BOCKOS TOPS AN ILLUSTRIOUS ALL-TIME LIST TO THE THIRD TURN
Ian Fortune
The sensational performance of Bockos Diamond on Friday night in the second round of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby got us thinking once again about the best third bend clocks ever record at Shelbourne Park.
Of course, this is very much a modern phenomenon given the clock was only introduced in recent years but, given the way the track has sped up, it seems safe to suggest no greyhound ever went faster before its introduction.
Over the past four years, we have seen some of the sharpest and fastest greyhounds to ever grace Shelbourne Park and the list of top ten third bend sectionals is a who’s who of Irish greyhound racing royalty.
Prior to Friday, the fastest time posted to the third turn came from 2020 Derby champion Newinn Taylor. In the third round of that year’s classic, the brilliant tracker clocked 16.79 off the back of a 3.32 sectional.
To highlight just how fast Newinn Taylor was, he also recorded 16.80 in the semi-finals of that same Derby. Coolavanny Hoffa matched that mark in the second round of the Derby in 2022, clocking 16.80 off a 3.38 sectional.
And what of the rest on the list. Pestana is the fastest greyhound to ever cover 550yds at HQ, smashing the track record in the second round of the 2022 Derby. In his sensational 28.99 track record breaking run, he posted 16.83 to the third turn.
The only entry on the list to come outside of the Derby is Tribal Syd. In August of this year, the Tipperary Cup champ absolutely flew in an open 550yd contest recording 16.83 after a 3.40 opening sectional.
Below Tribal Syd on the list are two Derby champions. The Other Kobe has a best third bend sectional of 16.85, which he recorded in the 2023 Derby decider, while the brilliant Susie Sapphire recorded 16.88 in the 2021 final. Ballymac Ariel also makes the list after recording 16.88 in the third round of the 2021 Derby.
It truly is an illustrious list and the fact that Bockos Diamond tops the table is an indication of his incredible ability. He actually makes the list twice, along with Newinn Taylor and The Other Kobe, which is even more remarkable. Can he add his name to the list again in the coming weeks? I certainly wouldn’t bet against it.
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The Fastest of the Fastest The Top 10 third bend sectionals for 550yds at Shelbourne Park |
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|
Greyhound |
When? |
Clock |
|
1 |
Bockos Diamond |
Derby – 2nd Round 2024 |
16.68 |
|
2 |
Newinn Taylor |
Derby – 3rd Round 2020 |
16.79 |
|
=3 |
Newinn Taylor |
Derby – Semi-finals 2020 |
16.80 |
|
=3 |
Coolavanny Hoffa |
Derby – 2nd Round 2022 |
16.80 |
|
5 |
Pestana (Track record) |
Derby – 2nd Round 2022 |
16.83 |
|
6 |
Tribal Syd |
Open 550 – August 2024 |
16.83 |
|
=7 |
The Other Kobe |
Derby – Final 2023 |
16.85 |
|
=7 |
Bockos Diamond |
Derby – 1st Round 2024 |
16.85 |
|
=9 |
Susie Sapphire |
Derby – Final 2021 |
16.88 |
|
=9 |
Ballymac Ariel |
Derby – 3rd Round 2021 |
16.88 |
|
=9 |
The Other Kobe |
Derby – Quarter-finals 2023 |
16.88 |