Irish Performance of the Week - 30 September 2026
There were a number of exceptional performances in Ireland last week, led by the new track record at Curraheen Park set by Ballymac Setanta.
Setanta sets new Cork figures
The Bar 1 Racing Laurels has been a competition that has suited Ballymac Setanta. He equalled the track record last year but went better this time around in the opening heats at Curraheen Park on Saturday night as he scorched clear of his opposition. The Derby Plate winner has a big one in him, and if he can maintain this sort of level throughout the competition, there is a strong chance that it will be this one.
Saturday night saw a spectacular win from Droopys Crispy at Shelbourne. On almost any other week she would've won POW stood on her head but the night before saw Mystical Nala make a winning debut, going a spot quicker despite having a sectional that was nine spots back of the more experienced bitch. Ian Fortune on Talking Dogs said that he couldn't find a quicker race debut than this in the history of Irish greyhound racing! Absolutely remarkable stuff!
Just one start further on in his career is Lemon Mal who was a decent winner on a slow track at Thurles. The February 25 whelp reversed places with Zaconey Montana who had beaten him in the heats of the Kasko Dog Feeds Unraced, putting himself in the top 20 times of the year over the 525y.
Rusty Tractor made it 2/2 in his career with a win over 400y at Dundalk in a very similar time to the one he produced on his debut. There is clearly plenty of speed there but there is surely lots more to come from him as he matures, and that should include a step up in trip later on in his career.
There was another excellent win from Post Robyn in a Tralee sprint. Already the holder of the quickest time of the year there, he took another chunk off that to give himself three of the top four times. The other two in the top five belonging to Bomber Nina who was an Irish Sprint Cup finalist.
