TRAPRISE - Carter out-Foxed rivals in classy Limerick score

Amongst a host of highlights across many venues over the past week, Saturday’s fixture at Limerick saw Denis McGrath guide his Foxwood Rip to sweepstake semi-final action this weekend but it was litter brother Foxwood Carter (Bockos Jon Jo-Oakfield Dancer) who stole headlines following a very smart victorying in the Roma Casino Limerick A3 525.

Having resumed winning ways in the same grade while enjoying his first race experience on the Dock Road last time out, the August 2022 whelp had repeatedly displayed strong running abilities over the standard distance, and it came as little surprise that Carter found improvement on the clock having produced his best break from trap 5 this time.

Contesting a tight battle on the run to the opening bend, the McGrath youngster edged his way to a narrow lead on the outside upon turning but fully stamped his authority on the race while streaking clear to halfway. Never likely to be contained in such a scenario, Foxwood Carter confirmed all previous promise when completing a dominant victory with seven and a half lengths to spare while posting a fast 28.39 (+20).

A member of a special litter for the Ballinaclough kennels being sired by Denis’s own Bockos Jon Jo, the fast rating on Saturday keeps Foxwood Carter out of the very top grade while obliged to contest at A0 level next time. However, on Saturday’s evidence, he looks set for a career at elite level while still open to further progression.

Having very much caught the eye in the opening round of the Gammell Car Sales Kennedy Cup A3 525 Yard Stake with a fast finishing second on the previous weekend, litter brother Foxwood Rip endured repeated crowding in his quarterfinal of the event on Saturday. However, and although settling for fourth place when five lengths behind a 28.55 (+20) winner, the McGrath charge should not be dismissed in this week’s semi-finals and remains a big factor if granted clearer passage.

Sapphire looks Magical at Shelbourne

Following her return to racing action in August, Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Sapphire (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Mags) had repeatedly returned game performances in elite company before a close-up fourth in the final of the Yvonne Barry Open 600 last time out and confirming her well-being, scorched back to winning ways at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.

Contesting the Time Club AA0 550, the June 2022 whelp was taking her career tally to five wins from only ten career outings when breaking just behind the pace from trap 5. Tracking the blistering early pace of Grangeclare Lady throughout the initial exchanges, the Moneygall charge had near five lengths to recover when tackling the opening bends in a duel for second position while tackling the turns. Hugely impressive along the backstraight while readily halving those arrears to the closing bends, Magical Sapphire maintained a stealthy challenge and on the tail of the leader entering the home stretch while swinging wide for her winning effort, swept powerfully to the lead on the run to the line. Stopping the clock in 29.60 for a one length verdict, she gained a timely confidence builder ahead of the upcoming Irish Derby.

A kennel in smart form of late having guided Ballinalick Bono to a runner-up placing in the 2024 Kasko Unraced Final last week, Pat Kennedy’s Flexible Sian (Broadstrand Bono-Ballinalick Rua) opened the Friday action at Kilkenny with a fourth race win in the Split The Pot A5 525.

Repeatedly struggling for clear passage since her latest victory at A4 level, the December 2021 whelp again appeared in a precarious position throughout the early exchanges following just a moderate start from trap 4. Tracking the leaders on the run to the bend while contesting between runners however, the Kennedy winner displayed canny track craft when switching inside rivals for a rails-run while negotiating the opening bends and narrowly showed her head in front at the top of the backstraight. Settling the race while galloping impressively clear to the closing turns, Flexible Sian ran out a ready three-length scorer in 29.84 (-20).

That winning time will see her avoid an upgrade for her next outing and she can hold obvious claims for a repeat if again securing clear passage.

Having claimed a brace of heat wins in the opening round of the Paul McKenna Memorial A4 525, trainer and sponsor Vincent McKenna failed to repeat those exploits at semi stage on Friday at Galway but crucially, guided both Hinomite and Lisk Rapid to this week’s final in a hugely significant event for the Borrisokane kennels.

Owned by the I Lost My Dog Syndicate, Hinomite (Ballymac Best-Airfield Biddy) was denied a lead in the early stages of the opening heat but widest throughout from trap 6, performed with much credit when third at a two and a half-length deficit in 29.60 (-10). A winner in 29.35 (-10) on the previous weekend, he clearly holds final claims if back to his best start from a repeat draw in trap 6 this Friday.

Most impressive in opening round victory, Vincent McKenna & Tom Bourke’s Lisk Rapid (Broadstrand Bono-Ballygraigue Sue) was made to settle for second in his semi-final in a reversal of form, however, he again caught the eye in what was just a fourth race outing.

Crowded in the early stages following a moderate start from trap 4, the January 2023 pup was out with the washing after a hefty bump while tackling the opening bend. Fifth and at least ten lengths adrift, Lisk Rapid powered his way beyond rivals from the halfway point and secured an unlikely runner-up placing when going down by six and three-quarter lengths in 29.28 (-10).

Open to big improvement once securing clear passage, he can prove tough to contain in Friday’s final.