GOOD FARE AT GALWAY AS MAGICAL POPPY EXCELS

GOOD FARE AT GALWAY AS MAGICAL POPPY EXCELS

Peter Farrell

There were some fine performances on last night’s Galway card and Magical Poppy once again showed her liking for the circuit as she made it three wins from her last four starts at the Connacht venue.

Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for Donal Guilfoyle, Magical Poppy went down to a narrow defeat at the hands of Droopys Dude last time out but prior to that, she produced back-to-back wins when dipping under 29-seconds at Galway. Running from trap three, the 5/4 chance broke smartly from the middle and she already held a two length advantage approaching the opening bend. Doubling her lead upon entrance to the back straight, the daughter of Confident Rankin and Cabra Twister was never in danger of surrendering her lead and she crossed the line with four and three parts of a length in hand over the fast-finishing Kilcormack Sky in second. The time was a rapid 28.79 .20s.

DOBBY BETTER THAN EVER

Tusker Dobby was without a win since the summer of last year but after a five month break from racing, the Paul Lally and P.J Burke-owned runner looked better than in race three.

A talented sprinter at his best, Tusker Dobby had a career best of 19.00 prior to last night but he lowered those figures significantly in a race that ended up being all one-way traffic. Heading to traps a 2/1 shot, Tusker Dobby, trained by John McDonagh, was away like the win from trap six and he outpaced his rivals on the run to the opener. From here, the son of Ballymac Best and Mashmad Eyebrows ran to a virtual solo as he proved a cut above his rivals in crossing the line with five and three parts of a length in hand. The time was a red-hot 18.92 .10s.

FINE DEBUT FROM MAX

Next best over the standard trip was Mystical Max who made a winning start to his racing career with a very likeable performance in race seven.

Owned by Eoin Troy, Mystical Max came into the event with respectable qualifying form but he stepped up on that brilliantly to land an ON3 525 contest. A full brother to Magical Mary, Mystical Max was slowly into stride from trap six but displayed electric early dash to turn a narrow second behind favourite, Grangeview Cool. However, taking control off the second turn, the 5/4 shot opened a lead of four lengths midway down the back and he was to improve further as the contest progressed. A son of Droopys Jet and Mystical Moll, Mystical Max stayed on strongly thereafter and he maintained that relentless gallop all the way to the winning line where he was six lengths better off than Grangeview Cool. The time was 29.06 .20s.

IN OTHER RACES

There were a number of 575-yard contests on last night’s Galway card and in race one, Lissane Queen appreciated every yard to come home in front. Owned by Mia Torpey, the May 20’ pup was out with the washing early on after a slow break from three, however, she started to make inroads upon entrance to the back. Displaying good progress from the halfway mark, the daughter of Kinloch Brae and Brookville Dash nipped up the inside and finished with a wet sail to seal a one and three parts of a length victory. The time for the 7/2 chance was 32.07 .20s.

There was another strong finish in race four as Sues Posh finished like an express train to make it back-to-back wins. A 3/1 shot at the off, Sues Posh tracked the early leader, Banter Blitz, for large parts of the contest. However, the Johnny Burke-owned bitch looked a constant threat and after taking control entering the home straight, the daughter of Cable Bay and Millbank Posh finished at speed to cross the line three lengths clear of Knockmeale Star. The time was 32.14 .20s.

In the penultimate race of the night, Brickhill Daisy led from trap to line to record a ninth career victory for joint owners Albert Long and John Collins. Running in an A3 575, Brickhill Daisy went to traps a 3/1 chance but she was spritely into stride from two and she showed good early gears to round the opener in control. Maintaining a strong gallop thereafter, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Rathmeehan May crossed the line with a length and three parts in hand over Ferryforth Jess in second. The time was a fast 31.88 .20s.

The night ended on a high as Standing Ovation ran out a fine winner of an A2 575 in the concluding race of the night. Owned by the No-Cents-Syndicate, Standing Ovation went to traps a 2/1 shot and he broke well from the white jacket to lead the field into the opening corner. Pulling clear of Fast Fit Felix down the back, the son of Candlelight King and Mollrose Queen set a blistering gallop and although FIve Alley Crakl finished at speed late on, Standing Ovation still had two and a half lengths in hand at the winning line. The time was a rapid 31.72 .20s.