet-Kingdom Queen) took advantage of a recent ease to A5 level when a most game winner over 525-yards.

Very plausibly graded as a former A2 runner, the July 2019 whelp began on level terms and contesting in tight quarters throughout the early exchanges, tackled the opening turns in a close-up third position. Advancing to contest a three-way battle for the lead at the halfway point the Kennedy winner secured a passage on the rails before gamely advancing to a narrow lead entering the home stretch. Always strong at the standard distance, Dromulton Jet edged clear on the run to the line for a three quarter length winning margin in 29.47 (-20).

Representing a return to form, the Kennedy stalwart can be fancied again next time despite returning to A3 grade.

There remains plenty of detail to catch up on regarding the Juvenile Classic at Tralee but ahead of this week’s semi-finals, trainer Pat Guilfoyle remains double handed as both Music Glideaway (Newinn Taylor-Glideaway Magic) and Good Maestro (Good News-Mysterious Lola) advanced with runner-up performances in their respective quarterfinals. Having both suffered bumpy passages, each can be fancied to advance from separate semi-finals this Friday.