GAYTIME NEMO THE TOAST OF TOWCESTER

Ian Fortune

Scarcely has a major final been over as early as the 2023 Star Sports/ TRC English Greyhound Derby with Gaytime Nemo choosing the best night to produce the start of his career.

In doing so, he put the result to bed in a matter of strides, handing Graham Holland a second English Derby triumph in as many years, while also providing his owner/ breeder Brendan O’Connell with his greatest night in the sport.

This was a famous night for Ireland as they captured the English Derby for the seventh time this century and the seventeenth time in total. It was also the culmination of one of the greatest training performances of modern times. Gaytime Nemo had a long layoff ahead of the Derby after picking up a bad injury in January but, here he was, back at his very best on the night that mattered.

The key to his success came a matter of days earlier when he was pulled out of the hat to race from trap two, on the inside of the big three, his kennel companions Swords Rex, Clona Duke and the big hope of the UK Romeo Command.

It effectively meant that he was the creator of his own destiny. Make a fast start and he would find himself in the right position to challenge. Turn in front and he would very likely land the £175,000 winner’s purse. And that is precisely when he did. 

Available at 10-1 during the week, Gaytime Nemo was one of the main movers in the ring. He was generally 7-1 on the boards but was somehow returned 9-1. That was most certainly not available on the track.

And those that took the big prices about the brilliant son of Droopys Sydney and Gaytime Derval were soon in clover. Swords Rex had been imperious through the classic and was expected to flash from four. Sadly, for his many supporters, it wasn’t the case. Inexplicably, for the first time in a long time, he missed the kick. So too did his kennel companion Clona Duke. The pair were immediately on the back foot.

In contrast, both Cochise and Romeo Command came away well and put themselves in a challenging position in the early yards but neither could match Gaytime Nemo. Flashing from trap two, Nemo hit the ground running and paced up like a dog on a mission.

His mission was clear. Go as fast as he could for as long as he could and that is exactly what carried him to a famous victory. A length clear into the turn, he ran a wonderful bend to increase his lead. Romeo Command rubbed shoulders with Cochise but turned a clear second. For the briefest of moments, his supporters would have felt optimistic but Gaytime Nemo soon burst their bubble.

Increasing his advantage to halfway, he had three lengths in hand to the third turn. For Brendan O’Connell and his family, it must have felt like a dream. Their charge, who was only back from a bad injury a few weeks prior, was clear at the third turn in an English Derby decider and showing absolutely no signs of taking his foot off the pedal.

In fact, he did the opposite. As strong as Romeo Command is, he couldn’t land a glove on the pace-setter. Maintaining a relentless gallop, Gaytime Nemo increased his lead up the home straight to run out a brilliant winner of the 2023 Star Sports/ TRC English Greyhound Derby.

At the line, the June ’20 whelp had three and a half lengths to spare over Romeo Command in 28.89. Cochise ran on well to collar Swords Rex on the line for third, a further three lengths adrift. It just wasn’t meant to be for Swords Rex and Clona Duke, who eventually finished fifth. But for Graham Holland his Riverside Kennels outfit, it was just another incredible day at the office.

After a decade of incredible dominance, they are as strong as ever, if not stronger. This was their second English Derby victory, on top of the three successes in the Irish equivalent in the past seven years bringing their total to five Derby successes.         

Brendan O’Connell was joyous on the presentation, draped in Inniscarra GAA Club colours, and joined by his mother Stephanie and sister Deirdre. This was not a flash in the pan. The victory of Gaytime Nemo was a result of many, many years of hard work. To finally land a Derby with a home bred greyhound is the stuff of dreams and one the O’Connell family can look back on for the rest of their days.

A BIG NIGHT FOR IRELAND

It was a big night for Ireland.

Not only did Gaytime Nemo capture the big race but Graham Holland had earlier initiated a superb double with Jacktavern Bella over six bends, while Brendan Matthews recorded a brilliant double with both As I Say and Burj Khalifa coming home clear.

BRILLIANT BELLA

Jacktavern Bella was a warm favourite to land the RPGTV Derby Night Stayers and she duly obliged. Taking it up on the bend before storming further and further clear to eventually see off Coonough Crow by nine lengths in 42.96.

A MATTHEWS DOUBLE

As I Say won the Maurice Newman Memorial in similar style.

Leading from the bend to storm clear for a five and a quarter length success in 29.11, while Burj Khalifa turned right on the speed in the Time Greyhound Nutrition Challenge Trophy before powering his way to the front down the back straight. The massive tracker went on to beat Newinn Ranger by four and a quarter lengths in 29.16.