Marty produces Moorstown magic at Tralee

TRAPRISE

Having claimed the Moorstown Kennels A3 500 Yard Stakes with multiple track record breaker Magical Luka in 2025, Pat Guilfoyle was back to support the event at Tralee this season and on Friday last saw another immensely promising young prospect claim final victory in the form of Magical Marty (Ballymac Cashout-Magical Mary).

A September 2024 whelp, the Moneygall pup had signalled his latent raw abilities with a sizzling 400-yard debut win at Dundalk and upon arriving to Tralee, claimed victory in each of his two opening round heats.

A sole defeat in the event arrived at the semi-final stage when ceding victory to kennel companion Magical Faye as the pair filled the forecast places before duelling for favouritism ahead of a highly anticipated final rematch.

It was the latter who was actually a shade of odds-on before trap rise but once Faye missed her break from trap 4, there was ample early racing room for Magical Marty as he challenged for the lead on the run to the opening bend from trap 5. Poking his head in front around the outside at the crown of the turns, the Guilfoyle powerhouse would reduce the final to a race against the clock from that point. Bounding clear to halfway, Marty continued to extend throughout a six and a half-length final victory while posting a classy 26.86.

In behind, Magical Faye came through rivals to fill third having been last of all to the opening bends and just a November 2024 pup, her future looks every bit as bright as Magical Marty, especially as both look assured to progress for extra yardage on the back of these highly educational endeavours at Tralee.

It was a great night for the Moneygall kennels in the Kingdom as a competition final double was completed when trainer Pat guided the Thomas O’Keefe owned Daleroad Magic (Ballymac Cashout-Magical Mary) to victory in the Regional Nights Friends & Supporters A2 525 Yard Stake.

A litter brother to the Moorstown Kennels stake winner, the strong runner over this standard trip had registered a hattrick of heat wins and as the sole unbeaten finalist, got the job done on Friday despite a tardy start from trap 5. Bullying his way through rivals from last position at the opening bend before emerging in second place at the top of the backstraight, the Guilfoyle pup set sights on a runaway leader from five lengths adrift.

Greatly impressing the eye from that point, Daleroad Magic stealthily reduced the arrears until ranging up on the outside off the final turn and powering to the line, posted a classy 28.36 for a one length victory.

Within a very busy and successful spell for the kennels, the one downside was that Wi Can James was unable to take his place in the semi-final of the Puppy Derby at Shelbourne Park on Saturday. However, the weekend delivered a host of exciting performances and setting sights on the 2026 On Faya 525 Yard Galway Oaks, trainer Pat guided three challengers to this week’s semi-finals while registering a double in the heats.

First into the winner’s enclosure, the redoubtable Magical Hope (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) claimed the sixteenth victory of her wonderfully competitive career. Leading from the opening bend, the May 2023 whelp posted 29.10 (+20) in a one-length victory.

Next up, 2025 Derby finalist Magical Mag (Ballymac Cashout-Mystical Luna) secured her first race victory of a very light 2026 campaign with a performance that will have greatly pleased all connected. Using her rails pitch from trap 1 to ideal effect while striking the front around the opening bends, the December 2022 kennel stalwart skipped readily clear to a five-length victory in 29.08 (-20).

The aforementioned duo are joined in the semi-finals this week by Magical Be Nifty who filled third in her opening round heat when six lengths adrift in 28.84 (-20) and she avoids her companions in the draw this week as Hope and Mag will seek to fill two of the three qualifying places from the second semi-final.

Luka lights up Irish Sprint Cup

The aforementioned Magical Luka (King Sheeran-Magical Mary) is amongst the most talked about greyhounds in the world of racing and his much-anticipated appearance in the Bar 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup saw the Pat Guilfoyle superstar go fastest in Saturday’s opening round at Dundalk.

With track records against his name at both Tralee and Romford, the October 2023 whelp possesses as much latent raw pace as any to ever grace a track and strongly fancied for the perennial sprint major, commenced his campaign with a classy passage while justifying all confidence.

Despite just moderately to stride from trap 2, the Moneygall speed machine quickly began to reduce initial one-length arrears once in full gallop and overhauling Yurty Magurty for a one length lead at the opening bend, galloped dismissively clear thereafter. Striking the line with five and a half lengths in hand, Magical Luka stopped the clock in 20.88 for the 400-yards and the swiftest of nine heat winners, still left ample scope for improvement as a warm favourite for outright honours.

Also advancing to this weekend’s second round was the Christopher Delaney trained Rallying Billy (Ballymac Cashout-Rallying Saidso) having produced a highly pleasing runner-up effort.

Also headed at trap rise, the Dan Flynn owned May 2024 whelp performed with much credit when advancing along the rails from trap 1, but win claims were scuppered when markedly checked at the corner. Gamely living up to his name, Rallying Billy very much caught the eye when improving from fourth position, thereafter, ceding just three and three-quarter lengths to recent Treaty Cup winner Tiermana Dream at the line in 20.96 while gamely filling second position.

Amidst the remaining weekend exploits for local runners, the final act at Shelbourne Park on Friday saw John Meelam’s Lucky Duke (Grouchos Duke-Courty Girl) prevail within a thrilling encounter, registering his third career win in the Safe Journey Home A1 525.

Plagued with traffic woes in recent outings since last successful in early May, the Pat Buckley trained October 2024 whelp again began behind the lead from trap 4 this time and encountered crowding on the run the corner when forced to check behind the leader. Challenging on the inside off the second bend, the Meelam pup again had to switch behind the pacesetter before straightening for halfway. Now flanked on both sides, the manner in which he gathered himself to just show in front at the third bend was hugely pleasing and though hard pressed in the home straight by a strong staying Doctor Dolittle, Lucky Duke retained a neck margin at the line.

A bump affected time of 29.07 (+20) is largely negligible given his passage and expect progress from the promising prospect over coming weeks.