A WONDERFUL START TO DERBY AS MAESTRO SETS STANDARD

Ian Fortune

As if we needed a reminder, the first session of opening round heats of the Boylesports Derby at Shelbourne Park on Friday evening provided some exceptional racing highlighting the strength on show in this year’s blue riband.

Heat after heat, the best in training produced some outstanding racing with Good Maestro going fastest, while many of the more fancied runners made light work of their task. These included the likes of Coolavanny Hoffa, Clona Duke, Ballinabola Ed and Trinity Junior, while we also saw the emergence of a few potential stars. Certainly, there was plenty to get excited about and it left us wanting more.  

Below is a heat-by-heat guide of Friday’s action:

Heat 1 – BULLET SHOOTS TO GLORY

Bulletfromagun, owned by the Inas Boys Syndicate, was an apt winner of the opening heat as he shot from the outside box and repelled the persistent challenge of Capitan Garfio to emerge a comfortable winner.

Cutting off his rival on the third turn, the Brendan Maunsell trained son of Droopys Jet and Fire Height Brid stayed on powerfully to emerge a pretty comfortable three length scorer in 29.77. Callaway Masters got up on the line to take second, a head to the good over Capitan Garfio with Sporty Bigman flashing home to finish the same distance away in fourth.

Heat 2 – MAESTRO IS BETTER THAN GOOD

Good Maestro was in a hurry in Heat 2, showing superb pace from start to finish to completely dominate in a rapid 29.24.

The Pat Guilfoyle trained son of Good News and Mysterious Lola couldn’t have been any more impressive as he left his rivals chasing his tail throughout.

John Kennedy’s charge was returning after a layoff but it was scarcely evident as he was razor sharp in victory. Breaking fastest, he never saw another rival as he raced clear of his rivals from the opening yards. Millridge Bryce gave chase throughout and did well to finish just four lengths adrift. Millroad Girl ran on strongly to finish two and a half lengths further back in third

Heat 3 – BRO ON TOP AS DERBY CHAMPS STRUGGLE

Heat 3 was billed as one of the best contests of the entire opening round with the big guns including the two reigning Derby champions, Gaytime Nemo and Born Warrior, challenging the recent Champion Plate winner Droopys Bro but all three were turned over by the rapidly progressive Droopys Bro.

It simply wasn’t meant to be for the defending champion Born Warrior as he missed the start and was always struggling to get to the front. He did show fine dash to get involved in the buckle for second spot as they entered the back straight but edged wide, getting tangled up with Gaytime Nemo, costing both significant ground.

In contrast, The Sweeney Todd Syndicate owned Droopys Bro was fast into stride and was one of three greyhounds in a line on the bend but, importantly, he was on the inside of Gaytime Nemo and Ballymac Walt. This allowed the Murt Leahy trained son of Malachi and Droopys Cake go to the front and, once doing so, he never looked back.

Maintaining a strong gallop throughout, he saw off Ballymac Walt by four and a half lengths in 29.61. Commons Rebel stayed onto take third spot, a further length and a half back. Gaytime Nemo will have to wait to see if he will go through as a fastest fourth place finisher. Sadly, Born Warrior was eliminated in last spot.

Heat 4 – CLONROOSKE TAKES OFF

Clonrooske Sydney certainly did look likely to win Heat 4 after walking from traps and cutting for the fence.

Last at the opening turn, he slipped through into fourth off the second and turn before showing massive back straight pace and strength to finally reel in the long-time pace-setter Cryptopunk.

It was a remarkable run. Cryptopunk moved off the fence in the early yards but still mananged to hold Up The Style into the bend. The latter sadly seemed to lose her action off the second turn, leaving Newinn Port to chase his kennel companion but neither were a match for the Matthew Harte trained Clonrooske Sydney.

