Nala completes Mystical career start at Shelbourne
TRAPRISE
The fastest ever debut performance in Irish greyhound racing had instantly made Eoin Troy’s Mystical Nala (Dromana Bucko-Mystical Luna) a puppy star with the attentions of an entire sport and completing victory in the Book Your Christmas Party ON1 525 Yard Stake at Shelbourne Park on Friday, she confirmed why in another dominant winning passage.
The capital venue has been home to the greats of racing over generations but in a sensational first career outing, the Pat Guilfoyle trained October 2024 whelp created a moment of wow for even the most race hardened Shelbourne patron, registering a never seen before debut in 27.98!
On the back of that semi-final victory, Nala would again face just three rivals in Friday’s final showdown, but she once again reduced the race to a solo gallop against the clock having edged to the lead following a level break from trap 2.
A length to the good at the opening bend, that advantage quickly grew to three lengths before reaching the backstraight and with a beautiful galloping gait to the closing turns, the Moneygall missile was eight lengths to the good while turning. Clearly a powerhouse from halfway in these early stages of her career, Mystical Nala drew further clear with every stride as she struck the line with twelve and a half lengths in hand, posting another stunning time of 28.12.
It is intriguing to contemplate just where this latent raw talent can take Mystical Nala. She is of course, a couple of months too old for the Kirby Memorial and other major juvenile events of early next season. Exiting novice company will bring far stiffer tests in future outings but it is easy to get excited about a truly rare young talent with so much to look forward to over coming months and beyond.
Jet powered Laurels heat win
Classic action last weekend brought quarterfinal heats in the 2026 BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels and progressing from his game opening round third, Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Jet (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) was a brilliant winner on his way to this week’s semi-finals at Curraheen Park.
Better drawn in trap 1 this time, the June 2024 whelp was headed in the early strides but secured second position while tackling the opening bend in pursuit of his first-round heat winner Microchip. Switching to the outside on the approach to halfway while just a length adrift, the Moneygall charge ranged up as a menacing threat to the leader at the third turn before a bump between the pair appeared to have scuppered win claims.
However, a powerful rallying effort in the home stretch saw Magical Jet arriving on the outside and within a thoroughly admirable performance, he struck the front close home for a one length victory in 28.39.
This Saturday brings three semi-finals with just two to qualify from each but a repeat draw in trap 1 for the first of those offers highly realistic claims for a final berth as the kennel seeks to supplement Magical On Fire’s astounding victory in the classic twelve months ago.
The presence of Microchip on his immediate outer may see Jet again headed to the opening bend but if sticking to the rails in the slipstream of that early pacer, a final ticket can be at his mercy granted clear passage.
Another significant highlight for the Guilfoyle team at Shelbourne Park on Saturday arrived in the opening round heats of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmakers Open 600 where Sandra Guilfoyle’s Waitingforastar (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) produced a stunning victory.
A distance where he can be fully expected to live up to his naming, the Derby semi-finalist made another tardy start from a less than optimum draw in trap 5 but despite checked at the opening bends, displayed all of his raw galloping power from halfway. Overhauling the pacesetting Droopys Winsome off the final turn, Waitingforastar registered a strong running three-length victory in 32.32 and is a big player ahead of this week’s semi-finals with a special run imminent if sharpening his break!
Deone a maiden no more
Further Saturday action delivered a new recruit to the local winner’s circle and building on her highly promising career start, Jessica Reddan’s Taylormade Deone (Grouchos Duke-Taylormade Scala) registered a first chalk in the win column with an impressive victory in Limerick’s www.gogreyhoundracing.ie A3 525.
Twice a previous runner-up, the John Byrne trained March 2025 whelp had displayed smart form in six race outings, reaching a mark of A2 despite some bumpy passages. A first victory seemed just a matter of time, but the Reddan pup faced a tricky draw on Saturday as widest of the inside seeds in trap 4 and had a task on her paws when headed in the early strides. However, displaying smart dash while outpacing rivals on her inside, Deone secured a rails-run at the opening bend before rushing up on the inside of the leader to strike the front upon straightening in the backstraight. Pursued into the closing bends by a strong running rival, Taylormade Deone was not for passing and displaying admirable resolve in the home stretch, defended a one and a half length winning margin in a new personal best of 28.75.
The performance will bring a rise to A1 level for her next outing and while that will prove a test in her early career, further progression is expected from a likeable pup, now that this first race win has been secured.