TRAPRISE - Scaglietti seals precious place in Kirby Final at Limerick
Following a month of intense and extremely competitive racing on the Dock Road, the 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake was reduced to a final six contenders on Saturday, and an entertaining semi-final session brought both brilliant winning performances, and some surprise eliminations but surviving to contest this coming Friday’s final showdown was the Pat Guilfoyle trained Scaglietti (Magical Bale-Outdoor Roller).
Owned by staunch kennel supporters Cheryl & Peter Sutcliffe, who now reside in Ballinaclough having returned from Australia in the past year, a wonderfully successful partnership with the Moneygall kennels has already delivered classic success through Explosive Boy and Amazing Alice. Seeking further spoils in what would be a first Kirby title for Pat Guilfoyle, Scaglietti completed his hugely impressive passage to the Kirby final when again displaying wonderful battling qualities within a treacherous semi-final assignment.
Breaking on terms, with all bar one rival from trap 5 in the opening heat, our local hopeful chased the fast-starting Gaytime Hugo on the run to the first bend and looked likely to turn in a challenging second before a brush to his hind quarters while seeking the rails entering the turn. Ushered backwards to a duel for third place with Terezas Mendoza approaching the backstraight, hopes of victory had been lost when a minimum of nine lengths adrift nearing halfway but always strong from that point, the Guilfoyle star safely secured his final berth when two and a half lengths behind winner Gaytime Hugo in 28.09, and five lengths adrift of runner-up Ryhope Beach while filling a most game third position.
The opposing semi-final was won by Clonbrien Treaty in 28.15 within a forecast for trainer Graham Holland as Hovex Tommy just denied Thurles native Liam Peacock’s Bogger Lucky for third.
Final Draw: 1) Clonbrien Treaty 2) Hovex Tommy 3) Scaglietti 4) Gaytime Hugo 5) Ryhope Beach (m) 6) Bogger Lucky (m)
The first thing that strikes when perusing the draw in the repeat berth for Clonbrien Treaty in trap 1, as having begun very fast on Saturday, he made his way markedly across the track towards the outside. Should he begin so swiftly again on Friday, he could have the final settled in a matter of strides, just as he did in semi victory with rivals in behind searching for a path through inevitable bumping.
From our biased local view, Hovex Tommy can begin well from trap 2 and if so, may thwart the outward move of his Graham Holland companion. In that scenario, Scaglietti has hopes for clear passage and make no mistake, the Guilfoyle runner is a massive player if he should secure that precious racing room. Gaytime Hugo will chart a true line from trap 4 and although he did lead last time, Bogger Lucky holds real claims to lead on the outside.
Whoever leads on the outer, it is quite straightforward for Scaglietti on the inside as he simply must claim the rail at the opening bend ahead of the runners on his inside. It will require a smart break and nothing less, but should he indeed occupy the inside within any reasonable striking distance to the second bend, he will power to the line from halfway. One fast break please Scaglietti!
BRILLIANT BILL CLAIMS O’CONNOR SEMI
Having settled for a qualifying place in his Round One third, Bernie Hogan’s Old Bill (Droopys Sydney-Starry Display) resumed his winning ways in the opening semi-final of the prestigious Sean O’Connor Cup A1 525 with his strong-running style delivering another thrilling victory within an immensely consistent racing campaign.
Swifter to stride from trap 4 this time, the July 2020 whelp contested the lead throughout the early exchanges but bested for early dash by Una Machina and Kilcolgan Zeus to his inside, absorbed a bump with that latter rival as the pair chased the leader to halfway. Always within two lengths however, Old Bill closed with every stride on the approach to the home straight and passing both those rivals on the run to the line in a power-packed finish, registered a one and a half-length verdict in 28.67.
Carrying a €5000 winner’s prize as the perennial support event to the Kirby, Old Bill has not been particularly lucky in the draw with trap 5 in a field of inside seeds, but we have learned to never discount this most endearing local star and given his strength from halfway, any reasonable sight of the leader approaching the closing bends will offer hopes for a precious victory on Limerick’s biggest night.
Ned delivers double for Ryan
Commencing the winning action last week when claiming a quickfire double in the opening events on the Thursday fixture at Limerick, PJ Ryan saw his Hazelhill Ned (Bull Run Bolt-Hazelhill Tess) advance to a career best while completing the brace with maiden victory in his A5 525 contest.
In eight previous outings, the February 2021 youngster had repeatedly caught the eye when staying strongly following slow starts and looked set for a repeat this time when behind a trio of leaders on the run to the opening bend. However, offered a passage on the rails while turning, the Ryan youngster joined that battle for the lead before striking the front entering the backstraight. Quickly asserting while drawing clear to a decisive halfway lead, Hazelhill Ned was certain to see out the trip stoutly and duly registered a facile seven and a half-length score while posting 29.30.
That winning time will see him rise to A4 next time but retaining plenty of scope for further improvement, can ably cope with the upgrade.
Sparking the double on the night for the Newport kennels, March 2020 whelp Williams Buick (Droopys Buick-Daring Rose) claimed the fifth win of his career in the opening A6 525. Ending an indifferent run of form with an improved start from trap 1, he led throughout a gutsy three-quarter length victory in 29.73 and can hold every claim for a repeat in the same grade next time.
The winning thread continued into Friday and the regular Clonmel fixture commenced with maiden victory for the Kathleen Ambrose owned Turee Marven (Good News-Turree Kate) when progressing from his debut experience for the Ballinderry kennels of PJ Tynan.
Off since showing signs of greenness when fourth in that first January outing, the April 2021 youngster was again just moderately to stride from trap 4 in the Welcome To Clonmel Track A8 525 but displaying smart early dash, overturned a one-length deficit to lead on the inside at the closing bends. Easing clear in dismissive fashion thereafter, Turee Marven shed his maiden tag with ten and a half lengths to spare in 29.49 (-10) and remaining open to plenty of improvement, should not fear a rise to A4 next time.
The late Michael Downes
In closing this week we wish to offer our sincerest condolences to the family of Michael Downes in Killaloe who was laid to his eternal rest last week.
A long-time friend to so many of the older generation in our greyhound community, especially at the old Markets Field venue in Limerick, many more will have shared their participation with Michael's daughter Nicola in more recent times. Ever popular as a revered greyhound sage, we extend our sympathies to his extended family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.