TRAPRISE - Duke dictates in stunning Shelbourne debut
Sparking a busy weekend of action for local kennels across many venues, the Thursday fixture at Shelbourne Park brought the much-anticipated racing debut for the Paddy Last Syndicate’s Grouchos Duke (Grangeview Ten-Mystical Luna) and confirming the immense promise of his sizzling qualifying trials, the prodigious John Byrne trained pup scorched to victory in the opening round heats of the RCETS ON1 525.
Presenting at the capital venue for his first official four-bend trial just a week earlier, the Eoin Troy bred December 2021 whelp ensured an early career under the spotlight when producing a rarely seen 28.25 for an unraced pup over 525-yards and he would confirm that level of puppy brilliance when dominating his heat on Thursday.
Odds-on before exiting trap 2 on level terms, the young Byrne starlet displayed exceptional early pace while immediately finding a fluent stride which saw him streak clear of rivals on the run to the corner before turning with a near three-length advantage. Pursued from that point by Lemon Mundy, Grouchos Duke would never be for catching despite game pursuit by a clearly talented runner-up and a thoroughly pleasing gallop to the eye was confirmed by the clock when the newest star of our local racing scene posted a sublime 28.23, with that same three lengths to spare!
The fastest of six first round heats in an event laden with future stars, Grouchos Duke will again be all the rage ahead of second round heats this coming Thursday.
WILD MULLINGAR BRACE FOR MCKENNA
With local winning achievements at a host of tracks across a successful weekend, some were not content with single victories and the venue hopping kennels of Vincent McKenna registered a double on the Saturday fixture at Mullingar with Paul Pardy’s So Its Wild (Dorotas Wildcat-Lizzylegit) leading the way in S2 victory over 400-yards.
Last successful over 525-yards at Galway back in May, the July 2020 whelp had not been seen in Mullingar since his early career but confirming a liking for the midland venue, broke sharply from trap 2 before drifting wide across rivals on the long run to the first bend. Between runners in a tight tussle for the lead before turning, the McKenna winner held strong against a bump before powering to the front at the top of the backstraight. Easing clear thereafter, So Its Wild claimed his third win of a lightly raced career when posting 21.96 (-50) in a two and a half-length verdict and rises to the Open ranks for his next sprint outing.
The first leg of the Saturday brace for the Borrisokane kennels came in the earlier Inter Track Betting S5 350 when Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue Ros (Rosbirr Ranger-Classy Ebony) claimed the seventh win of his career in game manner.
A close-up third in a similar event at Dundalk last time, the August 2020 whelp began well from trap 4 and outpacing rivals to his inside, reached the corner with command of the rails while defending a tight one length lead. Persistently challenged along the home stretch, Ballygraigue Ros was never for catching and eased to an ultimately cosy two length verdict at the line. Posting 19.36 (-20), he will rise to S3 for his next sprint spin.
FIVE BECAME TWO AT GALWAY
A further double achievement on Saturday came at Galway when the Nenagh kennels of Paul Hogan plundered prizes both early and late on the programme with Olivia Hogan’s Five Alley Paddy (Ballymac Best-Angelisa) commencing the action in the "Bubbles & Brunch" A7 525.
An early career sprint winner, the lightly raced November 2020 whelp had filled runner-up position on three occasions in the interim but displayed that early dash when breaking on level terms from trap 2 this time. Easing his way to a tight one-length lead at the opening bend with command of the rails, the Hogan winner dashed readily clear of hapless rivals on the run to the backstraight.
Reaching his five and a half length winning margin by halfway with the verdict all but settled, Five Alley Paddy completed in dominant fashion and posting 29.68 (-10), rises to A5 for his next outing where only a repeat may suffice to quickly double-up.
Waiting until near the end of that Saturday Galway fixture for the completion of the kennel double, Paul Hogan & Dinny O’Brien’s Five Alley Din (Ballymac Best-Annual Tears) confirmed his current well-being with a second win from his latest four starts in the Track Bookmakers S2 350.
A runner-up over the same trip and grade last time, the January 2021 whelp found a very smart break from his tricky trap 4 draw and quickly established a three-quarter length lead before reaching full gallop. Never able to fully draw clear of an early paced rival to his inside however, the Hogan trained winner was ushered back to a near one length second while tackling the opening bend and had a task on his paws when charting a wider course than the leader on the run to the home stretch.
Rallying in most game fashion however, Five Alley Din rejoined his closest challenger when straightening for the run to the line and settling a thrilling contest in the final strides, timed his renewed effort to perfection for a neck verdict in 19.34 (-5). Avoiding an upgrade for this fourth career win, he will hold obvious claims again next time.