TRAPRISE - Dream comes true in Classic Kingdom showdown
The most prestigious unraced event of the season, the Greyhound & Petworld Juvenile Classic has possibly been the hottest ever competition of its kind in the modern era and leading home a cast of certain future stars when landing Friday’s final in thrilling fashion at Tralee was the Pat Guilfoyle trained Wi Can Dream (Cabra Firmino-Cabra Angel).
A June 2020 pup, the formerly named Magical Flyer made a stunning debut in his first-round heat on the Kingdom circuit when posting 28.23 (-10) for the 525-yards. With that performance prompting a subsequent sale to Lars & Anita Wicander, only his named changed ahead of the second round as the exciting prospect remained in Moneygall for his racing career.
Hugely popular within our local racing community with multiple visits to the Premier in each racing season, his new Swedish owners did not immediately enjoy victory with Wi Can Dream as he was twice forced to settle for second place on his way to the final at Tralee but particularly on the evidence of his eye-catching semi performance, he remained a big player ahead of Friday’s showdown.
Housed in trap 4, he broke on level terms and resisting any urge to move towards the rail too soon, began to outpace rivals on his inside throughout the early exchanges. Matching strides with Lenson On Ice to his outside while tackling the first bend, the Guilfoyle pup was shuffled back to second place but crucially remained just a length and a half adrift of that rival when straightening on the run to halfway. Superior backstraight pace then saw Wi Can Dream close on the inside of the leader approaching the third bend but again forced to check, the deficit stretched to two lengths at the crown of the turns. One further rallying effort then saw Wi Can Dream deliver a telling challenge in the home straight while staying powerfully to the line as he completed an astounding final victory with a length to spare over Droopys Edison in 28.37 (+10).
With all majors on the radar for the season ahead, Pat Guilfoyle confirmed that the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial will be the next assignment for one of the most exciting pups in racing at present.
Supplementing success in the big event, Pat Guilfoyle’s own Amazing Alice (Aero Majestic-Droopys Coast) truly lived up to her name when resuming winning ways at Tralee on Friday while claiming her Open 525 contest having just recently returned to racing action.
An intended retirement to the breeding paddocks is on hold while the Moneygall kennels wait for the Cesarewitch champion to come in season but following this latest victory, Alice could be on her way back to defend that Mullingar title. Contesting from trap 1 on Friday, the redoubtable September 2018 whelp defended her rails pitch to the first bend and once leading to the backstraight, she was never going to be caught over what is essentially an inadequate trip.
Completing with four lengths to spare in 28.47 (+10), Amazing Alice only adds to her superstar status having returned to the track following a seven-month layoff.
Rafferty 1-2 at Shelbourne
Also on Friday, the S0 350 event at Shelbourne Park saw a quite remarkable forecast for the Rafferty Family kennels in Ballingarry as Leanne Rafferty’s wonderful Millrose Melody (Ballymac Matt-Laughil Linda) bounced back to winning ways at the expense of kennelmate Coolemount Boss (Iso Octane-Coolemount Bally).
Amongst the sprinting elite last season when claiming Treaty Cup success at Limerick before his third placing in the Fair Warrior at Mullingar, Millrose Melody kick-started his 2022 when breaking on terms from trap 1 and briefly racing as one with Coolemount Boss, his powerful early dash effectively settled the race when easing clear to the first bend. In command to the home stretch, Millrose Melody was pestered by his buddy all the way to the line but retaining bragging rights for the van ride home, he held a length in hand over a gallant Coolemount Boss in 19.32 (-15).
The now regular monthly Monday fixture at Limerick took place last week and a cold evening was made a touch less chilly with a brace of local winners to cheer as firstly, Christopher Fitzgerald & Noel Wright’s Cagey Norah (Rosbirr Ranger-Forest Flame) extended her pleasing career start with a second win from her four outings.
Lightly raced as a September 2019 daughter of Roscrea’s superstar sprinter Rosbirr Ranger, she was returning from a ten-week layoff for Monday’s S3 350 and the previous sprint winner at Mullingar presented in sparkling form when quickest to reach full stride from trap 4. Repelling a fellow early paced rival to her outside in a protracted tussle on the long run to the bend, the Fitzgerald trained prospect extended to near two lengths when negotiating the turns at pace and fending off the late attentions of a fast-finishing rival, retained a half-length winning margin at the line. Posting 19.31, Cagey Norah will avoid a rise in grade and likely to progress for this return, she could well follow up next time.
Following a return to the winner’s circle for local favourite Sharavogue, who scored the seventh win of his career in A3 at Limerick a fortnight ago, the Ballinaclough kennels of Pat Steed remain in fine form and added a further success on Monday when the Mary Ellens Gang Syndicate’s Dolla Ranger (Candlelight King-Cnoc Rosie) also made a very welcome return to winning ways.
The February 2019 whelp had not been seen in public since last September before returning to action last month. Held in that A2 525 comeback, an opportunity under the same conditions on Monday saw the Steed charge display the benefits of that outing when leading throughout a sixth career success.
Breaking well from trap 3, the smart early pacer immediately showed in front and establishing command of the inside rail to the opening bend, retained a half-length lead to the top of the backstraight. All but joined by his closest pursuer beyond halfway, Dolla Ranger displayed a steely resolve around the closing bends when again edging to a clear lead approaching the home stretch. Tested in the closing stages, a most game winning performance saw Dolla Ranger retain a half-length margin at the line for a hugely deserved win and posting 29.25, he can also be expected to continue progressing in this racing return and will prove difficult to contain in the same grade next time.