TRAPRISE - Sapphire stages Magical final show at Shelbourne Park

A warm favourite for victory in the Talking Dogs A2 550 Yard Stake at Shelbourne Park on Friday following her sizzling semi-final performance, Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Sapphire (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Mags) justified the short odds when extending her unbeaten career start in a thrilling final showdown.

Having commenced her career with sprint victory at Galway, the June 2022 whelp added 525-yard victory in the capital before significant improvement saw her advance to the elite AA0 level when landing semi-final victory at Shelbourne, posting a brilliant 29.76 for the extended four-bend distance.

Retaining her middle seed when again drawn in trap 5 for Friday’s decider, the Guilfoyle pup was chalked up at just 4/7 but those odds looked very skimpy when she produced a slow start, immediately finding herself with two lengths to recover on an early paced rival to her outside. Pacing up well to the corner however, Magical Sapphire would contest for second position before tackling the bend through bumping which would see her shuffled back to near seven lengths adrift despite retaining that second spot.

Setting sights on the runaway leader, the Moneygall starlet began to gradually reduce her arrears beyond the halfway point and continuing to close, reached the home straight with just two and a half lengths to overturn. Sweeping wide for a telling challenge, Magical Sapphire timed her strong staying finish to perfection, striking the line with a half-length to spare over Callaway Amen in 29.88.

Now a perfect four wins from four, an upgrade to the top level will make her bid for five in-a-row significantly tougher but another immensely bright prospect for her prolific kennel, it would come as little surprise if Magical Sapphire copes ably well with the rise having displayed a pleasing array of racing qualities in this competition victory.

May sparks McKenna Galway brace

Claiming a first race win in the Hughes Supervalu A8 525 on Friday, Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue May (Ballymac Best-Blackstone May) sparked a weekend double for trainer Vincent McKenna while leading throughout a promising maiden victory.

Third in her sprint debut a week earlier, the late starting February 2022 whelp found smart progress when breaking on terms from a suitable trap 1 draw this time.

Ably defending her rails pitch while displaying the best early pace on the run to the opening bend, the Borrisokane charge eased to a one length lead while turning. Doubling her advantage to the backstraight, Ballygraigue May maintained a strong gallop throughout her snug three and a half-length score, posting 29.67 (-10).

That performance will bring a rise to A5 next time, but she can be expected to take the upgrade in stride.

Back in action out west on Saturday, Vincent McKenna completed the brace of maiden winners in joint ownership with Paul Pardy as So Its Strife (Deerjet Sydney-Lillies Supreme) returned from a layoff to land the WGOBA Inter County Challenge S9 325.

Held in two similar events to start her career, the June 2022 pup was back from a three-month break but presented in sharp form when swift to stride from trap 2 and quickly establishing a one length lead, would only increase the winning advantage from that point while scarcely sighting a rival. Striking the line with six lengths to spare in 18.45 (-5), So Its Strife will prove difficult to contain without an upgrade next time.

That same Galway fixture provided further local cheer soon after as Peadar O’Dwyer’s Banter Buzz (Daves Mentor-Lilac Gina) also secured his first race victory, at the thirteenth time of asking!

A four-time runner-up, the April 2022 whelp ended his frustrating spell of recent close calls with significant improvement in a career best performance having begun on level terms from trap 3.

Displaying the best early pace, the O’Dwyer youngster drew clear to a one length lead before tackling the opening bend and he would not be for catching once extending to near three lengths at the third turn. Completing in strong running fashion thereafter, Banter Buzz posted 29.32 (-10) and will rise to A3 for his next outing.

Commencing the weekend winning action on the Thursday fixture at Limerick, Aoife Loughnane’s Ready For Daisy (Good News-Mt Heaton Daisy) took advantage of a step down the grading ladder for a fifth race win in the Saturday Night Racing A4 525.

Close in A3 grade last time, the November 2021 whelp was ideally housed in trap 6 and producing a sharp break, immediately established a one length lead which she would defend to the opening bend. Extending while turning, the Roscrea stalwart retained a one length advantage all along the backstraight but easing dismissively clear in the home stretch, struck the line with four lengths to spare.

Posting 29.10, Ready For Daisy will return to A3 for her next outing but that level will hold little fears on this evidence.