Hawk soars in Magical Tralee debut

TRAPRISE

There has been a wealth of young talent emerging from the Moneygall kennels of Pat Guilfoyle in the early part of this season with an enviable clutch of exceptional broods producing exciting prospects at every turn and latest to announce star prospects at Tralee on Friday was his Magical Hawk (Ballymac Cashout-Magical Mary).

Contesting the opening round of the R.C.E.T.S. Traceability ON2 525 Yard Stake, the September 2024 whelp had much to live up to with the first litter from his classic winning dam producing superstar racers in the form of Magical Luka, Magical Major and Coloursaregreen; and Hawk immediately showed the latent abilities of those half-brothers with a stunning debut victory.

Drawn in trap 5, sharp reactions saw him in command from the initial strides and extending to a two-length lead on the run to the opening bend, the Guilfoyle pup never sighted a rival thereafter. Impressing the eye while maintaining a powerful gallop throughout, Magical Hawk completed a dominant victory with eight and a half lengths to spare at the line in a classy 28.22 (+10).

That time will eliminate him from the second round on a time finding rule, but bigger opportunities lie in wait for the exciting prospect.

It was a successful night at Tralee for the kennels as having greatly impressed in his debut on the previous weekend, the Pension Plan Syndicate’s Music Inthe Air (Ballymac Cashout-Nocturnal Hekla) remained unbeaten in the semi-finals of the Listowel Garden Machinery & Tool Hire ON1 325 Yard Stake.

Fastest of the opening round heats when registering 17.54 (+5) in debut victory, the late starting December 2023 whelp nonetheless faced a stiff assignment on Friday within a hot novice event but up to the challenge, began on level terms before finding a hot rival too hot to contain on the run to the corner. Remaining within a length and a half however, Music Inthe Air powered along the home straight and overhauling the pacesetting Coolwest Boy close home, registered 17.59 (+5) in a three-quarter length verdict.

The Moneygall kennels also retain a presence in the 2026 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake at Limerick as Sandra Guilfoyle’s Waitingforastar (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) filled third place for the second time in the event on Saturday. The latest effort from the June 2024 pup was a thoroughly admirable performance when battling through repeated bumping and we will report on his quarterfinal fortunes in the chase for €80,000 next week.

O’Meara Team scores at Thurles

Following a prominent runner-up performance over 525-yards on debut at Thurles, the O’Meara Family Syndicate’s Chubbys Team (Newinn Taylor-Badminton Queen) reverted to the sprint trip at the Premier circuit on Saturday and impressively shed his maiden at the second time of asking.

Breaking in mid-division from trap 5 in the Genoa Takeaway Cahir S6 330, the May 2024 pup displayed the best early pace on the run to the opening bend and easing his way to the front, turned with a length in hand. Retaining that same margin to the top of the home straight, Chubbys Team further extended to the line and registering a two-length winning verdict, posted a smart 18.07 which will bring a rise to S3 next time.

Nifty start to McKenna Memorial

Friday’s fixture at Galway saw a host of local challengers commence their respective campaigns in sweepstake competition and most impressive when claiming his opening round heat of the 2026 Paul McKenna Memorial A5 525 Yard Stake was Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Be Nifty (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy).

Shedding her maiden at the third time of asking, the June 2024 whelp was just moderately to stride from trap 4 but displaying much the best early pace once in full stride, tackled the opening bend with a one length advantage. What followed was a virtual procession as the Guilfoyle pup dominated thereafter and maintaining a powerful gallop throughout, Magical Be Nifty struck the line with nine lengths to spare while posting a best of the event 29.01 (-10).

She will be joined in the second round by a brace of John O’Meara pups as both Ballygibbon Fury (Bockos Jon Jo-Beannacht Cleo), who battled through much bumping for a qualifying third, and in particular Ballygibbon Smok (Orchestrate-Screentime) pleasingly progressed within game performances; the latter just failing to get up by a shorthead in 29.77.

Also reaching this week’s second round were Robert Moloney’s Highview Guid (Mcinerney-Highview Magnet) when a four-length third in 29.45 (-10) and Michael Hogan’s Grangeview Icon (Kilara Icon-Coonough Dolly) when a half-length in advance of the Moloney pup.

Flying debut for Clonearl

The first-round standard in the Galway Unraced ON2 350 Yard Stake was also set by a local challenger on Friday when Conor McGrath’s Clonearl Flyer (Ballymac Cashout-Fahy Dasher) impressed on debut for trainer Vincent McKenna.

Presenting in sharp form, the October 2024 whelp began on level terms from trap 6 and matching strides with a similarly smart rival throughout the initial exchanges, edged to the front on the outside nearing the corner as the pair dominated. Inching further clear while turning, Clonearl Flyer extended to highly pleasing one and a half-length victory in 19.24 (-5) which will make him a leading player ahead of this week’s second round.

Joining the McKenna winner this week will be the PJ Tynan trained Bagatelle (Koblenz-Knockout Pearl) on the back of her nine-length third in 19.35 (-5) and by Paul Hogan’s Five Alley Fairy (Grangeview Ten-Roaming Spirit) following her battling eight-length third in 19.92 (-5) having endured significant traffic within a bumpy debut outing.