King reigns in Abigail’s Kilkenny double

TRAPRISE

With a consistent stream of winners on the SIS programme at Kilkenny this season, the mother and daughter team of Abigail & Tina Morrissey further impressed in the Marble County this past week with a quality double winning achievement on Friday evening.

Very unlucky in his recent A3 stake semi-final at the same venue, Abigails King (King Elvis-Superb Beauty) was taking a step back up the grading ladder when well-drawn in trap 1 for the ViClarity A2 525 and well fancied by connections, justified favouritism when back near his very best form.

Producing a sharp break to immediately dictate, the April 2023 whelp powered his way to a one-length lead at the opening bend and doubling that advantage to halfway, never looked likely to be contained once on the bunny. Duly completing in professional manner thereafter, Abigails King ran out a ready four length winner registering 29.18 (-40) and now climbs yet further to A1 for his next outing.

A level he has already been successful at in the past, he will prove difficult to contain on the evidence of Friday’s hugely impressive effort.

Sparking the Friday exploits for the Cloughjordan kennels in the earlier Pascal McEvoy Councillor and John Adams Citroen Car Sales A4 525 was wonderful veteran stalwart Abigails Duke (Great Blue Shark-Abigails Sky).

A winner in the same grade at the beginning of last month, the June 2022 whelp confirmed himself in sprightly fettle when approaching his very best career form, securing the thirteenth win of a wonderfully competitive campaign in most game style.

Headed in the early stages from trap 2, Duke battled superbly throughout those early exchanges, securing the rails position before rushing up on the inside of tightly packed leaders nearing the corner. Offering a strong right shoulder to rivals on his outside upon turning, the likeable Morrissey charge forcefully took command of the race while turning. Extending to two lengths at halfway, Abigails Duke was never for catching in such a scenario and duly completing with that same margin to spare, he posted 29.47 (-40) and will step back up to A2 grade next time.

Life’s a beach for Bondi

It was a big night at Limerick on Saturday with the final of the TIME Club A4 525 Derby for decision, which unfortunately saw a troubled passage for the John Byrne trained Private Luna following her wonderful campaign to that point.

However, a big highlight for local supporters on the night arrived in the opening TIME Puppy & Sapling A6 525 where Peadar O’Dwyer’s Banter Bondi (Roxholme Olaf-Anfield Bud) backed-up debut success with a highly impressive winning performance, remaining unbeaten at the outset of her promising career.

Having led throughout her first race appearance on the Dock Road circuit while posting a debut time of 29.48 (+10), the late starting June 2024 whelp found smart improvement for that experience and with a swift exit from trap 5, left hapless rivals in her wake when again leading from the initial strides. Displaying much the best early dash, the Borrisokane pup was almost three lengths clear before tackling the opening bends and would only extend that margin on the run to the backstraight. Thoroughly dominant from that point, Banter Bondi saw out every yard of the standard trip and striking the line with a facile eight lengths to spare, progressed to 29.03 on the clock.

That winning time will bring a significant upgrade to A2 for her next outing, a level that will test the O’Dwyer youngster but already a sharp early paced type, she may well take the rise in stride and is certainly a runner to follow closely over coming weeks and months.

Grandad scores for the Gang

Saturday also brought the highest profile fixture of the season at Thurles where the prestigious Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup was claimed by Athenry trainer Gerry Holain as Indian Mist just prevailed within a final thriller, holding a short head over Paulstown Cash in 29.01 (-40) with Bogger Tommy only that same margin back in third.

There was, however, less drama in the earlier Centenary Home & Garden A7 525 on the undercard to the main event when Noel Nagle’s Grandads Gang (Bockos Jon Jo-Beannacht Cleo) shed his maiden at the fourth time of asking.

Plagued with significant bumping in three previous outings on the Premier circuit, the October 2024 whelp had nonetheless displayed more than the odd glimpse of promise with a suspicion that he could prove a stout stayer over the trip. Better drawn in trap 1 on Saturday, he confirmed just that in a highly eye-catching first career victory.

Again, just moderately to the stride, the Nagle pup tracked leaders along the rail but safely securing third position while tackling the opening bends, switched to the outside before setting about reducing three and a half length arrears at the top of the backstraight. Much the strongest from that point, Grandads Gang ranged up on the leader’s outside entering the closing turns and striking the front without hesitation, took full command of the race before reaching the home stretch. Easing his way to a snug two and a half-length victory thereafter, Grandads Gang posted 29.79 (-40) and though his new grade of A4 will prove a challenge, it is fair to say that he showed pace beyond that level in this first race score.

With extended yardage sure to prove beneficial at some point in the future, there is plenty to like about his prospects for the remainder of the season.