Magical record run for Luka at Tralee

TRAPRISE

Second round heats in the Moorstown Kennels A5 500 Yard Stake were delayed by one week at Tralee but back in action on Friday, the fifth career outing of Magical Luka (King Sheeran-Magical Mary) was well worth the wait as Pat Guilfoyle’s exciting young talent lowered the track record standard while remaining unbeaten at the outset of his career.

Following sprint stake victory at Dundalk to commence his puppy campaign, the October 2023 whelp greatly impressed in the opening round when posting a very fast 26.87 on his four-bend debut. However, the Moneygall prospect remained open to progression while still learning his trade and despite again headed from trap 4 on Friday, Luka went under the 26.70 track record which was previously held by his Guilfoyle counterpart Daleroad Devon.

Displaying vicious early pace once gathering his stride, Magical Luka advanced beyond rivals to his inside for a strong one-length lead at the opening bend before streaking clear while turning. Reducing the contest to a race against the clock, the Guilfoyle starlet was visually stunning when extending to eight lengths at the line in a brilliant 26.64 (+10)!

A hot favourite ahead of this week’s semi-finals, Luka can remain unbeaten with anything approaching clear passage.

Final Hope after Scarlet reverse

Thursday in the capital brought semi-final action in the Shelbourne Park Dolls A2 525 and having safely negotiated a tricky assignment for both of his competition runners, Pat Guilfoyle will be double handed ahead of this week’s decider.

Tommy Ryan and Alice Guilfoyle’s Scarlet Ella (Ballymac Cashout-Burgess Sarah) had scored opening round victory as Magical Hope chased her home in third position but in a reversal of those placings, it was the latter Pat & Donal Guilfoyle owned youngster who prevailed in a smart Thursday score.

Only moderately to stride from trap 6, the May 2023 whelp displayed smart dash on the outside of the field and tackling the opening bend with a narrow advantage, battled to a one length lead while turning as Scarlet Ella secured second position through tight quarters on the rails. Magical Hope (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) completed victory with the minimum of fuss thereafter as Da Bold Rose stayed strongly to split the Guilfoyle trained pair in 29.03 (-30).

The opposing semi-final was won in 28.92 (-30) so clearly Thursday’s final will be a tight affair. However, a repeat draw in trap 6 is ideal for Magical Hope and if breaking on terms, she is taken to lead throughout while hopeful of a Moneygall forecast!

Chasing sprint Legacy in Treaty

Leading sprint competition of every season at Limerick, the 2025 Faypoint Sean @ Stud Treaty Cup Open 350 Yard Stake commenced on Saturday with a strong local challenge seeing four advancing to the second round, including a sharp heat victory from the Garrafrauns Syndicate’s Healys Legacy (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Lucia).

On the back of sprint victory at Dundalk last time, the Vincent McKenna trained August 2022 whelp broke just behind the pace from trap 3 but battled well on the inside of rival’s before smart early pace saw him command the rails within a tight tussle for the lead at the corner. Easing clear while turning, Healys Legacy registered a snug three and a half-length verdict over the running-on Tally Ho Rose in 18.72 (+5), with local rival On Therun Ollie (Grangeview Ten-Muckinish Flyer) third.

The latter Padraig O’Lone charge ran on very strongly following a poor start and capable of a much swifter break, remains a threat in the event along with the Borrisokane heat winner.

Roscrea handler O’Lone would guide a second challenger safely through the opening round when Lonesome Pete (Grangeview Ten-Millbank Moana) chased home exalted rival Road Exile at a one length deficit in 18.67 (+5) having been prominent throughout.

A recent Islandbridge third at Shelbourne Park, that Roscrea fancy was chased to the line by Michael & Terence Delaney’s Feshtys Mo (Grangeview Ten-Rifles Flash) who impressed when battling through bumping and is another who can step up markedly if swifter to stride this week.

Ailbhe through to TIME semis

Quickly advancing to be amongst the most innovative and entertaining events on the calendar in just a second renewal, the 2025 TIME Club Derby A4 525 Yard Stake has reached semi-final stage and in chase of €20,000, John Kealy’s Tipsy Ailbhe (Ballymac Cashout-Shancol Storm) retains realistic hopes following a most game passage through her quarterfinal heat.

A 28.94 (+10) winner on the previous weekend, the first victory of her short career, the September 2023 whelp began adeptly from trap 5 and tracked early paced rivals to her inside when within a length approaching the opening bend. Turning in third position, that deficit would grow before reaching the backstraight but in a highly pleasing gallop from halfway, the Roscrea pup was back on the tail of the pacesetters in the home stretch. Going down by just a length in third place behind 28.97 (+10) winner Group Goldstar, this was just the sixth race outing for Tipsy Ailbhe and ahead of this Saturday’s semi-finals, she is open to more improvement than any that remain, holding realistic claims for a precious final qualification.

Amongst a host of smart performances from local runners around the country over the past week, Saturday’s Race Entries by Text A5 525 at Galway saw a most eye-catching second career win for Olivia Hogan’s Five Alley Syd (Here Comes Syd-Airfield Biddy).

Backing up maiden A7 victory with a solid runner-up effort on upgrade last time, the progressive September 2023 whelp found pleasing improvement this time when confirming strong running abilities in just his sixth career outing.

Headed throughout the initial exchanges from trap 6, the Hogan pup proved much too strong when advancing from third place along the backstraight before striking the front around the closing bends. Readily extending clear for a snug two and a half length verdict in 29.52 (-10), Five Alley Syd will have no fears of a small rise to A4 next time!