Waterford Oaks Fever for Guilfoyle

TRAPRISE

A hugely prestigious perennial major event at Kilcohan Park in Waterford, the 2024 Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks was reduced to final stage on Saturday evening, and taking leading claims to this week’s final showdown will be the Pat Guilfoyle trained Mustang Fever (Droopys Sydney-Mustang Kay Cee) following her fastest semi-final performance.

Having settled for a one length second to Deelish Nora in their 28.65 opening round clash, the Sean Bourke & Paul Horig owned January 2022 whelp progressed for that first race experience on the circuit when back to winning ways in empathic fashion this time.

Breaking sharply from trap 2, the Moneygall charge galloped her way to a tight one length lead at the corner and doubling her advantage to the top of the backstraight, continued to repel exalted rivals thereafter. Always strong at the 525-yard distance, Mustang Fever scarcely sighted a rival when extending to four lengths over Legit News while stopping the clock in 28.49.

The opposing semi-final was claimed by the aforementioned Deelish Nora in 28.54 while again displaying sharp early pace to lead throughout and the primary task for Mustang Fever come Saturday’s final will be to prevent that rival from leading at the opening bend. However, well-housed in trap 1 with that fellow semi winner to her immediate outside, the Guilfoyle starlet will hold every chance with a repeat of her latest smart break!

The Moneygall kennels had already enjoyed a successful start to their weekend of action when commencing Friday’s fixture at Limerick with maiden victory for Sandra & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Ruby (Droopys Sydney-Amazing Alice) in the Welcome To Limerick Stadium A6 525.

Fourth, without clear passage in a sprint debut, the January 2023 whelp appreciated her step up in trip when smartly to stride from tap 4 this time and disputing the lead with an early paced rival to her inside throughout the initial exchanges, narrowly battled her way to the front at the top of the backstraight. Fully stamping her authority on the race along the backstraight, Magical Ruby drew readily clear to a facile nine and a half-length verdict while stopping the clock in highly pleasing 28.83.

That time will see her obliged to contest at A1 level for her third career start, but further and imminent improvement would come as little surprise given her elite bloodlines!

Staying with that same Friday fixture at Limerick, the following Greyhounds Make Great Pets S7 350 would welcome another maiden race winner to the local scene as James Treacy’s Montore Mal (Malachi-Stuckeybawn) scored at the third time of asking.

Having displayed smart early pace in a brace of outings over 525-yards, the January 2023 whelp was always likely to appreciate this switch to sprinting and duly displaying pleasing dash once in full stride, struck the front on the long run to the bend despite just a moderate start from trap 3. Negating initial one-length arrears, Montore Mal comfortably led to the corner and galloping powerfully to the line, thereafter, posted 19.15 in a four-length verdict.

He will now rise to S3 for future sprint contests but can be expected to ably cope while continuing to improve further.

Bogger is best on Thursday

Almost a standing dish for the SIS meeting on Thursdays at Limerick, the local winning action last weekend was sparked by the kennels of Tina & Abigail Morrissey as Abigails Bogger (Great Blue Shark-Bogger Sunny) secured a most deserved third career win.

Four times a runner-up since last successful back in June, the August 2022 whelp was not winning out of turn when concluding the meeting in the Lucky Last A3 525, with a fastest of the day performance.

A runner-up in A2 grade last time, the Morrissey charge took advantage of his ease despite breaking behind the pace from trap 6 before rounding rivals to race in third position at the opening bends. Advancing while turning on the outside, Abigails Bogger struck the front at the top of the backstraight and subsequently settled the race when strongest beyond halfway. Bounding to a five and a half-length winning margin, he posted 28.96 and will return to A2 level next time.

Swift maiden score for Rathfalla

Saturday’s meeting at Thurles last weekend would also introduce a newcomer to the winner’s circle as commencing the fixture in the BB Construction LTD Rathdowney A7 525, Mike Duff’s Rathfalla Swift (Ballymac Cashout-Devilsbit Storm) greatly impressed while claiming a first career win at the second time of asking.

Progressing for debut experience, the May 2023 whelp found just a moderate start from trap 1 but pacing up well with a minor drift towards the middle of the track on the approach to the corner, seized the lead while turning. Extending to her four-length winning verdict by halfway, Rathfalla Swift completed victory with the minimum of fuss and stopping the clock in 29.63 (-20), rises to A4 for her next outing. However, that level should hold little fears for the Duff prospect on Saturday’s evidence!