TRAPRISE - Champion Fever means Delight for Troy at Thurles
Absent from the racing calendar last season, the Droopys Stud Champion Bitch 525 Stake returns to Thurles in 2024 and commencing at the Premier venue on Saturday, saw a brace of very familiar local rivals serve up a cracking opening round buckle as the Galler Syndicate’s Turkish Delight (Grangeview Ten-Mystical Luna) made a triumphant return to racing action.
Last seen in October, the Eoin Troy handled December 2021 whelp had in fact just a sole outing since last August but presenting in sparkling form for her shrewd Moneygall kennel, she would secure a third win from eight outings while claiming the third heat of three within an extended family forecast!
Breaking on terms from trap 3, Turkish Delight seized command of the inside rail on the approach to the corner and would tackle the opening bends on the inside of Mustang Fever (Droopys Sydney-Mustang Kay Cee), who is trained by neighbouring cousin Pat Guilfoyle for owners Sean Bourke & Paul Horig. Exiting the second bend as one, it was the latter who carried greater momentum to the backstraight and edged to a one length lead at halfway but rallying in game fashion, the Guilfoyle charge would find Turkish Delight on her inside once again at the closing turns. Neck and neck to the home straight, the Troy starlet settled a high-class Moneygall match-up when easing clear for a one-length verdict close home and posting 28.93 (-20), both local challengers sit prominently within the event hierarchy with just a brace of runners going faster.
Best of the round, the opening heat went to Murt Leahy’s Annie On Faya in 28.82 (-20) when a length in advance of Glengar Jasmine, while arguably Ireland’s leading lady on track, 2022 winner Bobsleigh Dream, also advanced to semi-stage this week within an exciting renewal.
With no easy assignment, our local duo have again been drawn in the same qualifier. Turkish Delight is rewarded with an ideal trap 1, with only Bobsleigh Dream to separate her from Mustang Fever in a daunting but exciting assignment.
Star chases final Five at Limerick
Fastest in the opening round heats of the Talking Dogs A3 600 Yard Stake, Paul Hogan’s Five Alley Star (Kinloch Brae-Vinneys Beauty) retained her position as favourite for outright victory in the event when again leading throughout her semi-final on Saturday at Limerick, completing a wonderful four-time in the process.
Posting 32.80 in victory a week earlier, the August 2021 whelp found a swift break from trap 3 and immediately showed in front while relishing the long run to the corner. Turning with a length in hand, the greatest threat to Five Alley Star would come from fellow local challenger Ballygibbon Cash (Ballymac Cashout-Sive To One) for John O’Meara.
Made to settle for a qualifying fourth in the opening round, the latter found a swifter start this time and on the tail of the Hogan winner to halfway, loomed large as a menacing presence on her inside while drawing to within a length approaching the third bend. Not for passing however, Five Alley Star again stayed the distance very strongly and eased clear for victory in the home straight when striking the line in a classy 32.66.
In behind, Ballygibbon Cash ceded second position to a strong staying rival close home but safely advanced to this week’s final where he simply must prevent the Hogan charge from leading in the early stages if he is to turn the tables. Assured of favouritism however, Five Alley Star is relishing this 600-yard trip at Limerick and granted one more adept break, is a strong selection to complete her passage through the event without defeat.
Magical novice brace at Galway
Following a wonderfully competitive participation at the National Coursing Festival with Kitty Butler Stakes victory on the previous Monday, the Moneygall kennels of Pat Guilfoyle added to a hugely successful week when introducing a brace of winning debutants at Galway on Friday with Magical Sapphire (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Mags) the first to register her impressive maiden victory.
Presenting in sharp form for her first race experience, the June 2022 pup began on level terms from trap 4 in the Talking Dogs Novice 325 but much the quickest to reach full stride, thoroughly impressed when streaking clear on the long run to the first bend.
Unrelenting thereafter when extending her winning margin with every stride, Magical Sapphire struck the line with a facile eight lengths to spare.
Posting 17.75 (-5), that time will see her obliged to contest at S3 should stay sprinting and at the same level over four bends, should connections choose that route for their exciting prospect.
Unwilling to cede bragging rights for the spin home, litter brother Magical Noah (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Mags) also made a winning start to his career and did so in equally impressive fashion.
Also drawn in trap 4, he was not so swift to stride and had two lengths to recover on an early pacesetter when racing in mid-division throughout the early stages of the Sporting Press Online Novice 525. Settling for third position while turning, the Guilfoyle pup had almost six lengths to recover when exiting the second bend, but he would thoroughly catch the eye when taking aim at the leaders on the run to halfway.
Reducing arrears to two lengths while advancing to second approaching the closing bends, a sustained challenge while seeing out the trip stoutly on debut saw Magical Noah swoop wide in the home stretch before striking the front on the run to the line for an ultimately snug two and a half-length winning margin.
Posting 29.23 (10), he left ample scope for imminent improvement and will be a feared opponent in A4 next time!
Another new winner on the local scene last weekend arrived at Thurles on Saturday as the Split The Pot @ Thurles Track A6 525 saw Laura O’Meara’s Chubbys Angel (Ballymac Bolger-Chubbys Rolex) claim her first victory at the second time of asking.
Having endured a bumpy debut spin, the June 2022 pup nonetheless progressed for the experience when battling well for a first bend lead with command of the rail from trap 1 and streaking clear thereafter, the O’Meara pup posted 29.42 (-20) in an eight-length verdict over Noel Nagle’s Rathmartin Boy and looks a smart prospect to follow for the Dolla kennels.