Nina’s Oaks prospects Blossom on home soil
By Paul Cooney
Nenagh Coursing Club staged their annual coursing meeting at Carhue in Ballycommon over three days last weekend, and the highlight for cub patrons within another stellar renewal was a showdown between local kennels for a precious victory in the Oaks Trial Stake.
Impressing in a brace of Friday courses to commence her campaign was Sandra & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Nina (Adios Alonso-Clerihan Jingles) and building on her debut outing when a semi-finalist in Kilflynn on opening weekend, she scythed her way through the top half of the draw with commanding victories at every turn.
However, similarly impressive when galloping to a final place at the opposite end of the draw was Chubbys Blossom (Kyle Mozart-Badminton Chubby) for Seamus & Catherine O’Meara. There appeared little to separate the local pair when the latter very much caught the eye in semi-final victory, but a playful hare took her time to exit the field with plenty of work for the O’Meara pup.
The final subsequently went as predicted with the fresher Magical Nina powering to an imperious victory over a tired Chubbys Blossom. There was much to like about the winner who admirably maintained her form and smart times through testing underfoot conditions on Sunday and she will be a feared opponent for any in the Oaks at the National Meeting. While Chubbys Blossom can be fancied to join her at the festival if building on this hugely promising runner-up performance.
The Guilfoyle kennels suffered an agonising defeat in their bid for a Trial Stake double on Sunday afternoon when having been the star turn of the entire meeting, Magical Titan (Blades Of Hope-Savage Love) was denied in the dying strides of his Derby Trial Stake final clash with Vader (Kyle Mozart-Ballymac Smokey).
The latter Brendan Mattews trained pup had been highly impressive on his way to an inevitable final buckle with the Guilfoyle charge and it proved a thrilling decider. Powerful middle pace appeared to have settled the course as Magical Titan struck the front beyond halfway, but a winding hare took him off a true line. A further swerve or two saw the complexion of the course change at the top of the field with Vader just persuading the judge late on.
For this commentator, the result would have been the other way in a straight run but take nothing from a hugely talented winner who will represent the club as a warm fancy at Clonmel in February. For the runner-up, it will be the National Meeting’s loss should he not secure a Derby ticket before season’s end!
The featured Six To Five All Age Stake also produced a thrilling decider before victory for the Kerry-Golden Syndicate’s Kerry Craft (Howdododo-Crafty Magnifico). In a final showdown with Aran View (Watchman-Meek And Mild), the latter led everywhere in the final and if passed, it could only have been in the very final act with the judge best place to pull the winning flag to audible, questioning murmurs amon gst patrons.
Three Course Duffer Championship qualifiers continue to be keenly pursued this season and having attracted a 32-stong field, the honours went to the Moira Roche & Edward Freeman owned Bristol Sparks (Adios Alonso-Aghadown Peaches). Impressive throughout, the Rathkeale raider produced a strong running final performance to defeat the Pat Guilfoyle trained Frankfort Girl, who appeared to cramp beyond halfway having led in the early exchanges of the final.
Gin is highly Pleasing in Workers
Winners of qualifying Champion Working Member Stakes around the country this season have a path to an eight-runner event on the final day of the National Meeting and a live winner of the Nenagh qualifier on Sunday was the One For The Plot Syndicate’s More Gin Please (Wi Can Riki-Well Einstein).
Fastest in each of her course victories on the way to a final showdown with Gerry O’Reilly’s Bucks Motto, More Gin Please contained a strong final challenge for a one length victory. Free to pursue Trial Stake aspirations under the guidance of trainer Kevin Barry, the six-strong syndicate membership of Olivia Hogan, Siobhan McElvey, Chloe Cronin, along with Aisling, Leanne and Jenny Rafferty have promised their own brand of Coursing Chic for future outings!
The remaining members event delivered a double on the day for club PRO Olivia Hogan when her Five Alley Luna (Ballymac Cooper-Five Alley Star) contained the persistent final challenge of William Duff’s Cocktail Lady for a one length final verdict.