Brick wall for Moana rivals in Sean O’Connor Final at Limerick

TRAPRISE

The eyes of a racing world were fixed on Limerick Greyhound Stadium last Saturday as the month-long Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Festival concluded with an exhilarating racing session where the star of wonderful undercard was the Vincent McKenna trained Brickhill Moana (Ballymac Bolger-Twentylittletoes).

The Sean O’Connor Memorial A1 525 Yard Stake has served as chief support event to the Kirby since inception in 2013 and few have impressed as much as the John Collins & Albert Long owned darling in that time as she backed up her facile semi-final victory with another dominant passage throughout Saturday’s €5,000 decider.

Having battled to a bumpy third place finish in the opening round, Brickhill Moana stamped her authority on the event when back to her best breaking form at semi stage. Elevating herself to favouritism on the back of that wide margin victory in a brilliant 28.27, the Borrisokane charge justified the confidence when presenting in sparkling form for another swift exit from trap 3 this time.

Immediately in command, the August 2023 whelp displayed sharp early pace and eased to a two-length lead over Burgess Bonnie at the opening bends. In behind, a strong running Kilcolgan John was challenging for second on the run to halfway and that rival was a viable threat at the point while certain to produce a strong finish. However, Brickhill Moana has Open class winning form in the book up to 575-yards and in truth, was never going to be caught.

Seeing out the trip stoutly, the McKenna winner took another few spots off her personal best when posting a classy 28.24, with a length and a half to spare at the line.

Just a fourth outing of the season, Moana now returns to the elite echelons where she truly belongs with an exciting season ahead on the back of career best form shown at Limerick.

Monarch reigns in record breaking Kirby

The main event on Saturday provided a fitting conclusion to the hottest ever renewal of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial as the Michael O’Donovan trained Bouncing Monarch (Deerjet Sydney-Lemon Elsa) dominated while setting new track record figures for the 525-yard trip at Limerick.

The Tipperary Town trainer follows his son Mark onto the Kirby roll of honour after Stonepark Browne claimed the 2021 title as the champion elect signed off on a brilliant event campaign.

First to breach the 28.00 barrier on opening night, Bouncing Monarch suffered his sole defeat when drawn on the outside of Bockos Gold at the semi-final stage.

Housed in trap 1 for the final with the draw reversed however, the brilliant O’Donovan youngster produced a sharp break before reducing the final to a personal race against the clock.

He, along with a wealth of supremely talented juveniles made this Kirby a truly compelling spectacle and any of this season’s classics have a task to match the depth of racing ability shown at Limerick over the past month.

That assertion makes the final winning display of Bouncing Monarch yet more impressive having faced young superstars at every turn before completing victory in a new track record of 27.77 to land the J.P. & Noreen McManus sponsored €80,000 winner’s prize.

Mike on the move at Limerick

Friday’s fixture at Limerick sparked the local winning action at the venue as the Toomevara Six Syndicate’s Toomevara Mike (King Sheeran-Toomevarabigmike) made a triumphant return following a four-month absence to land the Race Entries by Text A3 525.

With a sole previous win at A7 level, the Michael Delaney handled June 2023 whelp had some highly competitive outings up to A1 level in the interim but was enjoying an ease in grade on Friday and took full advantage when displaying the best early pace following a level break from trap 3.

A length to the good at the opening bend, the girl called Mike skipped readily clear of bumping for rivals in behind while turning and had the verdict as good as settled by halfway. Completing victory in isolation while seeing out the trip stoutly, Toomevara Mike was a commanding eight-length winner at the line.

Posting 28.99 (+10), she will take just a small step to A2 for her next outing and will hold obvious claims for a repeat win.

Five takes two at Kilkenny

There was further victory to cheer on Friday when Paul & Olivia Hogan’s Five Alley Chief (King Sheeran-Hopalong Sal) extended a pleasing career start with smart progression to claim his semi-final in the Split The Pot A4 525 Yard Stake at Kilkenny.

Having shed his maiden at the venue with A5 victory in February, the April 2024 whelp took his tally to two wins from just four outings following a sharp break from trap 2.

Immediately seizing command of the rails on the run to the opening bend, the Hogan youngster turned with a length in hand before further extending on the run to halfway.

Never seriously threatened in truth, Five Alley Chief completed a snug four-length victory in a new personal best of 29.24 (-30).

Faster of the semi-finals, he will hold obvious claims to compensate his impending rise to A2 grade with final success this coming weekend.