Bellagio hits jackpot in novice final at Limerick

Traprise column

Having commenced his career with a highly pleasing runner-up performance in the semi-finals of the Talking Dogs ON2 525 Yard Stake, David McGrath’s Bellagio (Confident Rankin-Taylor Kate) built on that first race experience at Limerick Greyhound Stadium when displaying smart improvement to land final victory in the event with an emphatic winning display in the Treaty County on Saturday.

Chasing home the fastest heat winner on the previous weekend, the April 2023 pup had very much caught the eye when reducing much greater arrears to two and a half lengths in 28.99 and was clearly suited by a repeat draw in trap 1 this time when immediately contesting the early lead following a level break.

Tackling the opening bend with command of the rail, the Toomevara pup eased clear while turning and fully in command to the backstraight, reduced the race to a virtual solo passage thereafter. Again, displaying the strong running abilities revealed on debut, Bellagio maintained a powerful gallop out front and completing a facile final victory while racing in isolation along the home stretch, registered a smart 28.77 (+10) with seven and a half lengths to spare.

Another exciting bred, reared, and trained prospect for his much-respected kennel, Bellagio is a pup to follow closely over the coming weeks and months.

Derby Fever lives on

In a classic campaign of mixed fortune from the outset for our local challenge, the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby was reduced to quarter final stage on Saturday and sees Mustang Fever (Droopys Sydney-Mustang Kay Cee) as the sole survivor for trainer Pat Guilfoyle following her game qualifying passage throughout a hot third round heat.

An opening night winner in the blue riband, the Paul Horig & Sean Bourke owned January 2022 whelp battled through bumping for a brave third on the previous weekend and was forced to display those same qualities this time when fourth around the opening bends in Heat 7 on Saturday, as Cheap Sandwiches set a scorching early gallop. Impressing along the backstraight however, Mustang Fever safely secured third place before the closing bends and struck the line six lengths adrift of Cheap Sandwiches in a fast 29.18.

The Guilfoyle survivor will face that same rival in the second quarterfinal this Saturday, again retaining qualification hopes at the very minimum and avoids the event’s outright favourite Bockos Diamond who contests Heat 4 following his near incredulous new 550-yard track record run on Saturday, posting 28.94 for trainer Graham Holland.

Dazzler shines like a Sapphire in Plate

The Friday action at Shelbourne Park featured the opening round heats of a 48-runner Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate 550 Yard Stake and while the kennels of Pat Guilfoyle would have been greatly disappointed with the bumpy elimination of main event fancy Knockeen Dazzler (Laughil Blake-Love Island) on the previous weekend, all will have been delighted with his return to winning ways in a game passage through Heat 4.

Entrusted with the care of Daniel O’Rahilly’s Con & Annie Kirby Memorial champion, his Moneygall handler guided the racing star back to his more usual sharp breaking form this time and displaying customary slick early pace from trap 6, Knockeen Dazzler tackled the opening bend with a length in hand of 2023 Derby runner-up Bockos Crystal. Advancing to pose the biggest threat at the top of the backstraight, however, was the strong running Ballyhooly Bruno but in a classy show of resolve on the bunny, Dazzler bravely repelled that persistent rival all the way to the line for a half-length victory in a classy 29.44.

The kennels would add a second qualifier for this weekend’s quarterfinals of the Plate when the wonderfully game Magical Sapphire (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Mags) battled her way to runner-up spot in Heat 5 despite another troubled passage.

A first-round winner in the main event, she was sickeningly bumped out of the Derby when disputing the lead, a week earlier, and was again in the wars at the opening bend on Friday when taking a hefty jostle to her inside, relegating her to fourth place before reaching the backstraight. Impressing while passing a brace of rivals beyond halfway however, Magical Sapphire chased home 29.59 winner Hawkfield Abbie at a four and a half-length deficit to safely advance.

Dude dictates at Galway

Staying with the Friday action and Galway’s fixture delivered a brace of local winners to cheer as firstly, Pallasmore Dude (Dorotas Woo Hoo-Canvas Tracey) secured his sixth race win for Denis Collins in a thrilling Parade Jackets S8 350.

Last successful at A7 level back in June, the November 2020 whelp celebrated his upcoming fourth birthday when back to his best break from an ideal trap 1 draw. Immediately putting the pace to the race, the Collins stalwart scampered to a two-length lead at the opening bend and would defend that advantage to the top of the home stretch. Tested from that point by a fast-finishing rival however, Pallasmore Dude was made to display steely resolve close home for a gutsy half-length score in 19.52 (-5).

He will face a rise to S6 next time but can ably cope if reproducing Friday’s smart break!

Concluding that same Galway meeting in the Slan Abhaile A3 525, Pat Moore’s Patterdale Enya (Burgess Bucks-Patterdale Donna) shed her maiden tag in smart style at the ninth time of asking.

The June 2022 whelp had made racing life difficult for herself when rising to A2 level following a Limerick Sales trial in the early season but lightly raced and now under the guidance of trainer Vincent McKenna, she left recent bumpy outings well behind when swifter to stride from trap 1 this time.

Showing smart early dash off a level break, the Borrisokane charge gamely forged a tight one length lead upon tackling the corner and doubled that advantage when continuing to impress on the run to halfway. She would cede late ground to strong running rivals when flanked on both sides in the home straight but unwilling to succumb, Patterdale Enya defended a half-length winning margin and will avoid a rise next time having posted 29.32 (-10) in a taking first career win.