BUSHPARK RODNEY GOES UNDER THE MAGICAL 28-SECOND BARRIER

Barry Drake

The second round of the A1 Kasko Derby took centre stage at Curraheen Park on Saturday night, and it produced some fantastic performances.

The star of the show was the Graham Holland-trained Bushpark Rodney, as the 2-1 shot scored for owner Eoghain Whelan. A flying start took him to the front, and he displayed massive speed on the back straight. The well-backed Priceless Romeo was putting down a serious challenge as both flew into the third corner; however, the one in front kept finding throughout. A superb all-round display, clocking a sensational 27.98, a length clear of Priceless Romeo at the line.

Local trainer Kieran Lynch took the other two heats. Desert Flower got the ball rolling when showing plenty of pace and power to win for the Hold On To Your Hat Syndicate. Tracking well around the opening corners, the 5-1 outsider stormed down the back straight as another Lynch runner, Bartlemy Lucky, was going along nicely up front. Desert Flower has winning form over further, and she pulled out all the stops in the closing stages to land the spoils. A 28.46 winning run, two and a half lengths the margin.

In the closing heat, Sirius Alpha, for the Sirius Syndicate, completed the Lynch double in the Kasko Derby, producing a flying start to make every yard of the running. It looked like a red-hot contest event on paper; however, the impressive winner turned it into a one-dog affair. The well-backed 4-6 favourite was in total control up front, and he went on to clock 28.26, two lengths clear of the running on Hand Crafted.

1stSEMI FINAL DRAW:

1 DE BULL

2 BUSHPARK RODNEY

3 DROOPYS SORT
4 DESERT FLOWER

5 JIM BY TWO

6 BARNFIELD MOLLY

2nd SEMI FINAL DRAW:

1 PRICELESS ROMEO

2 BARTLEMY LUCKY

3 HAND CRAFTED

4 VALLEYS ANGEL

5 SIRIUS ALPHA

6 VALHALLA VISION

Rosstemple Pace, for Noel Barron, returned to top form when winning the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby Trial Stake. The 5-2 winner was a real classy sort when on song, and he made the most of the inside line to bounce back to something near his best. A most impressive winner, he scored easily, in 28.63.

(Pic right:) A delighted Noel and Michelle Barron with family and friends after the wonderful success of Rosstemple Pace in the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby Trial Stake.

Silverhill Freya, trained by Graham Holland for Eugene Buckley, exploded from traps to overcome the wide draw and make all the running in the closing race. The 6-4 second favourite displayed electric early speed, and she flew around the opening corners in front. The powerful running Lemon Orla turned second, and she was closing on Freya as they turned the final corners. Keeping on bravely up front, Silverhill Freya just done enough to hold Lemon Orla, by half a length, in a top-class, 28.04.

Elsewhere on the card, Southwind App, trained by James Kelleher for Davif Manning, is a March puppy going places after the well-backed 11-10 shot took the S2 sprint with plenty to spare. The race was over as a contest after a couple of strides, and the bright prospect came home alone, in 17.54.