TRAPRISE - Vincenzo delivers Champion performance at Shelbourne Park

Fastest in each qualifying round on his way to the final of the Shelbourne Champion 550, the Cheryl Sutcliffe owned Vincenzo (Droopys Sydney-Alien Nipper) has spearheaded a scintillating run of form for trainer Pat Guilfoyle over recent weeks and the latest superstar of racing completed his stunning passage through the red-hot event with a facile final display on Saturday.

Facing what appeared a tricky draw in trap 4, the February 2020 whelp found his best break and immediately taking command of the race, made light of what should have been a tough assignment. Reaching the opening bend with over a length in hand of Ballymac Ben and Droopys Nice One, it was the latter who would fill second place but having reached his five-length winning margin on the approach to the third bend, Vincenzo further enhanced his growing reputation when completing victory in a sensational 29.27!

Added to his previous heat victories in 29.46 and 29.30, this campaign in his first foray to the capital will have pleased Pat Guilfoyle greatly and he now joins kennel companions Good Cody and Explosive Boy as leading contenders for the upcoming 2022 Irish Derby.

Without completion at time of press, those latter Moneygall stars will both have contested the 2022 Dundalk International 550 last night (Tuesday). Housed beside each other with Good Cody in trap 1 and Explosive Boy to his immediate right, remember to check the results on grireland.ie.

Magical Pops out to dominate Cuchulainn semi

Stepping up from opening round defeat with a stunning quarterfinal performance in the 2022 Corn Cuchulainn Open 750 at Shelbourne Park, Donal Guilfoyle’s Magical Poppy (Confident Rankin-Cabra Twister) repeated the feat when a red-hot favourite for her semi-final of the prestigious staying event at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.

In the form of her career at present, the August 2019 whelp scorched to 41.02 a week earlier when dominating from trap rise and from a same trap 5 draw, she produced a carbon copy of that facile victory when bolting from boxes to immediately take command of a hot heat.

Five lengths to the good when passing the stands for the first time, a virtual solo passage followed with the Pat Guilfoyle trained star dominating the race and very much exiting the heat with merit as runner-up, Crafty Kokoro will be a respected rival in the final having maintained that five-length margin to the line, given that Magical Poppy was posting a sublime 41.08 in victory.

The opposing semi-final went to Dark Ava who also led from trap to line in 41.42 and she is another who warrants plenty of respect come Saturday’s showdown but with destiny in her own paws, another swift exit can ensure victory for Magical Poppy.

The word is Out about Hawk

Another local runner heading to a final sweepstake decider at Shelbourne Park this week will be Michael Hennessy’s Outdoor Hawk (Magical Bale-Outdoor Roller) having produced a hugely impressive debut performance when landing his semi-final of the ON2 525 event on Thursday’s programme for the bang in form kennels of trainer John Byrne.

A February 2021 whelp, a smart break from trap 2 brought an early brush with a rival to his immediate outside when taking a step to the right before reaching full stride. Tracking that same rival at a one length deficit to the opening bend, Outdoor Hawk was further inconvenienced when taking a bump from a rails-running rival on his inside before tackling the turn. Displaying admirable determination on debut however, the Byrne pup forcefully swept into the bends and gamely reached the backstraight with just a length and a half to recover on Jasmine Lily.

Readily reducing those arrears when thoroughly catching the eye on the approach to the third bend, Outdoor Hawk powerfully stamped his authority on the race when striking the front at the third bend and drawing clear thereafter, stretched his lead to two and a half lengths at the line in 28.75.

The opposing semi-final was won by Marshmello in 28.58, so, final victory will not come easy this coming Thursday but given the manner of his victory without clear passage, the hugely promising Outdoor Hawk will prove tough to contain if free to gallop independently throughout.

Tipperary Cup

Last Saturday also brought the commencement of the 2022 Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup and the highlight of the season at Thurles, the event attracted a stellar cast on entries with a host of local kennels taking their chance within a session of six opening round heats.

Fastest was Lynchy Boy for Thurles trainer Paraic Campion as he posted 28.82 (-20) for the 525-yard trip in a heat which saw the John Byrne trained Private Jet advance in third.

The 2021 Champion Bitch Stake winner at Thurles, Skywalker Cilla, returned from a nine-month absence when landing her heat in 28.88 (-20) for trainer Michael O’Donovan, however, filling the qualifying places behind her were a trio of challengers from local kennels with Courty Girl three lengths adrift in second for John Byrne, Alice Guilfoyle’s Magical Benji third and Bernie Hogan’s Old Bill fourth.

Also advancing to Saturday’s second round was Sean Kenny’s Gunboat Wichita as the Borrisoleigh charge filled third behind Ireland’s Own in 29.26 (-20).