TIME Derby Sparks into action at Limerick

Traprise

Under the sponsorship of William Rigney’s TIME Greyhound Feeds, the 2015 TIME Club 525 Yard Derby commenced at Limerick on Friday with a wonderful €20,000 winner’s prize on offer for greyhounds graded no higher than A4.

A brilliant initiative by generous sponsors, the event harbours a time limitation for the opening two rounds where any runner going faster than 28.90, effectively achieving A1 level, is automatically eliminated from the competition.

Within a strong local challenge, we saw some safely advance to this week’s second round heats but also saw the TIME-axe fall when Pat Guilfoyle’s Spark Of Magic (Ballymac Cashout-Burgess Sarah) went too fast in victory! Claiming the first heat on Friday.

The September 2021 whelp built on his latest runner-up performance behind kennelmate Magical Millie in their sprint final clash at Galway when leading throughout a classy four-bend debut.

Striking the front on the inside at the opening bend, he dominated thereafter while posting 28.56 (+10) but luckily for heat runner-up Toomevara Flash, she kept just far enough behind to avoid the chop! The latter Michael Delaney youngster caught the eye when advancing to second place along the backstraight and settling for a five and a half-length defeat to the Guilfoyle winner, put 28.94 (+10) on her card.

That represents a third runner-up finish on the spin for Toomevara Flash (Malachi-Rifles Flash) and provided she doesn’t better than by too much this week, she has the profile of a real contender in the stake.

A brace of John Byrne trained runners also advanced from that first session of heats on Friday as Taylormade Scala (Droopys Sydney-Swift Cigarette) confirmed her early pace when posting 29.27 (+10) in defeat before Private Return (Malachi-Sidarian Fern) registered a snug 29.07 (+10) within his rock-solid runner-up performance on the night, and both harbour plenty of potential for further improvement.

The Saturday fixture at Limerick housed a second session of opening round heats in the 96-runner TIME Derby and advancing in a slick early paced display was the I Lost My Dog Syndicate’s Hinomite (Ballymac Best-Airfield Biddy).

Following luckless outings on his return to four-bend racing of late, the Vincent McKenna trained June 2022 whelp showed sharp dash to overhaul runners on his inside from trap 6 within a welcome return to winning ways. Tackling the first bend with a tight length in hand, the Borrisokane charge skipped clear of bumping in behind with the verdict as good as settled by halfway. Completing a snug victory with four and a half lengths to spare, Hinomite posted 29.10 (+10) and his early pace can prove a potent weapon in the event if producing his best breaking form going forward.

Luka remains unbeaten

Away from Limerick on Friday, Pat Guilfoyle commenced a further sweepstake with victory as his Magical Luka (King Sheeran-Magical Mary) remained unbeaten at the start of his hugely exciting career.

A sizzling winner of his 400-yard novice stake while reaching the top-grade for sprinting at Dundalk, the October 2023 whelp extended his winning streak with a first outing over four bends in the Moorstown Kennels Stakes A3 500 Yard Stake at Tralee, and immediately advanced to AA0 when going within two and a half lengths of the track record for the trip.

Only moderately to stride from trap 3, Luka eased his way to a one length lead at the corner before reducing the race to virtual solo passage thereafter. Bounding clear along the backstraight, he posted a brilliant 26.87 with all of thirteen lengths in hand.

Far in advance of anything else in the event, he could well frighten the clock held by the Guilfoyle trained Daleroad Devon if continuing to lead in the early stages of his heats going forward.

Further weekend success for the Moneygall team delivered an impressive debut performance from Sandra & Pat Guilfoyle’s Turnonthemagic (Ballymac Cashout-Burgess Sarah) in the opening round heats of a hot Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced 525 Yard Stake at Cork.

Battling through repeated crowding behind the pacesetters on the run to the backstraight, the September 2023 whelp gamely struck the front when securing clear racing room to the closing bends before prevailing by a neck in 28.60. Open to any amount of improvement, he will be a big player in this week’s semi-finals.

Swift repeat for Rathfalla

Having ended a frustrating spell with a second race victory at Thurles last time out, Mike Duff’s Rathfalla Swift (Ballymac Cashout-Devilsbit Storm) quickly backed-up that performance by setting up a hat-trick bid with a new personal best.

Back at the premier venue for the Upcoming Fundraisers at Thurles A6 525, the May 2023 whelp showed her versatility having scored from trap 5 in that latest victory when finding her best break from the rails draw this time.

Immediately contesting the lead on the run to the corner, the Duff youngster defended her inside pitch before striking the front while turning. A strong runner at the standard trip, Rathfalla Swift completed victory with the minimum of fuss thereafter and extending with every stride, struck the line with a commanding eight lengths in hand.

Rising to A4 grade for her next outing having posted 29.58 (-20), she can be expected to cope in her current form.