MORE INCREDIBLE RACING IN JUVENILE
Ian Fortune
The Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby continued at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and, as we have become accustomed, there were some sensational performances, a few shocks and plenty to talk about in the classic.
In terms of the clock, none went faster than Ballinakil Alf but each and every heat winner deserve great credit. This is a truly vintage renewal of the classic and there are still some twists and turns to come in the coming fortnight.
ALF A STUNNER
Ballinakil Alf (Pestana/ Newinn Madam) was the punctuation mark on the end of the Juvenile Derby action.
Sent off a hot favourite for the final heat, he couldn’t have been any more impressive despite making a moderate start by his standards.
The Graham Holland trained star was last to hit the ground but his early speed was simply incredible. By the first sectional, he was on terms with those on his inner and he continued to accelerate. Going two lengths clear to the bend, he continued to ease away from his rivals.
Droopys Zelda took up the pursuit but was never close enough to threaten. Ballinakil Alf, owned by the Pillar Syndicate, posted a simply stunning 15.73 to the third turn before coasting home a two-length winner in 28.10. Droopys Zelda was second with Stonepark Syd taking third, another length adrift.
DROOPYS TAKES FLYT
Just behind Ballinakil Alf on the clock was Droopys Flytline. He was sent to traps the even money favourite for the opening heat but was forced to pull out all the stops to contain the exciting Highview Splash.
The key to success for the Robert Gleeson trained Droopys Flytline was the ability to get to the front early. Showing fine early dash, Alan and Pat Dobbs’ star flew into the lead before the corner, holding a length advantage over Highview Splash and Droopys Mandolin as they began to turn left.
As Highview Splash and Droopys Mandolin rubbed shoulders, Droopys Flytline increased his advantage to two lengths as they hit the back straight. The son of Laughil Blake and Droopys Curio continued to set a searing gallop to the third turn, posting a 15.87 third bend sectional, but Highview Splash was still a big danger in second.
Closing to the line, Highview Splash kept the leader honest but there was no catching Droopys Flytline who went on to win in brilliant fashion by a half length in 28.13. Highview Splash enhanced his reputation in second with the battle for third going to Miami King, a further three lengths back.
DUKE SEES OFF HIS SIS
Heat 2 promised a battle of the litter comrades with Grouchos Duke (Grangeview Ten/ Mystical Luna) and Short Grip dominating the market and it played out that way on the track. Both came away well and had a great battle into the turn.
Grouchos Duke, owned by the Paddy Last Syndicate, was just getting the better of the argument into the bend, forcing Short Grip to check wide. Suddenly, Grouchos Duke was three lengths clear of his pursuers. Point Of Rescue moved second for a couple of strides but Short Grip soon headed him to chase her litter brother.
Grouchos Duke was always going to be very difficult to catch, however. Short Grip may have lost her chance on the bend but ran a huge race to close on her litter brother all the way to the line. Incredibly, she failed by just a half length but the John Byrne trained Grouchos Duke held on to stop the clock in 28.35. Highview Treat was best of the remainder, five length further back in third.
JET FLIES AS LAHDEDAH CRASHS OUT
The big shock of the round came with the elimination of De Lahdedah in the third heat as he missed the start from the outside box and was always struggling to get the room to reach full speed.
In contrast, the rapid improver Deadly Jet did an impression of his half-sister, Susie Sapphire, by making every inch.
The Karol Ramsbottom trained son of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Sydney got racing right away and flew up the inside to lead the field into the turn. Unmatched slipped around second with Singalong Dolly third and that was how they were to remain.
Unmatched did close to challenge off the final turn but Gary Hannon’s Deadly Jet was going away again at the line as he scored by a length in 28.34. Singalong Sally was four and a half lengths further adrift with De Lahdedah failing by just a half length to qualify in fourth.
REMARKABLE CRAZE WINS DUAL DISTANCE
There was a remarkable run from the Paul Hennessy trained Jaytee Craze in the €2,000 final of the Time Greyhound 20 Dual Distance decider over 550yds as he came from a mile off the pace to deny Kapuka Warrior in the final stride.
Owned by John Turner and Lee Craze, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Minton was immediately squeezed at trap rise, forcing him to sit at the tail of the field. In contrast, Kapuka Warrior got loose on the outside of the track to lead around the corner.
It all looked very straight forward for Kapuka Warrior until Jaytee Craze began to make forward moves from the back. Showing massive speed, the November ’21 whelp cut through the pack to go second at the third turn.
He was still four lengths adrift but was really motoring. Kapuka Warrior needed the line but it didn’t come in time. Jaytee Craze closed with each stride to get up late for a head victory in a fast 29.53. It was quite a display from a greyhound with huge potential.
UNDULATION SO IMPRESSIVE
It was fitting the racing ended with a brilliant contest over 575yds.
A number of Ireland’s best offered up a thriller with the verdict eventually going to the very talented Undulation. Optic Chico backers would have been happy going into the turn as he quickened to lead around the corner but, as it trainspired, Undulation was too close in second.
Showing big pace to the third turn, Brendan Matthews’ Undulation joined Optic Chico and had the inside line in her favour. This allowed the daughter of Pestana and Unlock Unlock to assert off the final turn and she ran right to the line to contain the fast finishing Gaytime Hugo by a length in a brilliant 30.79.
FUDGE TAKES ADVANTAGE
Barbara Lowndes’ Swords Fudge (Lenson Bocko/ Riverside Honey) was aided by the draw in the ninth race over 600yds, left with room to race in the early yards as Faypoint David stepped wide from trap two.
Going up strongly along the fence, the Graham Holland trained tracker slipped around the corner in front and was never headed thereafter despite the best efforts of Droopys Have It. The latter displayed all sorts of pace but was seen off by a length in 32.67.
JIM IN CHARGE
Only four went to traps in the penultimate race with Jim By Two making the most of an inside draw to come home in front for trainer Brendan Maunsell and owners Noel Griffin and Peter Kelly.
Fire Time broke fastest from trap two but Jim By Two shot up the fence to take charge on the corner.
Once doing so, the son of Droopys Sydney and Livz Dream was never going to be picked up. He galloped all the way to the line to emerge a comfortable length winner over the staying on Fire Time in 28.52.
CHARLIE RUNS AWAY
Pat Buckley and Brian Carmody were on the mark in the third race as Runaway Charlie lived up to his name.
After a fast start, the son of Droopys Sydney and Pennys Baccata was always in charge and he went on to emerge a four-length winner over the always second Black Bell in 28.57.
STANDARD SETS THE TONE
Bymystandard and Lilywhite Queen had a wonderful tussle to kick off proceedings with the pair
rarely separated by more than a half length.
Bymystandard, owned by Ollie Bray and Leonard Kinsella, held a narrow lead into the turn only to be joined and briefly headed by Lilywhitee Queen
but the latter was kept wide by her rival.
This was to be the trend through the contest with Bymystandard continuing to repel the challenge of
Lilywhite Queen as he forced her wide. In a tight finish, Bymystandard took the verdict by a half-
length in 28.82.
KIHEI TAKES HER CHANCE
The second heat was a messy affair with the Scots Clan Syndicate owned Rural Kihei (Newinn Taylor/ Rural Maui) coming around the pack at the third turn to hit the front.
Blue Rumble, Deadly Showtime and Longslip Del had all disputed the lead at some point but as they all hit the third turn, something had to give.
The Graham Holland trained Rural Kihei stayed wide at this point to strike the front before going on to win by a length from a rallying Deadly Showtime in 28.93.