SUPER SATURDAY LEAVES US SALIVATING AHEAD OF DERBY

Ian Fortune

With the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby starting in less than a week, Saturday’s action at Shelbourne Park had real meaning with a number of Derby clues on offer.

Race after race, there were so many superb performances with most of the winners destined to take their chance in the upcoming Derby.

UNDULATION SIMPLY SUPERB

This included Undulation, who produced a really top class display to win the feature on the card, the €3,500 final of the aptly named the Derby Starts Soon Open Bitch Dual Distance.

Run over the 550yd Derby trip, it was the 2023 Derby runner-up Bockos Crystal that took them along.

Breaking smartly from two, she would lead Ballymac Danica and Deelish Nora into the turn. Undulation would turn fourth on the outside of the track but she soon hit top stride. Ballymac Danica was left a little short of room as they entered the back straight allowing Deelish Nora and Undulation to flank her. 

Bockos Crystal continued to dictate but the pack were closing. Undulation was really motoring by the time they hit the third turn and had actually moved upsides the pace-setter. It was race on.

Deelish Nora failed to get through along the fence, leaving the front two to battle it out. Head to head, nose to nose off the final turn, Undulation would eventually outstay her rival. Brendan Matthews’ brilliant daughter of Pestana and Unlock Unlock powered home to emerge a three parts of a length scorer over Bockos Crystal in 29.47. It was purposeful display from the brilliant bitch and one that will encourage connections and her many supporters ahead of a Derby bid. 

HARBOUR GOES FASTEST

Racing ended with another potential Derby challenger, Neko Harbour making a successful comeback after a number of months on the sidelines.

Owen McKenna and Peter Comerford won the Derby together back in 2021 with Susie Sapphire and Neko Harbour is perhaps her fastest son.

There was support for the well bred son of Droopys Sydney in the ring and it was immediately evident he was going to do the business. Breaking fastest from four, he was soon in complete command. Increasing his advantage to the third turn, he would eventually cruise home six lengths clear of Ballybough Nutz in a fastest of the night 29.37.

DOLLAR DELIGHTS

Untold Dollar certainly threw his hat into the Derby ring with a brilliant display in the fifth race on the card.

This was the first time the son of Newinn Taylor and Glenegat Mildred produced anything close to his best at Shelbourne but this could be the start of a love affair.

Prominent in the early yards, he was a close second around the bend behind Evolution. The latter edged wide down the back straight and this nearly proved disastrous for Untold Dollar. Forced to check his stride, he quickly recovered to challenge again at the third turn.

Going around Evolution this time, Untold Dollar set sail for home. Trained by Graham Holland for Callum and John Purdy, the August ’22 whelp powered on to win by three lengths in 29.39. It was quite a statement by this talented tracker and he is now set to take his chance in the Derby.

HIGHVIEW MAKES A SPLASH

English Derby hero De Lahdedah made his long-awaited return to racing action in the eighth race but opening bend traffic scuppered his chances of a winning return.

Instead, Highview Splash added to his already impressive career tally to complete a double for Dolores and Gerry Merriman.

Going up fast, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Abbey held his line on the turn to slip around in front.

AVATAR IN FULL FLIGHT

Droopys Avatar was certainly in a hurry in the fifth race, an open Bitch 550, showing a clean pair of heels throughout.

The Robert Gleeson trained bitch flashed from five and was always in command despite the best efforts of those in chase.

Owned by Ciara Vereker, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Pizazz coasted home four and a half lengths clear of the Castleivy Ginge in 29.59.

METAPHOR MAKES A STATEMENT

Robert Gleeson would later complete a double with Droopys Metaphor coming in as a reserve in the tenth race before making great use of his outstanding early dash.

Rocketing from trap two, the son of Dromana Bucko and Droopys Zero was clear by the turn and he only extended his advantage down the back straight. Fun Inthe Run would overcome traffic to take second but had no answer to the Newmarket Racing Syndicate owned Droopys Metaphor, who would eventually see off his nearest pursuer by five lengths in 28.41. 

SAPPHIRES SHINES BRIGHT

Just one spot slower than Droopys Avatar was Magical Sapphire as she powered home to pick up the flying starter, Grangeclare Lady.

The latter put a serious pace to this contest but, ultimately, she ran out of steam.

In contrast, Magical Sapphire, who has been racing over 600yds, was always going to be hard to contain once moving past Is She There to go second by halfway. Grangeclare Lady continued to dictate by up to four lengths until the final bend but Magical Sapphire took two strides for her one in the closing yards.

Pat Guilfoyle’s daughter of Grangeview Ten and Grangeview Mags got up to win by a length in 29.60.

BRUNO WITH A KNOCKOUT BLOW

Ballyhooly Bruno had been knocking on the door in recent weeks but finally claimed his third career victory in the seventh race, leading from the final turn for Tom O’Neill and the Ashgrove Trio Syndicate.

Toolmaker Note went up fast from five but failed to Rambling Boy and Ballyhooly Bruno as they turned into the back.

Rambling Boy held a narrow advantage into the third turn with Ballyhooly Bruno on his shoulder. Toolmaker Note was also pitching in third, leaving the race wide open into the straight. It was only on the final bend that Ballyhooly Bruno made his move to the front. Once doing so, the talented son of Jacob Tashadelek and Foyle Lucy eased on to win by a length from Toolmaker Note in 29.77. 

SCOBY DOUBLES HIS TALLY

Radical Scoby (Ballymac Bolger/ Scooby Princess) proved too strong for the long-time leader Blastoff Rex in the third race, coming through in the closing yards to double his career tally.

Blastoff Rex did set a strong gallop but Radical Scoby made the most of his rails pitch to turn within striking distance and, when things got serious, he had plenty in the locker.

Trained by Tommy O’Donovan for Ger Hutton, a combo that have tasted classic glory together, Radical Scoby got up under the shadow of the post to beat the Blastoff Rex by a half length in 29.74.

MIA MAKES HER MOVE LATE

Highview Mia looked far from a likely winner in the second race when sitting well off the pace in last spot in the opening yards.

In fact, despite a nice gap opening at the turn allowing her turn fourth, she was still well behind the pace-setting Ballymac Thelad into the third turn.

It was at the third turn that things started to happen for Dolores Merriman’s Highview Mia. The Gerry Merriman trained daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Picture is strong and when she moved between two of her rivals to go second, she set her sights on the leader.

Ballymac Thelad continued to lead into the straight but his stride was shortening. Not only did Highview Mai get up to win, but she actually won with a bit to spare by two lengths in 28.41.

SLICK SYD DOWNS FINN

Churchtown Syd made a triumphant return to Shelbourne Park in the opener, a high quality AA0 550. 2022 Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn was a red-hot favourite at 1-3 and seemed set to score when taking over from Churchtown Syd into the turn but he could never quite shake off his rival.

With a gap left open on the inside at the third turn, Churchtown Syd made his move. The Denis Fitzgerald trained son of Droopys Sydney and Skywalker Pearl powered through the gap before containing the rallying Ballymac Finn by two lengths in 29.80.