PRO AM AT STUD WHILE ON SIDELINE
Ian Fortune
One of the undoubted stars of 2022, Callaway Pro Am has been beset by small problems all year and the decision has been made to give him some time off to hopefully see him return to his best in early 2024.
During this time, the hugely talented son of Skywalker Farloe and Bottle Of Banter is to be made available to breeders with the beaten Derby favourite joining the famed Droopys Stud.
Certainly, those that saw Callaway Pro Am in his pomp in 2022 will be intrigued as he had everything. A natural starter with fine early speed, the pace to challenge and beat the very best down the back straight and the stamina to see out every inch of the 550yds Derby trip.
A RISE TO STARDOM
His rise to stardom began with his breeder, Liam Peacock.
A finalist in the Champion Open Unraced Stake at Kilkenny, when known as Bogger Bible, it was clear he has real ability. He was still very raw at this point in his career but the penny really began to drop in June.
Posting a rapid 28.98 in his fifth career start at Thurles, he went to Clonmel for an A1 Stake where he certainly caught the eye of potential buyers. Liam Peacock could have sold his star twenty times over but it was Denis Murphy that was lucky enough to get his hands on the September ’20 whelp and his name was quickly changed.
A SWITCH OF KENNELS
He made the immediate switch to Owen McKenna and it was clear his new connections had big plans for the hugely exciting youngster.
He was withdrawn from the Clonmel stake after a massive 28.41 display in the semis.
He was given a couple of weeks to settle into his new surroundings before posting a couple of fast trial times at Shelbourne Park. His first race for McKenna and Murphy came a week ahead of the Derby, finishing second over 550yds after a tardy start.
They had seen enough and he was given his chance in the Derby. What was to follow was remarkable. Going unbeaten through the early rounds, beating some of the very fastest in training in the process, he established himself as the one to main fancies for Derby glory.
Clocking 29.64, 29.33, 29.76 and 29.41 in each of the first four rounds, he continued his winning ways in the semis, staying on with real purpose to get the better of the likes of subsequent Derby champion Born Warrior, Coolavanny Hoffa, Crafty Kokoro, Explosive Boy and Cryptopunk.
DERBY FAVOURITE
After such a run in exalted company, he was sent off the clear 7-4 favourite to land the Derby. Everything was going to plan when the star tracker broke smartly to sit a close second to Born Warrior into the turn but it wasn’t meant to be. As things got tight on the inside of the track, he edged off his rails pitch, taking a bump. It cost him valuable momentum and he eventually finished fourth.
OFF TO STUD
He was lightly raced through the remainder of 2022 before returning to shine in the early rounds of the Easter Cup.
He also reached the final of the Select Stakes at Waterford but was confined to just a few more starts due to niggles.
He will now be given time to return to full fitness but his presence at stud is sure to attract breeders. What the future holds for Callaway Pro Am is unsure but he has already left a mark on the sport and hopefully we will get to see some of his progeny flying around the tracks of Ireland and the UK in the future.
Callaway Pro Am Trap 2 From Maries wedding,Trap 1 Droopys Rocker Trap 3 Coolavanny Hoffa Trap 5 Ballinabola Ed Trap 4 and All About Ted Trap 6 in Heat Six Round Three of the BoyleSports Derby at Shelbourne Park