WATCH out for the Maurice O'Connor-trained Wall Street Boy in the first semi-final of the Keg Security Sweepstake (winner, € 2,000) at Tralee Track this Friday night. Running in the ownership of Seamus McEllistrim, of Castleisland, this October '08 son of Black Shaw and Saucy Sal won in 29.16 at the first time of asking at the Oakview venue on the last day of July and it was obvious that a very decent future beckoned for him.

His next outing, three weeks later, was in a first-round heat of the Keg Security Sweepstake, which is for A3 class, and, although he didn't enjoy the best of luck in running, he still improved to 29.09 behind impressive winner, Hawthorn Turbo.

He was back in action in the second round of the event last Friday night and such was the confidence behind him that he went off the even-money favourite. That confidence proved to be well justified because, from a trap 1 draw, Wall Street Boy streaked clear of his field to score by six lengths from Steeple Rd Guna in a quite brilliant 28.66, with two lengths back to Muingwee Hero.

Two other heat winners also got inside 29.00, with the Lixnaw-owned Pennylane Lace clocking 28.86 and the Ballyduffowned Hawthorn Turbo going around in 28.95, but there is no mistaking the No 1 contender at this stage and Wall Street Boy will surely be odds-on to win again this Friday night, especially having drawn trap 1 once more.

Interestingly, Pennylane Lace and Hawthorn Turbo were both maintaining unbeaten unbeaten runs in the event, as, indeed, was the remaining second-round heat winner, Sailsbury.

Pennylane Lace (Razldazl Billy – Moyvane Lace), which is jointly owned by Moss McKenna and Maurice Lyons, of Lixnaw, appeared to have it all to do in heat 2 when 6/4 favourite, Cruel Sea, led off the first bend and was a length and a half ahead of her rounding the third bend. However, the Lixnaw bitch stuck to her task quite superbly and she caught Cruel Sea close home to beat him by half a length, with a length and a half back to Gold Queen.

In relation to Hawthorn Turbo (Droopys Maldini – Hawthorn Honcho), this fellow was making it three wins from three starts for owner, Patrick O'Connor, of Ballyduff. Installed 4/5 favourite in heat 4, he was nicely positioned behind Ah Ladeda rounding the first bend and he impressively drove into the lead on the back straight. Ah Ladeda didn't exactly go away, but Hawthorn Turbo stayed in control to the line where he had a length and a half to spare from Ah Ladeda, with eight and a half lengths back to Confident Neale.

The remaining heat winner, Sailsbury (Billy Playback – Marys Opal), which is owned by Eamonn Finn, of Dromina, Co Cork, was easy to back at 3/1 in heat 2, but, after running second to Shadow Sands off the first bend, he hit the front rounding the third bend and he went on to score by three lengths from Muckross Dinny in 29.29, with a length and a half back to 6/4 favourite, Niamhs Treasure.

The semi-finals take place this Friday night and chief interest, obviously, will centre on Wall Street Boy. He is hardly likely to disappoint in the red jacket. The other three second-round heat winners are drawn together in the second semi-final and Pennylane Lace and Hawthorn Turbo are likely to engage in a right battle here.

The draw for the semi-finals is (trap order): 1st semi-final: Wall Street Boy, Muingwee Euro, Muckross Dinny, Cruel Sea, Niamhs Treasure, Gold Queen. 2nd semi-final: Confident Neale, Sailsbury, Steeple Rd Guna, Ah Ladeda, Hawthorn Turbo, Pennylane Lace (W).

Last Friday night's programme was backed up by four firstround heats of the Dingle GAA A5 525 Sweepstake and the winners were: Boy Rumble, 29.61; Kellerman, 29.22; Demonio, 29.26; Dapper Dippy, 29.09.

Other winners: Jacks Book, 29.19; Bville Jet, 18.57; Mountleader Borg, 18.05.