A KNEGARE MASTERCLASS IN TIME JUVENILE SEMIS

Ian Fortune

Callaway Knegare did little to dampen the hype and excitement surrounding the son of Droopys Sydney as he again played a starring role in the TIME Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, winning his semi-final in a stunning fastest of the year 27.85.

Ballymac Briar also won his semi-final in fine style but the headlines simply had to go to Callaway Knegare, who is now set to start a hot favourite for next weekend’s €25,000 decider.

Racing from two in the second semi-final, Callaway Knegare was sent to traps the even money favourite with many fearing he would struggle to get a clear passage into the turn. Those fears were quickly allayed as he shot from trap two to make every inch.

This was little more than a procession for the incredible youngster. In what was just his seventh career outing, the powerful youngster, who is owned by the Field Sports Syndicate, posted the seventh fastest time ever recorded for the 525yd trip at the famous Ringsend venue.

Hitting the first turn a length in front of Fun Inthe Run, it was clear there was going to be no stopping Callaway Knegare. With Fun Inthe Run moving wide on the turn, holding up the Cheap Sandwiches, Boylesports Blue was left in second before the second bend.

At this point there was four lengths between the front two. That increased to almost six lengths by the third turn while the leader continued to pile on the pressure up the run in. By the winning line, Callaway Knegare was seven lengths clear of Boylesports Blue.

Behind the front two, Innfield Destiny displayed huge pace into the third turn to take over third spot from Cheap Sandwiches. He would eventually finish another two and a half lengths behind Boylesports Blue in third.

BRIAR MAKES MOST OF DRAW

There were similarities between the victory of Callaway Ballymac and Ballymac Briar in the opening heat.

Sent to traps the 7-4 favourite from an ideal draw on the fence, Ballymac Briar was disputing the lead from the outset and found himself with acres of space as Coosane Pickles moved off from two.

The latter ran straight off the opening turn ending her own hopes and those of Ballybough Nutz and Hello Diego. Suddenly from disputing the lead into the turn, Ballymac Briar found himself lengths clear of the field as he hit the back straight.

Evolution and Tivoli Milo were second and third at this point and the pair proceeded to have a great tussle into the third turn but Ballymac Briar continued to gallop with freedom out front. Trained by Liam Dowling for Maurice Brick, Ballymac Briar ran on to a most impressive seven length victory in 28.25.

In behind there was a great battle going on for the remaining qualifying places. Tivoli Milo got up the inside of Evolution into the third turn but as they were battling it out, Hello Diego was closing fast after his opening ben woes.

Hello Diego stayed wide of the front two to challenge before outstaying Tivoli Milo on the run in to take second. Tivoli Milo was just a length away in third.

TIME Juvenile Derby

Trap draw for the final

1 BALLYMAC BRIAR

2 INNFIELD DESTINY

3 BOYLESPORTS BLUE

4 CALLAWAY KNEGARE

5 TIVOLI MILO (M)

6 HELLO DIEGO (M)

Undercard

ANOTHER FINE RUN FROM BOY

The feature of the undercard was the final of the This Runs Deep A0 525 and Rambling Boy confirmed his impressive final form to emerge a comfortable winner for Georgy Roche.

Showing real professionalism once again, the son of Jacob Tashadelek and Boherna Megan broke smartly from three before showing great immediate acceleration.

He just cleared the massive Sober Secret on the turn but this was enough to ensure victory. Ballymac Deboss ran a fine second turn to give chase but Rambling Boy emerged a comfortable three lengths winner in a fast 28.17.

Dylan Brennan Racing Manager Shelbourne Park presents the trophy to George and Ben Duignan after Rambling Boy won This Runs Deep AO 525 final. Also included are owner George Roche, Roseanna Duignan and Dermot Leahy.              Pic: Imelda Grauer 

DEVIL SETS PACE

Racing ended with the semi-finals of the valuable TIME Greyhound Nutrition Open 550 and De Foxy Devil produced a fine effort to set the standard.

De Foxy Devil was a thoroughly efficient and impressive winner of the opening heat for owners Pat Flanagan and Stuart Kenny. The Marie Gilbert trained son of Broadstrand Bono and Kilgowan Honey was perfectly housed on the fence and, once coming away on terms, he and Dalgan soon moved ahead of their rivals into the bend.

With a narrow advantage and the inside line in his favour, De Foxy Devil moved on. It was a decisive maneouvre and one that allowed the March ’22 whelp to make every inch thereafter. De Foxy Devil raced on to a superb seven length success over Dalgan in 29.51.

DOWN TO BUSINESS GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS

The second heat was a far more competitive affair with Down To Business eventually getting the better of Sogna In Grande and Yorkie Ollie.

The last named was always a close third but could never get to the front two.

Down To Business and Sogna In Grande swapped the lead on more that one occasion. Down To Business got first run but Sogna In Grande moved past him into the third turn. Neither Down To Business or Yorkie Ollie could be discounted at this point, however.

With Sogna In Grande swinging wide on the final turn, Yorkie Ollie was left with little room to make his move. In contrast, the Bernadette Connolly trained Down To Business lived up to his name, cutting to the inside of the leader to challenge.

In a driving finish, Darragh Kelly and Sharon Mulcahy’s son of Pestana and Newinn Madam came through to beat Sogna In Grande and Yorkie Ollie. Down To Business hit the line a half length in front of Sogna In Grande in 29.68.      

NO BASKING FOR THIS SHARK

Basking Shark produced a career best effort to run out a ready three and a half length winner of the A1 third race in a sizzling 28.28.

In doing so, the son of Droopys Sydney and Corduff Flame initiated a superb double for his owner Laurence Jones. Basking Shark was having his twelfth start and proved simply too sharp for his rivals as he made all to see off Southwood Stan.

CHARM BETTERS SPICE

The second leg of the double for Laurence Jones came just fifteen minutes later as Farney Charm (Our Surprise/ Speed Chime) got the better of long-time leader Abbeyside Spice.

Farney Chime turned a relatively close second and got the better of Abbeyside Spice into the third turn only for the latter to come again on the run in. thankfully, for backers of Farney Charm, he had enough in hand to hold on for a length verdict in 28.34.

A SMART RUN FROM HIGHVIEW

Dolores Merriman’s Highview Smart (Jaytee Jey/ Highview Daisy) dug deep to contain Fahy Hazel in a exciting finish to the fifth race over the 575yd trip.

Fahy Hazel broke fastest but Highview Smart was soon in front but she could never really get far enough clear to leave her supporters comfortable.

In the end she needed every inch of her advantage as Fahy Hazel finished with a flourish. The Gerry Merriman trained Highview Smart held on by a half length in a quick 31.08.

JERRY TAKES HIS CHANCE

Racing commenced with a mini open 525 and it was a very tight affair.

Phariss Jerry, Summerfield Air and Hand Shake all led at various points in the opening half of the contest but it got very tight into the third turn with more than three dogs battling for supremacy.

Something had to give and, after crowding, it was Pharis Jerry that found himself in the clear. Conall Doherty’s strong running son of Good news and Ravenwsood Margo went on to see off Summerfield Air by five lengths in 28.70.

STAR WITH WIN NUMBER SEVEN

William White’s Gracebridge Star claimed the seventh victory of her career in the A2 second race.

In a contest reserved for regulars of Shelbourne Park, the daughter of Ballymac Best and Boyneside Peggy led early but was briefly headed at the third turn by Ravenswood Teddy before rallying to emerge a good length and a half scorer over Ravenswood Teddy in 28.76.