Ace completes Epic career start at Tralee

TRAPRISE

Last weekend’s Winter Racing Festival at Shelbourne Park passed without a local victory to cheer but having avoided a busy capital venue of late with a brace of his brightest kennels star, trainer Pat Guilfoyle completed a classy sweepstake winning double at Tralee on Saturday with Daleroad Devon and Epic Ace.

Following a brace of stunning sprint victories to commence his career, the John Kennedy owned Epic Ace (Signet Ace-Free From Desire) turned attentions to the Kingdom for his four-bend debut in the opening round of the Flaherty’s Hardware Lerrig Ardfert Stakes 550 and having registered 29.48 (+10) in a facile victory, scarcely sighted a rival in the event thereafter.

Proving far too hot to handle for his A3 rivals, Epic Ace returned AA0 times in each of the event’s four rounds at Tralee, which included his brilliant final passage on Saturday when again leading throughout. Breaking on terms from trap 1, the lightly raced December 2022 whelp eased clear to the opening bend and utterly dominant, stopped the clock in 29.75 (-20). Now six wins from six, Epic Ace will be in every notebook as a likely star of the 2025 season with this stunning career start behind him.

Also swerving the capital following his luckless Irish Derby tilt which ended at second round stage, Thomas O’Keefe’s Daleroad Devon (Ballymac Cashout-Mystical Luna) got back on the winning trail in his return to Tralee, completing victory in the K.G.O.B.A A0 Stakes 525 Stake with a brilliant final passage on the same Saturday card.

Having also rattled off six straight wins to start his career in the Kingdom, the December 2022 whelp scored on his return with 28.27 at semi stage and with a repeat draw in trap 1 this time, dominated throughout. Displaying the best pace along the rails for a one length lead at the corner, Daleroad Devon completed an uncomplicated final victory with four and a half lengths to spare in a classy 28.35 (-20) and clearly has an exciting 2025 season ahead as he too exits puppyhood.

Bono sparks Thurles trio

Saturday’s regular fixture at Thurles proved fruitful for local challengers as a further brace of winners followed the second career victory of Pat Kennedy’s Ballinalick Bono (Broadstrand Bono-Ballinalick Rua) when a game winner of the Racing Every Saturday Night A4 525.

Enduring a luckless outing on graded debut last time following his runner-up performance in the Kasko Unraced Stake, the very lightly raced December 2021 whelp began just behind the pace from trap 5 this time but showing much the best early dash, led by over a length to the corner. Stretching beyond his two and a half length winning margin at halfway, Ballinalick Bono ably repelled a strong staying rival in 29.73 (-20) and will avoid an upgrade next time.

Later in the same fixture, the Bet On The Tote At Thurles A6 525 saw a return to winning ways for James Treacy’s Montore Harry (Farloe Blitz-Montore Sally) as the likeable kennel stalwart secured the eleventh victory of his highly competitive career.

Last successful in the same grade back in September, the May 2021 whelp was back to his best breaking form from trap 6 this time and displaying his usual smart dash of early pace, scampered to a two length lead around the opening bends. Keenly pursued by a strong running rival thereafter, Montore Harry bravely defended a half-length winning margin and posting 29.64 (-20), will rise to A4 next time.

Completing the trio of local winners at Thurles on Saturday in the Update Your RCETS App A5 525, Noel Nagle’s Rathmartin Boy (Explosive Boy-Footfield Vicky) ended a luckless run of form in his fifth career win.

With his latest victory coming in the same grade back in August, the February 2022 whelp began a length off the pace from trap 6 and would absorb a bump when challenging for second on the outside of the leaders at the opening bend having paced up smartly.

Over two lengths adrift to the top of the backstraight, the Nagle winner stealthily reduced the arrears before being checked between the closing bends. Rallying in most game manner however, Rathmartin Boy switched to the inside for one further effort in the home straight, striking the line with a half-length to spare within a perfectly timed challenge. Posting 29.77 (-20), he can hold obvious claims in the same grade next time out.

Sophie scores at Newbridge

Commencing the local winning action over last weekend was the Out Of Cash Syndicate’s Come On Sophie (Ballymac Wild-Millbank Moana) when deservedly shedding her maiden tag for victory in the Sporting Press Online A5 525 at Newbridge on Friday.

A runner-up in each of her previous three outings, the Padraig O’Lone trained April 2023 whelp had chased home a hot winner in her novice stake final before again second on her graded bow at A6 level last time. Upped for this fourth career outing, the Roscrea pup gained due reward for those efforts when breaking on terms from an ideal trap 1 on Friday.

Displaying much the best early dash once in full stride, Come On Sophie tackled the opening bend with over a length in hand but readily increased her advantage when turning at pace. Reaching the backstraight with the verdict all but settled, the O’Lone winner had established her seven-length winning margin by halfway and completed with the minimum of fuss thereafter.

Striking the line in 29.38, she will rise to A4 for her next outing, but that grade will hold no fears whatsoever on the evidence of Friday’s performance and is one to follow while likely to climb further up the grading ladder this winter.