TRAPRISE - Rafferty duo hold Fair claims at Mullingar

In search of a second major sprint title in 2021, the Rafferty family kennels of Ballingarry continued their stealthy progress through the Fair Warrior Open 400 at Mullingar on Saturday and though still without a heat victory, remain double handed ahead of this week’s semi-finals.

First into action for the third quarter-final, Leanne Rafferty’s Millrose Melody (Ballymac Matt-Laughil Linda) was ideally housed on the fence, but the reigning Treaty Cup champion had a task on his paws when slowly to stride on the inside of exalted rivals.

Possessing powerful early pace however, the Ballingarry star crucially recovered lost ground when relishing the long run to the opening bend and defending his rails pitch, turned with one length to recover on defending champion Olympic Dollar. Briefly tight for racing room, Millrose Melody was forced to cede further ground before reaching the back-straight in a tussle for second with Creeves Cross as that duo set sights on the leader from two lengths adrift before a thrilling encounter was settled with a high-class scramble for the line. Olympic Dollar would have his lead reduced as both Millrose Melody and Creeves Cross closed with every stride close home, but the defending champion clung to a shorthead verdict as the Rafferty speedster settled for third in a head bobbing photo-finish that could have gone any of three ways. In 21.50 (-20), Millrose Melody is warming to his Fair Warrior task in ominous fashion.

Ensuring a second runner for the kennels in this week’s semis, the Four Culchies Syndicate’s Coolemount Boss (Iso Octane-Coolemount Bally) was also made to settle for a qualifying third and although quite a distance further back from the winner, his was a most brave performance that will have pleased connections greatly.

Also slow to stride from trap 1, Coolemount Boss trailed the fast-starting favourite Gizmo Cash throughout the early stages and had a huge task to advance when still fifth approaching the opening bend. Sneaking past a rival while turning, the Rafferty charge was tight for room on the run to the finishing straight and as a brace of leaders stretched clear, his challenge was reduced to scramble for the last remaining qualifying place when fourth at that stage. Rallying in most game fashion however, Coolemount Boss again finished his race very strongly and his rallying effort saw him comfortably claim third when beaten a total of eight and a half lengths to fastest heat winner Gizmo Cash and Ballyea Scrutiny in 21.26 (-20).

Drawn in trap 1 once again for the opening semi this week, Millrose Melody looks ideally placed to advance to the final while holding clear claims for victory and gratefully avoiding each other in the draw, Coolemount Boss races from trap 4 in the second heat. The latter will need a more adept break with the afore mentioned heat winners to his immediate right but a brace of Rafferty finalists in the Fair Warrior is still a realistic aspiration!

Marvellous Messi back on the scoresheet

One of the most promising pups on the local racing scene when claiming the final of the Sporting Press A1 550 at Clonmel with a brilliant 29.74, Paul Hogan’s Five Alley Messi (Ballymac Vic-Donals Tank) has endured an injury interrupted campaign since that victory in early 2020 but in one of the most heartening performances of the season, the July 2018 whelp secured his first comeback win when landing Friday’s A1 525 at Galway.

Losing an entire year from what should have been his prime racing days, an initial return to the track in March of this year yielded yet further frustration before another three-month absence ahead of his outing on Friday.

Slow to stride from trap 2, Five Alley Messi trailed pacesetter Buttsys Bullet by two lengths in the early exchanges but sneaking a run on the rails, secured second position at the crown of the opening bends. The early paced leader had extended to five lengths at halfway but with clear racing room in second, the Hogan kennel favourite began to reduce his arrears beyond halfway. Powering to the closing bends, Messi had halved his deficit before reaching the home stretch and a sustained effort saw him draw ever nearer on the run to the line. A timely challenge duly delivered a neck verdict in most game fashion as Five Alley Messi secured a thrilling fifth career win in 29.29 (-10).

Likely to progress for this latest return, he can hold every chance to repeat next time but for now, it’s just wonderful to see his career finally back on track!

Commencing the winning action last weekend when scoring at Limerick on Thursday, the Mary Ellens Gang Syndicate’s Plus Tax was another to spend significant time away from the track following his July debut but presenting in sharp form for his return, shed his maiden tag at the second attempt with the minimum of fuss in his A6 525 contest.

Making an adept break from trap 1, the February 2019 whelp thoroughly impressed when recovering ground on a fast-starting rival approaching the corner. Holding strong against a bump while turning, the Pat Steed charge edged to a narrow lead before reaching the back-straight and extended to a one length advantage at halfway.

Retaining that lead to the third turn, Plus Tax completed victory in strong staying fashion thereafter while drawing readily clear to a four-length winning margin in 29.14. He will now take a significant rise to A3 next time but open to any amount of progression, may well take that upgrade in stride.