Poppet is perfect in Limerick 600 showdown

TRAPRISE

With half of the final field to cheer, local support at the Christmas Family fixture at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Sunday were treated to a thoroughly professional winning display from Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Poppet (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) as she reversed form to comfortably land favourite odds in the Mace Shannon A1 Dual Distance Stake.

Having settled for a runner-up placing in the fastest semi-final over 550-yards on the previous weekend, the May 2023 whelp predictably stayed strongly while catching the eye in a strong staying performance. With the final distance extending to 600-yards, the Moneygall girl was always likely to relish the test and once securing clear passage in the early exchanges, justified her place at the head of the market.

A winner of her semi-final, the Michael Delaney handled Toomevara Mike crucially failed to repeat her best break from trap 3 and trailing on the run to the corner, saw her hopes ended with crowding at the bend. Further out, Magical Poppet had begun well from trap 5 and raced as one with John Byrne’s Rockstar Willie on the outside of the field throughout those initial exchanges.

Crucially preventing that local rival from turning ahead of her, Magical Poppet raced in second position around the bends and within one length of a pacesetting rival to the top of the backstraight, would never be contained thereafter. Edging her way to the front at the halfway point, the Guilfoyle powerhouse subsequently drew dismissively clear to a five and a half length winning verdict. Posting 32.91, she will remain in the same grade for her next outing and will be a feared opponent for any!

Gem shines bright in Shelbourne sprint

An appearance on the Winter Racing Festival proved a luckless outing at Shelbourne Park for Gem Friendly (Droopys Sydney-Susie Sapphire) but one week on, the brilliant Vincent McKenna sprinter resumed winning ways at the capital venue with another classy display of her early paced prowess.

Just a fortnight after her stunning unbeaten passage through the Fair Warrior at Mullingar, the Conor McGrath owned September 2023 whelp gave best in the championship sprint on festival weekend when cruelly bumped while challenging for the lead around the opening turns. However, she ensured that there would be no repeat when quickest to reach full stride in the www.GreyhoundRacingIreland.ie SS0 350.

Breaking on terms, she immediately took command from trap 5 and thoroughly impressed when easing to a near three length lead over Harry Houdini at the opening turn. That respected rival stayed powerfully to the line from that point but never under serious threat, Gem Friendly contained the challenge for a three-quarter length victory at the line while posting a sharp 18.67, her sixth win from twelve career starts.

Dixie is smooth in Limerick Thursday fastest

The winning action last weekend began on the Thursday SIS fixture at Limerick and highly impressive while finding smart improvement to land the Race Entries by Text A5 525 was Eileen Kennedy’s Dixies Velvet (Ballymac Bolger-Velvet Blue).Almost four months away from racing before a comeback appearance in the same grade last time, the June 2023 whelp displayed the benefits of that outing when much sharper on Thursday. Exiting trap 6 on a galloping stride, the lightly raced Ballinaclough charge poached a one length lead on the run to the opening bend and once turning with the lead, would never be contained.

Having displayed strong running abilities in previous starts, Dixies Velvet duly drew steadily clear throughout a commanding second career win from his seven races. Striking the line with five and a half lengths to spare, he posted a new personal best of 29.01 and will climb to A2 for his next outing.

On a busy weekend at Limerick, a hugely competitive A3 525-yard contest on the Saturday card developed into a buckle between local kennels but it was John Ryan’s Hawkeye Express (Good News-Corcass Hope) who claimed a precious first career victory.

On her eleventh career start, the October 2023 whelp had filled runner-up position in four previous outings but was unwilling to surrender a lead this time once striking the front on the inside of the Kevinsfort Hardy at the first bend from trap 1.

Continuing to contain that John Byrne trained pursuer along the backstraight, Hawkeye Express was all out the run to the line but gamely retained a head winning margin over Kevinsfort Hardy in 29.02 and will take just a small rise to A2 next time.