Champ is So impressive in McKenna sprint double

TRAPRISE

Saturday’s fixture at Mullingar proved the most fruitful source of local success over the past week and highly active on the sprinting scene in recent seasons, the kennels of Vincent McKenna registered a double at the midlands circuit with a brace of exciting young litter comrades.

Spearheading the local challenge on the card was the Cormack Family Syndicate’s Bengal Champ (Rosbirr Ranger-Errill Sue) and in what was just his third race outing in the Connect 6 S4 400, the September 2023 pup backed up his recent Clonmel victory in utterly dominant style.

Swift to exit trap 4, the Borrisokane prospect immediately took command on the long run to the opening bend and was already more than three lengths clear before tackling the turn. Reducing the race to a solo passage while never sighting a rival, Bengal Champ registered a facile nine-length victory while posting 21.66 (-20) and that winning time will see him seek his hattrick in the Open class ranks next time out.

It comes as little surprise that the litter would harbour plenty of early pace being sired by sprinting superstar Rosbirr Ranger who Paul Pardy jointly owned through a host of major successes, and it was his So Its Ranger (Rosbirr Ranger-Errill Sue) who completed the McKenna trained double on Saturday when a thrilling winner of the Adopt a Greyhound S2 400.

Enduring a bumpy passage in his return from a layoff last time out, the previous A6 525-yard winner may not have been ideally housed in trap 1 as he absorbed a bump following his moderate start when immediately edging towards the middle of the track. In fourth place approaching the first bend, the McKenna youngster performed with huge credit to emerge at the top of the backstraight within three lengths while racing in third position. Completely outpacing all rivals from that point, So Its Ranger displayed an elite turn of pace while overhauling rivals on the run to the line and extended to a dismissive three length winning verdict while posting 21.83 (-20).

That winning time will keep Ranger in the S2 grade for his next outing, but he clearly possesses pace that will carry him above that level, and it will be a big surprise if the grade contains him beyond his next appearance!

Legion cashes in!

Staying with that Mullingar fixture, and the Unofficial Trials A4 525 delivered a hugely popular first race victory for the Euro Dollar Syndicate’s Legion Cash Out (Ballyhimikin Jet-Shoemakers Prim) when deservedly scoring at the fifth time of asking.

The Legion name was for so long associated with the recently passed Noel Delaney and family, and a return to the winner’s circle for the prefix will be a poignant and pleasing achievement for syndicate member Paddy Delaney as the August 2023 youngster built on a brace of runner-up performances in his previous four outings.

Better drawn while occupying trap 1 for the first time, Legion Cash Out showed smart dash on the run to the corner and establishing an early one length lead, defended that advantage while turning before further asserting along the backstraight. Extending beyond his three-length winning margin before the closing bends, the Tom Harte handled winner progressed to 29.69 (-50) and will take just a one step rise on the grading ladder for his next outing, where he will hold every chance to double up on the evidence of Saturday’s performance.

Sapphire thrills at Shelbourne

Another busy weekend of action for the kennels of Pat Guilfoyle brought a luckless outing for his Epic Ace in the final of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint.

Headed in the early stages, he was outpacing all rivals approaching the opening bend before galloping into the backside of winner Southwind Wild while turning. Forced to settle for fifth place then, there was greater fortune for the Moneygall team at Shelbourne Park on Saturday when Magical Sapphire (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Mags) made an overdue return to the winner’s enclosure in a thrilling Sporting Press A1 550.

Last successful over 575-yards, the June 2022 whelp was enjoying an ease in grade and took advantage despite headed in the early stages following a moderate start from trap 6. Third entering the opening bends, the Guilfoyle girl remained just two lengths adrift to the backstraight but stalked Southwood Stan to the closing turns when stronger beyond halfway. All but joining the leader off the final turn, a sustained effort saw Magical Sapphire in front where it mattered for a head winning verdict in 29.67, a performance that will likely prompt a Derby entry ahead of this week’s opening round in racing’s blue riband.

Saturday’s action at Limerick did not pass without a local winner to cheer and another making a welcome return to winning ways was in the Silgan Dispensing A1 525 was Alan O’Toole’s Onthe Run Ollie (Grangeview Ten-Muckinish Flyer) who secured an overdue third career win in game style.

Breaking just behind the pace from trap 3, the Padraig O’Lone trained August 2022 whelp joined an early pacesetter on the outside at the first bend before drawing clear of that rival following a bump while turning. Effectively settling the verdict on the run to halfway, Onthe Run Ollie completed victory with the minimum of fuss, thereafter, holding three and a half lengths over a strong staying rival in 28.80 (+10).

The likeable Roscrea charge will avoid a rise for this performance and will hold every claim to follow-up next time.