MARY GIVES PAT A MAGICAL FIFTH CESAREWITCH VICTORY

Ian Fortune

The 2022 RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch produced a wonderful winner in the form of Magical Mary.

A big crowd was on hand at Mullingar on Sunday afternoon for the final of the midlands classic and Magical Mary fully justified odds-on favouritism with a paw-perfect display.  

In doing so she continued Pat Guilfoyle’s love affair with the classic as he captured the trophy or the fifth time. Sent to traps the 4-7 favourite, Magical Mary did exactly what was needed in the opening strides, clearing Beaming Scarlet on her immediate inside.

The next objective was to get around the corner without encountering traffic. Once again, she achieved this, just clearing Beaming Scarlet who was forced to check wide. Glendalough emerged as the nearest challenger in second but Magical Mary is exceptionally strong and she was never going to surrender her advantage.

Glendalough did well to stay close to the leader to the third turn but Magical Mary was on a mission. Moving through the gears, she started to open up on her pursuers. Relishing the long run for home, the daughter of Droopys Jet and Mystical Moll powered further and further clear to eventually hit the line eight lengths to the good in a fast 33.06. Toolmaker Beach ran on strongly to take second spot, a neck ahead of Ballyard Taylor.

A STEP UP IN TRIP NEXT

Pat Guilfoyle spoke to Robert Catterson of RPGTV moments after the race, saying, “She’s a really special bitch. When you get to those type of finals you like to win them so It’s a great relief to be honest.”

Guilfoyle went on to say, “I closed my eyes at the first corner there because she just barely got around.  But once she got around in front, she was always going to be very hard to pass because she stays very strong. We’ll step her up to six bends now. If she stays six bends she’ll be very special because she has that little bit of early too.”

Pat also suggested her next assignment would be in the Deadly Kennels Open 750 at Curraheen Park before thinking about the Corn Cuchulainn. It’s hard to disagree with Pat. If she stays six bends, which seems likely, she could be very special indeed.