Luna lays down hermarker in Club Derby

TRAPRISE

The most intriguing sweepstake competition on Ireland’s graded racing scene, the TIME Club Derby A4 525 Yard Stake offers prizemoney available nowhere else for runners at this level and with the chase for €20,000 down to semi-final stage, trainer John Byrne guided Private Luna (King Sheeran-Diego Lola) to a first career victory on Saturday at Limerick.

Settling for qualifying places in three previous rounds, the John Ryan owned August 2024 whelp had displayed pleasing battling qualities through competitive contests to reach quarter final stage but a better start delivered an improved performance in her eighth race outing.

Sharp from trap 5, the Knockalton pup was only marginally headed in the early strides but pacing up well on the outside of a three-way tussle approaching the opening bend, bravely forced her way across rivals while turning for a lead into the backstraight. Never stretching more than two lengths clear however, Luna would have rivals closing to her tail in the home stretch but in truth, never looked likely to be caught. Striking the line with a length to spare, Private Luna progressed to a new personal best of 28.70 which was the fastest of the quarter finals.

The event is hugely competitive, a fact that is supported by the winning time of Tipperary hurling manager Liam Cahill & Tony Lacey’s Imagine If in the previous heat when registering 28.72. This progress from Private Luna, however, has arrived in very timely fashion and with this significant marker laid down, confidence is high that she can advance from this coming weekend’s semi-finals.

Magical Moorstown double for Guilfoyle

We briefly reported on the brilliant start for trainer Pat Guilfoyle in the 2026 Moorstown Kennels A3 550-yard Stake in last week’s issue with confidence that there was more to come at Tralee from the Cloughjordan raiding party. Justified at Friday’s second round in the Kingdom, a sizzling double was spearheaded by Magical Faye (Magical Bale-Magical Chanel) when she went fastest of the event.

Coming from behind to score in 27.17 on the previous weekend, the November 2024 pup was again headed to the opening bends from trap 5 this time but within two lengths to the top of the backstraight, that margin was too small for her rivals to contain the Guilfoyle starlet thereafter. Taking over with a passage on the outside at the third turn, Magical Faye drew clear in dismissive manner for a strong running five and a half length victory in 26.96 (+10).

The kennel brace was sparked in the preceding heat and best in the opening round, Magical Marty (Ballymac Cashout-Magical Mary) doubled down within a stunning performance.

Very slow to stride from trap 5, the September 2024 whelp crucially resisted any move inwards when pacing up well to the corner with ample racing room. Impressively rounding rivals on the wide outside while tackling the opening bends, Marty had struck the front before entering the backstraight. Reducing the race to a virtual solo spin thereafter, Magical Marty extended to a facile nine length verdict at the line while posting 27.20 (+10).

He will need to trap sharper going forward but this performance puts him right amongst the outright fancies alongside his travelling companion.

The Guilfoyle challenge in the event is threefold, but the Heat 3 which Magical Poppy (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) was due to contest will need to be re-run before the semi-final line-up is complete.

McKenna double-handed in Curtin Memorial

It was another very busy week on the local scene with much to catch up on once again as a host of runners advanced within competition challenges, which included a pleasing start for trainer Vincent McKenna in the Pat Curtin Memorial Cup A4 525 Yard Stake at Mullingar on Saturday.

An improving and lightly raced youngster, the Pat Hartnett owned June 2024 whelp Obelisk (Orchestrate-Lillies Supreme) made a winning start to his event tilt when a trap to line winner in just his fifth career outing.

With a previous A7 victory to his name, the Borrisokane charge possesses swift early pace at the standard distance and showed all of that dash when sharply to stride from trap 4.

Immediately in command, Obelisk scampered to a two-length lead at the opening bend before extending further clear while negotiating the tight turns at pace. Threatened by a strong staying rival beyond halfway, the McKenna winner was kept honest all the way to the line but remained full value for his neck winning margin while posting 29.59 (-60).

Joining his kennelmate in this week’s semi-finals at the midland’s venue will be the Krush Kings Syndicate’s Krushing It (Orchestrate-Highview Jewel) following his pleasing runner-up performance.

Also quick to stride from his trap 3 draw, the May 2024 whelp dictated matters to the closing bends but would surrender his winning opportunity to a strong staying rival who took full advantage when Krushing It ran wide off Mullingar’s tricky third bend. Settling for a three-length second in 29.48 (-60), he nonetheless remains a player in the event with such early dash; especially if mastering the closing turns!