Showing massive pace into the third turn, he shot past Newinn Port to go second before pouncing on the run in. Owned by Ray Conroy and Ollie Dunne, the son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Matilda has shown real pace and promise during the Champion Unraced at Kilkenny but this was a different level. He got up to beat Cryptopunk by two lengths in 29.71. Newinn Port was four lengths further adrift in third with Romeo Hanzo fourth.

Heat 5 – ED GETS LOOSE

The Pat Buckley trained Ballinabola Ed was understandably a red-hot favourite for Heat 5 and he duly obliged from the front despite cutting in at the opening turn.

Once trapping on terms, the sensationally fast son of Confident Rankin and Dolls Lady was always going to be difficult to contain.

Showing plenty of early zip, he was soon in front but did edge in on top of his rivals on the bend. There was nothing to worry about, however, as he skipped around in front to open a three length advantage.

Great credit must go to Ballymac Run in second as she kept things interesting but Ballinabola Ed was never going to be picked up and he kept finding as his rival pushed in second. At the line, Brendan Murphy’s star had three lengths to spare in a fast 29.34. Ballymac Run was three and a half lengths ahead of Droopys Got It in third with Box Office Benny fourth. 

Heat 6 – CHICO TIME

Optic Chico, owned by Richard Vereker and Paul Allen, displayed all his qualities in Heat 6, showing massive pace down the back straight to get the better of Millroad Bolger.

From the early yards this was a two-dog affair. Millroad Bolger went up fast along the fence but he was joined into the turn by the Robert Gleeson trained Optic Chico.

This set up a tremendous buckle between the pair down the far side. Optic Chico has awesome pace and this was evident as he bettered Millroad Bolger into the third turn. Once going to the front, the son of Droopys Sydney and Zola Princess eased on to put the race to bed.

Millroad Bolger continued to chase hard but optic Chico emerged a comfortable and mighty impressive three length winner in 29.42. Savana Hero was another five lengths adrift in third with Strike It Syd finishing fourth. 

Heat 7 – KOBE SLAMS RIVALS

The Other Kobe emerged as one of the most straightforward winners of the night for owners Brian Clare and David L’Estrange.

The Jennifer O’Donnell trained son of Ballymac best and Mountaylor Queen had badly stumbled at traps on the corresponding evening last year but he made no such mistakes this time around.

Breaking quickly, he quickly got the better of his rivals into the bend before quickly opened up a commanding lead. English Derby Burj Khalifa took a bump but largely avoided the traffic on his inner to go second but he was never going to get to the leader.

Almost seven lengths to the good into the third turn, The Other Kobe tied up a little on the run in but went on to score by two lengths in 29.58. Burj Khalifa ran a fine race in second with Storys Cashout running on to finish best of the remainder, a further half length back.

Heat 8 – DUKE JUSTIES FAVOURITISM

Sogna In Grande made a flying start to lead the field in the early yards of Heat 8 but the writing was on the wall for the early pace-setter when Kevin O’Brien’s hot favourite Clona Duke was on his heels as they began to turn.

Slipping up the inside of his rival, the Graham Holland trained Clona Duke moved into a three parts of a length advantage by the time they straightened up into the back straight. Sogna in Grande kept with Clona Duke to the third turn but he was never going to get past the brilliant son of Malachi and Coolavanny Pearl.

As expected, Clona Duke began to ease on as they turned for home and eventually went on to score by two lengths in 29.47. Seven Beach also ran a huge race in third. The young tracker displayed fine pace throughout to keep tabs with the front two, finishing just two lengths further adrift. 

Heat 9 – JUNIOR SIMPLY TOO GOOD

Trinity Junior was one of the most decisive winners of the night in Heat 9.

Tim Slevin’s Champion Stakes winner may have been headed at trap rise by the fast starting Ballymac Pete but he soon moved through the gears.

Showing tremendous early speed, Trinity Junior comfortably made the corner in front and quickly built a commanding race-winning advantage. It was little more than a procession thereafter as the Peter Cronin trained son of Laughil Blake and Oi Oi Upenalty eased on to beat Ballymun Boy by eight and a half lengths in 29.50. Scotty Scheffler was the third qualifier, some two and a half lengths further adrift. 

