QUALITY FARE ACROSS A VARIETY OF RACES AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

Limerick played host to an eleven-race card on Saturday night and, while there was no sweepstake action on offer, there were some terrific performances across the card from the likes of Kevinsfort Trump and Call Me Rapid.

The card featured contests over a number of different distances and Call Me Rapid was the first to produce a performance of real quality for owner Gerry Horgan. This tracker is quickly becoming a very consistent and versatile performer and the heavyweight was installed as a 2/1 chance heading into his sprint contest. Drawn in six, ‘Rapid’ shared the lead with Bright Mustang at traprise but quickly pulled clear to assert on the run to the opening bend. Challenged by the improving Demon Pick at this point, the massive son of Ballymac Cooper - Call Me Quick straightened up brilliantly to emerge a three-length winner over Demon Pick in a smart 18.78.

600-yard action followed in the very next race and this saw Boardofpeace (9/4) emerge a wide-margin winner for Michael Keating. Just a September pup, this was a telling performance from the daughter of Dromana Bucko - Clounamon Cheeko as she never saw another tail from the moment the lids opened. Showing electric early speed to assert on the run-up, the fawn was already in charge by seven lengths entering the back and she only strengthened as the contest progressed to prevail by a huge twelve lengths in 32.92. One to keep an eye on going forward.

Marathon action was to follow as Drombeg Flash made a winning start to life over six bends. Sent off at odds of 9/4, ‘Flash’ was out with the washing early on and was some ten lengths adrift of Preferthesister passing the winning line for the first time. However, showing improvement down the back straight, the son of Grangeview Ten - Millbank Marcela powered alongside a wary leader entering the home straight before staying on stoutly to claim a two-length success. A fine performance from Evan McAuliffe’s runner, the time was 42.71.

There was open sprint action in race eight and this was claimed by Bad Dreams (Ballymac Cashout - Beamingboomerang) for owner Declan Beary. It was Tally Ho Storm that showed superior early speed from trap one in the early stages and he looked likely to claim an incredible seventeenth career success as he turned for home in charge. However, Bad Dreams (9/4) is just as effective over four bends and she powered up the Limerick hill to chin her rival on the line. There was just half a length between the pair, with the time a fast 18.90.

Saving the best until last, the performance of the night came in race nine as Kevinsfort Trump (2/1) landed an A1 575 in hugely impressive fashion. Trained by Paraic Campion for Peadar Kinane, the September pup was without a win since stringing four straight victories together back in May. However, the step up in trip paid dividends for connections as he made every post a winning one. Drawn in two, ‘Trump’ emerged from a level enough start to show the better early speed and take a two-length advantage into the back from Carrigmore Hazel in second. Doubling his advantage by the penultimate bend, the son of Ballymac Cashout - Kevinsfort Tiger only got stronger thereafter as he powered to a six-and-a-half-length victory over Montore Magic in second. The time was an exceptional 31.21.