Irish Performance of the Week - 20 October 2026
The feature contest in Ireland last week was the final of the Bar 1 Racing Irish Laurels but there were some other smart runs as well around the country.
Kamala takes the Laurels crown
The final of the Bar 1 Racing Laurels was the feature of last week in Ireland and it was Ballymac Kamala who showed the best speed to the opening bend to get herself away and gone for Liam Dowling. She has enjoyed a strong season, setting quick times wherever she has gone, as well as landing the Champion Stakes and finishing third in the Irish Oaks on top of this win at Curraheen Park.
At Shelbourne it was Waitingforastar who picked up POW for the second week on the bounce, this time for his win in the final of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmakers Open 600. His win last week tied him at the head of the times for the year over this trip with this effort just eight spots slower slotting into third place in the 2026 standings. It brought up a hat-trick of wins for the Irish Derby semi-finalist who has still only had 19 starts in his career.
Keelans Peppa took the final of a tri-distance contest at Waterford, a winner in the opening round as well but she was not at the same level in the semis last week. She got things right when it mattered the most, however, running out a very comfortable five-length winner in the decider. Just a May 25 whelp, she is by a fair way the youngest winner this week.
There is not much of Pennys Silver but she produced plenty of pace when winning at Newbridge last week on her third career start. She was only 10 spots off the quickest of the year so far which was set recently by Pomba Angie who has won a pair of POW at this venue of late.
As has been said plenty, the track at Tralee has been running quick enough with Mcenroe scoring on his fifth career start in a very smart 28.11. He had run second on his race debut at Cork to Droopys Monk, sipping under 29 seconds there behind a winner who was a Laurels semi-finalist. There is clearly plenty of ability there.