Heat 10 – IT’S SHOWTIME

There was a tremendous buckle in Heat 10 between warm favourite Annagh Bailey and the ultimately victorious Deadly Showtime.

The latter flew from traps to hold a near two-length lead into the turn but was under serious pressure when Annagh Bailey slipped around in second. 

This set up a great clash with Annagh Bailey challenging Deadly Showtime into the third turn. Anagh Bailey finally got on terms between the last two bends and may have briefly headed Deadly Showtime but this contest was far from over. Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for the Blue Light Syndicate, Deadly Showtime stuck closely to the fence and rallied to deny Annagh Bailey. The son of Droopys Sydney and Ruby Valley kicked off the final turn to score by a half length from Anagh Bailey in 29.83. Lotto Other News ran well to finish just two and a half lengths further back in third, holding the strong running Catunda Syd by a head. 

Heat 11 – HOFFA BACK AND PURRING

Coolavanny Hoffa has often been compared to a Ferrari in the past and he certainly looked the part in Heat 11 as he returned from a near-eleven-month hiatus.

Much like the supercar he resembles, he may have needed a blow out after sitting idle for so long but as comebacks go it was pretty special.

Sent to traps a 2-11 favourite, the brilliant son of Droopys Sydney and Coolavanny Ella broke on terms before moving to the turn with plenty of purpose. He had to track his way around Cheque For Sir but, once doing so, was soon in total command. Six lengths to the good by halfway, he maintained a relentless gallop to the line to score by eight lengths in 29.43. For Michael O’Donovan and Pat Daly it would have been the perfect start to his Derby campaign. Cheque For Sir was second with Drombeg Ten qualifying in third. 

Heat 12 – MET WINS WELL 

In terms of overall quality, Heat 12 was one of the best of the round and yet again early speed and the right draw was to prove decisive as Well Met produced a polished display for John Jones.

The talented son of Ballymac Best and Corduff Flame came in for support ahead of the race and it was inspired as he flew up the fence to challenge and head Magical Kuba on the bend.

With the likes of Ballymac Marino and Magical Kuba turning on his heels he had to be at his best but he answered every question. Indeed, his greatest challenge came from Mr Chelm. Showing exceptional pace down the back straight, the 2022 English Derby runner-up flew into second at the third turn, forcing Ballymac Marino to check his stride.

It was now a question of whether Well Met could contain his advancing rival. Again, he had the answer. The September ’20 whelp kept going right to the line to hold an eye-catching Mr Chelm by a length in 29.67. Undulation had capitalized from the third bend traffic to come through for third, some two lengths further back. Ballymac Marino will likely progress as one of the fastest fourth place finishers.   

Heat 13 – MAGIC MOFO CUTS RIVALS DOWN

A wonderful night’s racing deserves a wonderful finish and that certainly came in the last of the thirteen heats as Bitch of the Year Raha Mofo produced yet another swashbuckling display to break the hearts of Hawkfield Blue backers.

The latter displayed fine early speed along the fence to put himself in pole position entering the back straight. With Da Bold Freddie turning second on his comeback start, it seemed certain that Hawkield Blue would go onto score but then Raha Mofo appeared on the scene.

With Da Bold Fredie cutting for the fence at the turn, Raha Mofo turned in third from trap five and, most importantly, she maintained full momentum. This was bad news for those in front of her. Marissa Molloy’s sensationally fast daughter of Droopys Sydney and Clares Queen began to close on those in front.

Moving third at the third turn, it was only a matter of time before she got to the long-time pace-setter. The Murt Leahy trained powerhouse duly came through in the closing yards to take the verdict by three parts of a length in 29.67. Hawkfield Blue ran a fine race in second with Bens Teddy running on strongly to take third another two and a half lengths away.