Wait is over for Sandra’s Shelbourne 600 Star

TRAPRISE

A truly thrilling conclusion to the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmakers Open 600 Yard Stake on Saturday saw Sandra Guilfoyle’s superstar talent Waitingforastar (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) claim a first major competition victory, completing a stunning event campaign with a racing performance that should rank amongst the best of the entire season.

Commencing with a strong staying victory in just his second outing over a trip which ideally suits his racing abilities, the June 2024 whelp progressed to a brilliant fastest of the stake 31.88 at semi stage, when breaking more adeptly.

A warm favourite ahead of this decider at Shelbourne Park, the Moneygall powerhouse needed just clear passage to justify short odds, however, drawn wider than he would choose, an immediate move left upon exiting trap 5 brought an early bump.

With three rivals ahead and two-lengths to recover at that point, Waitingforastar admirably recovered his stride quickly but third around the opening bends, had over five lengths to recover on runaway leader Lennies Dynamic at the top of the backstraight.

What followed was a remarkable display of racing strength to rival any seen before in the capital as the Guilfoyle star rapidly reduced those arrears from halfway while simultaneously drawing clear of elite strong runners. Within a length to the home stretch, Waitingforastar overhauled Lennies Dynamic on the run to the line for an ultimately snug one and a half-length victory in a brilliant time of 31.96s.

We wait to see if the upcoming Irish St Leger at Limerick is on his radar, but the November Winter Racing Festival will be a certain target, and likely at this 600-yard distance!

Of course, we had hoped for classic victory over the weekend after litter brother Magical Jet had won his Tuesday run-off to earn a place in the Irish Laurels Final at Cork.

However, and despite a most gallant performance from an unfavourable trap 6 draw in addition to an extra competition outing than his rivals, his campaign concluded at Curraheen Park with a hugely admirable third place finish behind the Liam Dowling duo of winner Ballmac Kamala, and favourite Ballymac Setanta.

Lively effort is Thursday fastest

Having displayed significant promise at the outset of her career with maiden victory at Limerick back in August, Martin Kennedy’s Right Lively (Here Comes Syd-Aunty May) doubled her win tally at the Treaty venue on Thursday with a fastest of the fixture performance in the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A3 525.

In just eight previous outings, the February 2025 whelp quickly reached A2 level where that first success arrived and had very much caught the eye in subsequent outings, continually confirming strong staying abilities over the standard distance.

A runner-up in her latest two outings, the Kennedy pup was again headed in the early exchanges from trap 3 on Thursday but steadily improving in the breaking department, was as close as ever before while securing third position around the opening bends. Within striking range to the backstraight, Right Lively displayed much the pace from that point and advancing to the tail of the leader at the closing turns, swept to front on the run to the line.

Forging a three-quarter length winning margin while posting 28.99, Right Lively will return to A2 next time but has little to fear in that sphere with the promise of yet further progress in the infancy of her career.

The Saturday action at Thurles also returned an impressive local winner as the O’Meara Family Syndicate’s Chubbys Story (Tommy Shelby-Limini) doubled his win tally in a twelfth career outing.

Having displayed strong running abilities over the standard four-bend distance, the lightly raced July 2024 whelp went close with a smart runner-up performance last time out when stepping up in trip for the first time.

Staying at 570-yards for Saturday’s A3 contest, the O’Meara charge began on level terms from a tricky trap 4 draw but with just the best pace on a long approach to the opening bend, narrowly led before turning. A length to the good at the top of the backstraight, Chubbys Story was never likely to be contained in such a scenario, despite the persistent attentions of a fellow strong running rival. Remaining in full command to the closing turns, a smart victory was completed when seeing out every yard for a one-length verdict in 31.90 (-40).

The performance will bring a minor upgrade to A2 for his next appearance, but Chubbys Story will have little dread of that sphere on Saturday’s evidence.

Friday action at Kilkenny introduced a new recruit to the local winner’s circle when Paul Hogan’s Five Alley Bundy (Heres Comes Syd-Five Alley Star) led throughout a highly pleasing victory on debut in the Split The Pot @ Kilkenny Track ON2 525.

Displaying the best pace following a level break from trap 2, the February 2025 whelp led to the opening bend and had extended to a two-length advantage along the backstraight. The Hogan pup would come under pressure at the final bend as a strong staying rival ranged up on his inside but with bumping between the pair, Five Alley Bundy emerged best from the scrimmaging and game as you like on the run to the line, again struck the front. Posting an affected 30.15 (-30) with a length to spare, he is eligible to contest at A7 level next time where few will relish taking him on, given the promise shown on Friday.