PRO AM AND AZURE CATCH EYE IN SHELBOURNE TRIALS

Ian Fortune

There were a couple of eye-catching trials ahead of racing at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night. It was no surprise to see beaten Derby favourite Callaway Pro Am go fast for the sprint trip but Razldazl Azure was perhaps the most interesting of those to trial.

The Dolores Ruth trained youngster was having his first public trial and he sent out a warning that he could be a star in the making with a superb 28.43 return. A half brother to Derby finalist Maries Wedding and Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Ballymac Petsy is clearly potentially very special and Dolores wasn’t exactly trying to dampen the hype, describing him as “looking the business”.

Unfortunately, the Juvenile Classic will come a couple of weeks too soon for the July ’21 whelp but the plan is to start him off in an unraced stake before targeting the Kirby Memorial. 

Of the established greyhounds to trial, Callaway Pro Am was the most notable, posting a rapid 18.41 for the 350yd trip. The trial would suggest he is in tremendous form ahead of a possible tilt at the Easter Cup.