EXPECT A FITTING JUVENILE DERBY CONCLUSION
Ian Fortune
Six of the very fastest young greyhounds in training will take centre stage at Shelbourne Park this evening with the TIME Juvenile Derby set to come to a fitting conclusion.
From the outset, it has been a competition packed with real quality and the level of performance through the stake has been nothing short of brilliant. Of course, Callaway Knegare has taken most of the headlines and he will start a hot favourite to land tonight’s €25,000 decider but there have been big priced winners of the classic in the past and those opposing the favourite will cling on to that fact with hope.
KNEGARE LOOKS SPECIAL
Callaway Knegare is a worthy favourite, however.
Of that there is no doubt. A young greyhound with an incredible engine, he has been stunning through the preliminaries, culminating in a sensational 27.85 return in the semi-finals.
On that occasion, the son of Droopys Sydney broke fastest to dictate from the opening yards. His reward for that run is a tricky draw in four but quotes of 8/15 with the off-course layers highlights how highly he is regarded.
The on-course layers are likely to take him on at that sort pf price but if he avoids bad traffic, it will need something very special from one of his rivals to deny him a first classic victory. Certainly, very few greyhounds have ever moved as fast from the second turn in Shelbourne Park and his latest run is the sixth fastest ever recorded at the famous Dublin 4 venue.
Trainer Owen McKenna is long overdue a second victory in the Juvenile Derby after the winning with Vanrooney back in 2013. How he would love Callaway Knegare to reproduce his latest slick exit. If he does, he could again emerge a comfortable winner.
BRIAR HAS THE DRAW
Standing in his way are some hugely fast rivals.
Liam Dowling has already had a memorable year after capturing the English Derby with De Lahdedah and he will bid for more big race glory with his rapid improver, Ballymac Briar.
Maurice Brick’s charge has more races than any of his rivals but he has come into his own in recent weeks and was foot-perfect in both the quarter and semi-finals. On both occasions he wore the red jacket and dictated from the early yards.
Tonight, he will bid to repeat that feat from the same box. The layers also believe he is the main threat but he most certainly needs to be at his very sharpest in the opening yards as he must get first run on Callaway Knegare or he could quickly find himself with a mountain to climb.
The draw is very much in his favour, however, and it seems fair to suggest the talented son of Ballymac Cashout will have plenty of support.
BLUE MUST SHOW URGENCY
Boylesports Blue is third choice in the betting but he too has massive pace and power.
If he is to hand Paul Hennessy a second Juvenile Derby success, and a first in over twenty years, he needs to show more urgency in the opening yards.
Much like the favourite, he will appreciate a step up in trip in the future but he is raw and remains open to further improvement. Owner John Boyle would be a popular winner given his support of our sport but popularity won’t come into it when the traps rise.
If Boylesports Blue can match Callaway Knegare into the turn, he would quickly become a big player but he needs to produce the best start of his career from trap three.
MILO APPEALS AT ATTRACTIVE PRICE
Of the three greyhounds available at double figure odds, Tivoli Milo seems over-priced at 14-1.
Capable of going up fast from a kind draw in five, he is set to turn close to the pace and looks likely to outrun his odds for handler Tommy O’Donovan.
In a contest where most could be described as strong runners, Tivoli Milo is perhaps one of the speedier types and it’s very possible he could slip around in front. He is far from a short runner and would prove a tough nut to crack in such a scenario.
POWERFUL DIEGO NEEDS TO STRIKE EARLY
Hello Diego is the second of Paul Hennessy’s finalists.
He too has tremendous power but it seems very unlikely that he will be able to win from of the pace in tonight’s contest given the strength of those in opposition.
That’s not to say he can’t go up reasonably well. In fact, last weekend he made one of his better starts to sit close to the pace only to be broadsided on the corner. He recovered well, finishing fast to chase home Ballymac Briar but his price seems to reflect his chance.
IS VICTORY INNFIELD’S DESTINY?
That just leaves Innfield Destiny to complete a top-class line-up.
Barry Clancy and Tommy Kelly’s son of King Elvis may be the rank outsider of the field but he is a match for most in terms of pace. On more than one occasion through the prelims, he has caught the eye flying into the third turn.
He may be having his tenth career start in the final but still displays signs of greenness. If he can sharpen up in the early yards, it would be far from a shock if he were to get involved.
A TERRIFIC FINAL
It’s yet another terrific final to look forward to.
Obviously, there is a short-priced favourite in the form of Callaway Knegare and he is going to be very difficult to stop. A potential superstar with the pace and power to match any greyhound on the planet, he would be a deserving winner.
In a contest where he is one of the sharper performers, he can turn close to the pace before making his superior pace and power count. Ballymac Briar is best drawn to offer most resistance and is respected, while Tivoli Milo is the one that jumps off the page at big prices. He represents value but Callaway Knegare is special and he can prove it this evening. The best of luck to all involved.
Undercard
CAN OLLIE RETUN TO WINNING WAYS?
Elsewhere on the card, Owen McKenna also has a strong hand in the final of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Open 550.
Yorkie Ollie began his career to some fanfare but suffered two surprise defeats in recent weeks.
He can be forgiven for those runs and is chosen to lower the colours of impressive semi-final winner De Foxy Devil in tonight’s €3,500 to the winner contest.
BRILLIANT DUAL DISTANCE ACTION
There will also be plenty of interest in the semi-finals of the Upcoming Yvonne Barry AA0 Dual Distance.
The opening heart is particularly hot. Shelbourne Open 600 winner Ryhope Beach will have huge support but the same could be said for Scooby Pacemaker, Jaytee Craze, Randolph Scotts and Dashing Toro. It really is a deep contest and none of the six can be discounted.
The second heat is a bit more lopsided in terms of the betting with Rapido Bob set to start a hot favourite from two. He is the one to beat but don’t be shocked if either Elite Josh or Unlock Queen give him plenty to think about.