Timmy makes a pretty Patter in Juvenile

TRAPRISE

Back to a full schedule over the past week following fixture cancellations during the hot spell on the previous weekend, a deferred 2025 Time Juvenile Derby 525 Yard Stake got underway at Shelbourne Park on Friday with Sally Mounsey’s Patterdale Timmy (Ballymac Cashout-Patterdale Lena) laying down his marker in an impressive opening round victory.

First signalling his abilities with a slick sprint win at Thurles in his second outing, the lightly raced September 2023 whelp added 525-yard victory at Cork and was enjoying just his sixth career start when lining out for the concluding heat of eight on Friday.

Breaking on terms from trap 2, the Mounsey prospect displayed the best dash on the run to the corner and tackling the opening bend with a tight one length advantage, looked set to skip clear before clipped from behind by his nearest pursuer upon turning. In behind, the Pat Guilfoyle trained Magical Keith (Ballymac Cashout-Burgess Sarah) recovered from a tardy start to race in a dispute of third place to the backstraight but back on an even keel, Patterdale Timmy galloped to a strong two-length lead at halfway.

Lacking experience on the circuit, the Mounsey winner briefly appeared unbalanced when allowing Droopys Heiress to close with a passage along the rails at the third bend but with that rival more interested in eyeballing the winner rather than galloping to the line, Patterdale Timmy gamely defended a head verdict in 28.34.

Remaining in a qualifying third, Magical Keith came through significant third bend bumping and can be expected to progress in this week’s second round, but those comments also apply to Patterdale Timmy who certainly left some time on the circuit within his impressive third career win.

Duke dictates in Leger opener

Elite action was the order of the weekend all around the country and most prestigious of all, the Callaway Pro Am at Stud Irish St. Leger got underway at Limerick with a competitive local presence in the classic headed by opening round winner Daleroad Duke (Good News-Burgess Sarah) for trainer Pat Guilfoyle.

A recent track record breaker over 525-yards at Tralee, the Thomas O’Keefe owned star commenced his event campaign from Heat 3 and justifying odds-on quotes, duly obliged when using his smart early pace for a first bend lead. Never truly threatened within a thoroughly professional performance, Daleroad Duke posted a highly competitive 29.74 (+10) in a five-length defeat of Tinahue Pappone.

Pat Guilfoyle added a second qualifier for this week’s second round heats when his Magical Sapphire (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Mags) chased home fastest winner Toolmaker Josepe at a four and a half length deficit in 29.68 (+10) while the busy Cagey Billy (Pestana-Lilly Lula) also settled for a qualifying second on the night. Very much impressing while racing a wider line than the winner throughout, the Christopher Delaney stalwart went down by just half a length to Blastoff Cooper in 29.73 (+10) and all three local challengers hold outright claims within an open classic.

It had been hoped to celebrate Tipperary Cup victory on a deferred meeting at Thurles last Wednesday but within a luckless final passage, Christopher Delaney’s Cagey Billy was the meat in a canine sandwich around the opening bends before just failing to run down Kerry raider Jim By Two in the dying strides. Forced to settle for a head second while losing little other than the prizemoney in defeat, the Roscrea charge only increased his stock within a classy event campaign.

There was, however, a local winner to cheer on the big night in the Premier when the Maher Family Syndicate’s Rockstar Willie (Ballymac Cashout-Aayamza Royale) shed his maiden at the second time of asking for trainer John Byrne.

Progressing for a bumpy debut outing at Shelbourne Park, the August 2023 whelp was a warm favourite on the back of the promise shown and breaking on terms from trap 3, eased his way to a one length lead at the opening bend. Having doubled his advantage to halfway, the greatest threat would emerge from local rival Patterdale Zoe (Ballymac Cashout-Patterdale Lena) who very much caught the eye for Roger Mounsey & Maureen Mounsey when advancing from an unpromising fifth position off the second bend to chase the Knockalton winner into the home straight. Not for catching however, Rockstar Willie ably defended a two-length winning margin at the line while posting 28.94.

That winning time will see the Borrisoleigh owned youngster rise to A2 for his next outing along with Patterdale Zoe and both look runners to be on the right side of over coming weeks on the evidence of this latest local tussle which harboured big promise all round.

Back at Thurles for the Saturday fixture and a real winner of note in the Best Of Luck To The Tipperary Hurlers A6 525 was the Harte-Horan-Feehan Syndicate’s Loveland (Ballyhimikin Jet-Shoemakers Prim).

A previous A8 winner at the venue, the Tom Harte handled August 2023 whelp doubled her win haul in a fifth career start and will be on the upgrade following an impressive trap to line performance. Level for only the initial strides following an adept break from trap 3, the Roscrea pup showed the best pace for a two-length lead at the corner and readily settled the verdict when streaking clear to halfway. The winning margin was limited to three lengths by a strong staying rival thereafter but never under threat, Loveland posted a very smart 29.14 and should not fear a rise to A3 on this evidence.