MAGICAL MAG CLAIMS KILCOLGAN CASTLE CONNACHT DERBY GOLD
Peter Farrell
All eyes were on Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night as the final of the Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby took centre stage and the €9,000 to the winner feature went the way of Magical Mag as she romped to a thoroughly impressive victory.
Kindly sponsored by Karen Geoghegan of Kilcolgan Castle, the Connacht Derby has been a fantastic readdition to the Irish greyhound racing calendar and it was very well received with a number of star trackers flocking to Galway in an attempt to land the brilliant first prize on offer. As a result, the Connacht venue has produced some exhilarating action over the past four weeks and the future looks bright in the Tribal County going forward. On the night, Epic Ace may have been an unfortunate absentee from the final, however, this took little away from the performance of his kennel companion, Magical Mag, as she made every inch of the running to secure back-to-back wins.
Owned and trained by Patrick Guilfoyle, who is a fine supporter of Galway track, Magical Mag came into the decider cherry ripe after winning her semi final assignment and she was installed as the 2/1 third favourite in behind 7/4 joints, Breaghmore Dice and Ballymac Sorrel. The trap draw had added further spice to this contest with the break set to prove all-important and it was Magical Mag that took a flyer from trap two to assert on the long run to the opening bend. Moving to a middle pitch in the opening few strides, ‘Mags’ narrowly headed Ballymac Sorrel in three and this also allowed the freedom of Galway on the inside to Canya Steve, who didn’t need a second invitation to improve into second. Meanwhile, Breaghmore Dice was badly hampered at the opener from trap five and he was subsequently shuffled back to the rear of the field, while Rosshill News recovered from a poor start in four to nip up the inside and go fourth.
MAG IN FULL THROTTLE
After holding a narrow lead around the opening bend, Magical Mag never broke stride between bends to quickly manufacture a commanding lead heading into the back straight and her nearest rival at this point was Ballymac Sorrel, who was some six lengths adrift and disputing for racing room with Canya Steve. Setting a frantic gallop passing the sprint boxes, Magical Mag meant business for the Guilfoyle kennel and she maintained a six length lead approaching the penultimate bend. At this point, Ballymac Sorrel had broken free of Canya Steve in second and he certainly made inroads on the leader in his attempts to overturn what looked an unassailable lead.
MAGIC FROM MAG
Despite the best efforts of Ballymac Sorrel, who showed an eye-catching turn of speed between bends three and four, the bird had well and truly flown in the shape of Magical Mag as the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Mystical Luna was on the cusp of securing this terrific event. Indeed, Guilfoyle’s lady showed her customary staying power on the long run home to comfortably fend off the flying finish of Ballymac Sorrel, who did manage to close the gap to two and a half lengths crossing the line. A big performance from Magical Mag, which was a fitting conclusion to this event, the time was a rapid 30.18 .10s. Congratulations are extended to Patrick Guilfoyle and all the team, while much appreciation must go to Karen Geoghegan on her generous sponsorship of the Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby.
Congratulations to Magical Mag, owner and trainer Patrick Guilfoyle and Sandra (and all the team at home) pictured receiving the trophy from sponsor Karen Geoghegan. A massive thank you to Karen for her sponsorship and support to revive this wonderful competition.
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NEVERSEENDALIKES LANDS ‘ON FAYA’ STAKE
The supporting card was very strong and the ‘On Faya’ Bitch Stake, kindly sponsored by the On Faya Kennels, offered a brilliant first prize of €3,500.
On the night, Neverseendalikes proved too hot to handle for Owen McKenna as she justified her even money favouritism to win handsomely. A semi final winner in a brisk 28.87, Sian and Owen McKenna’s lady continues to improve at a rate of knots and the choicely bred daughter of Susie Sapphire made light work of her rivals. Drawn well in one, Neverseendalikes broke well from her inside berth and she immediately grabbed the ascendancy on the run-up. As a result, she developed a four length lead into the back as Slipalong Dew gave chase in second. The latter went about her business in good style and certainly kept the leader honest, however, barring incident there was never any doubt surrounding the result. Staying on with real intent on the run for home, Neverseendalikes crossed the line four and a half lengths better off, in a terrific time of 28.82 .10s.
The On Faya A2/A3 Bitch 525 Final Comhgairdeas le Neverseendalikes, Sian & Owen McKenna and family, Thank you to Peter Mulrooney and all the On Faya team for their sponsorship.
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ROUNDING UP THE FINALS
Elsewhere on the card, there were two other finals on offer and the first of those was the final of the ‘Book Your Trials Online A7/A8 525’.
Stonepark Sam was the one to beat in this contest for PJ Tynan as the son of Burgess Bucks and Turree Kate came into the decider bidding for a hat-trick of wins. Owned by James Byrne, the 4/5 chance made no mistakes as he produced a career best on the night to dismantle his rivals in routine fashion. Running from trap three, ‘Sam’ broke best of all and he took a two length lead around the opening bend from Drombeg Daisy in second. A two length lead quickly doubled on the run to the penultimate bend and ‘Sam’ continued to draw clear thereafter as he proved a class above his rivals. Crossing the line to seal the €800 final by nine lengths from Bayview Power in second, the time was 29.22 .10s.
There was a handsome €1,100 on offer in the final of the ‘Bet On The Tote A5/A6 525’ and this also went the way of the hot favourite as Ballyhale Tony secured a fourth career win for Aidan Mannion.
Indeed, Ballyhale Tony was an impressive semi final winner, so it wasn’t surprising to see him installed as the even money favourite to land the spoils. Running from trap five, ‘Tony’ didn’t break too fluently, however, immediately showed his blistering early gears to move between runners on the run-up. As a result, the son of Slippery Robert and Be Slow Teresa took control off the second bend and it was to be lights out thereafter as he opened up brilliantly to go clear. Running out a three and a half length winner from Portumna Buck in second, the time for ‘Tony’ was 29.38 .10s.
Prior to the feature, there was a consolation final on offer and the €800 prize went the way of Lady Aston as she finished with a wet sail for owner Michael Keating.
There were 5/4 joint favourites in the shape of Rinnwood Leo and Eastern Express in this contest, while Lady Aston was next in line at odds of 7/4. However, it didn’t look likely for Lady Aston early on as despite breaking well from three, she was tapped for early pace and was subsequently shuffled back to a midfield position rounding the opener. At this point, ‘Aston’ had some six lengths to bridge, however, she got to work at the midway point and tracked expertly to get back into the mix. As a result of her staying power, the daughter of Pestana and Rinnwood Pearl edged closer around the bottom two bends and she motored up the home straight to cross the line two lengths clear of Laois Lightning in second. The time was 30.71 .10s.