Mag looks Magical in Derby heat victory

TRAPRISE

Amongst the most high-profile race nights of the entire season when the 2025 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby is reduced to a single session of eight third round heats at Shelbourne Park, our local challenge in the blue riband again delivered highly competitive performances on Saturday , and retaining an exciting presence to this week’s quarter finals, it was Magical Mag (Ballymac Cashout-Mystical Luna) who led the way in another stunning display of her early paced prowess over 550-yards.

Owned and trained by Pat Guilfoyle, the December 2022 whelp has elevated her form to new heights this past summer and lightly raced with now just 21 races to her name, is developing a professional profile while unveiling her extensive talents in very timely manner!

Following her game defeat of De Lahdedah on the previous weekend, Magical Mag was perfectly housed in trap 1 for the concluding third-round heat and again producing a fast start, was over two lengths clear before tackling the opening bend. Turning at pace, the Guilfoyle darling stretched to five lengths on the run to halfway and although prodigious pup Glengar Silent reduced that advantage to the final bend, Mag was never in danger of defeat! Seeing out the trip ably well, it is worth noting that the runner-up was making very little inroads on the run to the line and Magical Mag was full value for her two-length victory in 29.51.

Rewarded with another suitable trap 1 draw for this week’s second quarterfinal, she looks set to extend her Derby tilt yet further!

With the opposite draw in that same quarter final will be Geoff Parnaby’s Tarsna Maasai (Droopys Sydney-Tarsna Rose) after another high-class qualification from Heat 7.

Widest throughout from trap 6, the Borrisoleigh star gamely pursued 29.58 winner Cheque For Cash with his preferred ground occupied by that winner at the closing bends. Surrendering second when forced to swing wide into the straight, Tarsna Maasai nonetheless pleased greatly in his two and a half length third and holds qualification claims at the very least this week.

Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Sapphire (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Mags) remains a real player in this Derby as a strong runner with the ability to keep closer order than many with her running style and there was nothing to dissuade as she chased home Unanimous Leo in the first heat.

Breaking well from trap 5, she was predictably outpaced by early paced rivals on the run to the corner and was relegated to fourth place while not negotiating the bends smoothly. Five lengths adrift on the run to halfway, the Moneygall girl reduced arrears to the closing bends and gamely advancing between runners entering the home straight, powered her way to the line for a two and a half length runner-up effort in 29.58.

She has arguably drawn the toughest heat this week but teak tough, she can survive!

Completing our quarter final quartet, the qualification of Clement Ryan’s Coosane Pickles (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Pickles) was nothing short of miraculous when recovering from early bumping to fill third behind 29.42 winner Shanahee Boomer.

Plum last from the opening bend to the third turn, the Michael O’Donavan trained star produced a stunning finish when only going down by four lengths in third place. She is going to have to turn closer as the event progresses but clear passage in the concluding quarter final can see her advance.

Boxing clever at Limerick

Amidst a host of smart performances last weekend, many local challengers advanced to the next round of competition around the country, and we will chart their exploits in upcoming issues.

However, commencing the winning exploits, Thursday’s SIS fixture at Limerick welcomed a new youngster to the winner’s circle for the first time as Michael Ryan’s Da Boxer (Malachi-Rifles Flash) shed his maiden at the fourth time of asking.

Slow starts before bumpy passages had been the story of his previous outings but better drawn in trap 1 this time, the June 2023 whelp was more forward on the run to the first bend and ably defending his rails pitch for a narrow lead before turning, edged to a one length lead upon reaching the backstraight. Gamely defending that same margin all along the gallop to the closing turns, the Toomevara winner still held the call before further pressured entering the home stretch. Allowing his closest pursuer a passage along the rails, Da Boxer was all but joined approaching the line but ultimately had enough resolve for a shorthead victory in 29.69 (+10).

Well related out of the impressive kennel dam Rifles Flash, it would come as little surprise should the lightly raced youngster build on this first victory next time out.

Saturday action at Thurles delivered yet another maiden winner and leaving a string of bumpy outings well behind in the Fundraising Nights at Thurles A4 525, John Kelly’s Bannan Dubhg (Ballymac Cashout-Patterdale Lena) scored at the sixth time of asking.

Finding an improved break from trap 4 this time, the September 2023 whelp celebrated her second birthday with clear passage having immediately taken command on the run to the opening bend. Always in command thereafter, Bannan Dubgh saw out the trip ably well for a two-length victory in 29.69 (+20). Without an upgrade, she will hold every chance of a repeat if again breaking smartly.

Limerick hat-trick in a Flash

Returning to Limerick on Saturday, the O'Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance Stake featured a host of local qualifiers from six opening round heats, highlight of which was the completion of a hat-trick for the Toomevara Six Syndicate’s Toomevara Flash (Malachi-Rifles Flash) when posting 30.13 (+10) in a half-length victory over 550-yards having led throughout.

She is joined in the second round this week by Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Poppet (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) who impressed when staying very strongly for 30.51 (+10) victory following early bumping and also in the draw for this week’s second round on the back of game qualification efforts are the John Byrne trained duo of Kevinsfort Hardy and Rockstar Willie, along with Patterdale Zoe for Roger & Maureen Mounsey.