Guilfoyle Kirby Star is worth Waiting For

TRAPRISE

The biggest news in greyhound sport at present is the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial which offers €80,000 for the winner under the sponsorship of J.P. & Noreen McManus and remaining to semi-final stage with hopes for a first victory in the event is the Guilfoyle family kennels of Moneygall.

This thirteenth staging of the Kirby at Limerick has been the hottest renewal to date with a truly astounding depth of talent in the richest juvenile race on the planet, and Sandra Guilfoyle’s Waitingforastar (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) had a host of exalted rivals to contend with having arrived on the back of just a sole 525-yard outing.

That A5 score was also his first win in three races but the April 2026 whelp coped admirably with a battling qualification in Round One following a poor start and again when third next time, shaking off bumps to fill third while displaying strong running abilities.

Ahead of last weekend’s quarter finals however, progress was needed from the Pat Guilfoyle trained youngster and despite defeat, Waitingforastar produced that improvement in spades!

In what looked another very trick draw, the Moneygall hopeful was pitched in trap 3 on the immediate outside of heat favourite Bockos Gold. The latter had clocked a superb 28.00 for the 525-yard Kirby trip on the previous weekend and although he would complete his hattrick in the event, our local bias revelled within a brilliant runner-up performance by Waitingforastar.

Again, slowly to stride from trap 3, he performed with much credit once in full stride, securing third to the opening bend as Bockos Gold dominated. Checked behind Rapido Ivy while turning, Waitingforastar had three lengths to recover upon reaching the backstraight but impressed when advancing to challenge for second on the outside of Rapido Star at the third turn. Once again checked at that point, the Guilfoyle charge found another rallying effort and reducing arrears close home, only went down by two and a half lengths to a brilliant winning performance by Bockos Gold.

With the winner clocking a stunning 27.92, the merits of this runner-up effort become glaringly apparent and more so when achieved without clear passage. A career best 28.09 has gone on his card and with obvious scope to improve his breaking, Waitingforastar clearly signalled his Kirby credentials on Saturday!

Looking ahead, it appears that he has found a horror draw with trap 6 in the opening semi-final this week. However, in a field of inside seeded runners, it is far from rare to see the outside runner benefit from those on the inside experiencing crowding. With unashamed bias, let that be the case this Saturday!

Nifty semi score in McKenna Memorial

There was plenty of local interest in the Saturday action at Galway last weekend and most particularly in the 2026 Paul McKenna Memorial A5 525 where Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Be Nifty (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) again went fastest at semi-final stage.

Finding smart progression with 29.01 (-10) on the previous weekend, the June 2024 whelp was again just moderately to stride but displaying sharp pace along the rails from trap 1, arrived at the corner just in time to strike the front while turning. Easing clear thereafter, Magical Be Nifty register a snug five and a half-length victory 29.13 (-10).

The opposing semi-final was won by Flyers Penny in 29.42 (-10) but she was chased home at a three-length deficit by Robert Moloney’s Highview Exotic (Mcinerney-Highview Magnet). The latter was in turn ahead of Michael Hogan’s Grangeview Icon (Kilara Icon-Coonough Dolly) who performed with huge credit after bumping. However, ahead of this week’s final, Magical Be Nifty looks sure to start a very warm favourite for victory in a special event for all connected to the McKenna racing dynasty of Borrisokane.

Commencing the winning action last week, Abigail Morrissey’s Abigails Max (Here Comes Syd-Abigails Hope) added further to his developing consistent profile when securing a fifth career win in most game style.

Now filling a forecast place in each of his last five outings, the June 2024 whelp produced his best break from trap 5 in the Tasty Fryer @ Kilkenny Track A5 525 and more prominent in the early stages than is usual, held obvious claims when disputing second position around the opening bends. Just a length adrift to the top of the backstraight, the Morrissey pup challenged for the lead passing halfway while widest in a line of three leaders. Just showing in front before tackling the third turn, Abigails Max forcefully settled the race as a contest when sweeping across rivals at the bend and powering to the line, thereafter, posted a new personal best of 29.87 (-40).

He will now rise to A4 grade for his next outing but thoroughly game, the likeable pup can be expected to continue along his upward career curve