TRAPRISE - Legend Logan lifts spirits with new track record

TRAPRISE

 

The level of frustration at missing out on live action stretches across the entire sporting spectrum at present but those torturous resentments will be at peak levels this week amidst a host of stunning racing on the tracks of Ireland.
Forced to cheer from afar if without a runner, many local eyes were tuned into the action at Limerick for the final of the 2020 Emerald Isle Casino Irish Cambridgeshire Final where the redoubtable Skywalker Logan (Tarsna Havana/Sizzling Sarah) was back making headlines in the twilight of his career. Reaching veteran status next month, the Pat Guilfoyle trained racing superstar was at his brilliant best when leading a high-class field throughout while posting sublime new track record figures for the six-bend trip.
Fastest at semi stage, there has hardly been a more impressive sight in racing over recent seasons than that of Ray Patterson’s superstar out on the bunny with clear racing room and again swift to stride from Trap 3, Logan seized the early advantage when chased by Ballymac Kingdom around the opening turns. Passing the stands, the 2019 Corn Cuchulainn champ was pursued by the 2020 winner, but Skywalker Logan stretched his lead to five lengths at the third bend. That same margin separated the leading duo approaching the closing bends and although Ballymac Kingdom predictably finished with a rattle, Logan was full value for his one length winning margin in 41.41!
Fast times have always been a feature of Logan’s glittering career and aside from his array of titles, inspection of his best efforts over a host of distances reveals possibly the most versatile top-level racer the sport has ever harboured. His visits to Limerick have been rare but his first race on the Dock Road saw him within nine spots of the 600 yard record in a 2018 campaign which had him as the only dog to break 28 seconds for 525 at Shelbourne Park throughout that year. His debut at Nottingham in the 2019 English Derby saw him establish a 550-yard track record of 29.05 which still stands, and this latest Limerick 750-yard record confirms his unique profile amongst the sport’s most elite exponents.
Ideal timing ahead of the 2020 Irish Cesarewitch which commences at the beginning of October, Skywalker Logan’s next assignment will be the defence of that title he claimed last year at Mullingar.

Taylor wrestles Derby favouritism from Pestana
Since his slick first round victory, Owen McKenna’s subsequent record breaker Pestana has sat atop the betting for the 2020 Boylesports Irish Derby but despite emphatically coming out on top in a sole clash with Newinn Taylor, the latter Graham Holland prodigy is now just 5/4 with the sponsors for Saturday’s final showdown having gone fastest in a stunning semi victory.
The Produce Stakes winner found his best start of the Derby on Saturday last and Newinn Taylor led home Ballymac Cooper by two lengths in a brilliant 29.13 as Meenagh Miracle became the sole bitch to reach the final when one and a half lengths further back in third.
Not as swift to stride when compared to his best starts, Pestana nonetheless dominated the second semi-final when leading Ballymac Wild throughout his 29.39 performance and they were joined in the final by the strong staying Kilara Icon.
Final Draw: 1) Ballymac Wild 2) Meenagh Miracle 3) Kilara Icon 4) Pestana 5) Ballymac Cooper (w) 6) Newinn Taylor (w)
While none of the finalists have found a bad trap per say, the draw still throws up somewhat of a conundrum. At first glance, all favours Newinn Taylor with a repeat draw on the outside of Ballymac Cooper and his task is straight forward in theory, just do the same as last week! However, he was paw perfect then and Ballymac Cooper still only went down by two lengths. The latter Liam Dowling star is certainly no slouch in the early stages, and he retains the capability of reaching the bend in company with Taylor which would heighten his own chances of victory while seriously hindering the favourite’s.
Inside this duo, 6/4 shot Pestana will not have a problem with Trap 4 and with a brace of slower starters to his immediate left, all points to ample racing room for his certain move towards the rail. One complication could be a smash break from either Meenagh Miracle or Kilara Icon, however, a bigger factor will be the brilliant Ballymac Wild on the inside at 5/1. Evidence is scant but the second Dowling finalist could not be accused of hugging the rails in the early yards when housed in Trap 1 and it is likely that duo will come close together on the run to the bend.
Pestana supporters will hope that he holds a minimum of half a length over Ballymac Wild should that likely scenario materialise and neither can afford a break in stride at that crucial stage. Although both priced at 33/1, strongest stayer Kilara Icon and strong runner Meenagh Miracle are plenty capable of a shock should the big players find traffic, however, Pestana sent a shockwave through the sport when posting 28.99 in Round Two and the sole unbeaten finalist gets the vote to remain so, with his early pace too hot to contain.
There was plenty of success on the local scene once again over the weekend with the most entertaining victory coming at Galway on Friday when Tommy Ryan’s Last Attack (Corporate Attack/Sopwell Magpie) came out on top in a thrilling A6 575 clash with Magical Peachy.
Debut winner Last Attack had gone close to a second success in three subsequent outings and a strong stayer at shorter, looked sure to relish this first step beyond 525 yards. Housed alongside each other in the inside traps, the Ryan charge would bump with Alice Guilfoyle’s Magical Peachy in the early strides as the local duo surrendered any chance of an early lead.
Recovering full stride quicker than the less experienced Magical Peachy however, Last Attack closed on the pacesetters approaching the turn and afforded a run on the rails, struck the front entering the backstraight. Stretching to a two-length halfway lead, it was at this point where Magical Peachy began to display eye-catching pace, advancing from fifth place to third when rapidly gaining ground.
Hard pressed at the closing bends, Last Attack gamely repelled his closest pursuer along the home-straight when asserting on the run to the line for a two and a half-length victory in 32.01 (-20). Sustaining her effort beyond halfway, Magical Peachy was made to settle for third when just a head further back but in just a second race outing, she is clearly a runner to note with significant scope for imminent improvement. Both will rise to A3 grade for their next outing, but the battling qualities of Last Attack will serve him well in that sphere and the progressive Portroe youngster can be expected to cope.