YOUNGSTERS DELIVER IN TIME’S JUVENILE
Ian Fortune
2024 will be a special year of Friday night’s action at Shelbourne Park is any indication.
The youngsters took their opportunity to shine in the opening round of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby with each of the eleven heats going to an impressive winner while so many more caught the eye in defeat.
None went faster than Daleroad Duke as he gave the 28 second barrier a real fright, while the big clash of the night went to De Lahdedah as he produced a simply stunning display.
A heat-by-heat guide to the opening round:
Heat 1 – SHORT GRIP WITH THE PERFECT START
John Cocoman has a very exciting young bitch on his hands in the form of Short Grip.
The well-bred daughter of Grangeview Ten and Mystical Luna was a tremendous winner of the opening heat, showing too much early dash for her rivals to make every inch.
There was a great buckle for second spot throughout but none could worry the pace-setter. Short Grip posted a decent 16.11 to the third turn before going on to score by an ever-increasing five lengths in a fast 28.36. The battle went right down to the wire with the judge unable to separate Down To Business and Droopys Beta. Highview Treat was the fourth qualifier.
Heat 2 – DUKE CUTS A DASH
The second heat was over as soon as it started. With the withdrawal of Droopys Bro from the inside trap, Daleroad Duke went to traps a hot favourite and his many backers never had a moment’s concern.
Thomas O’Keeffe’s hugely exciting puppy flashed from trap two and was in command throughout. Posting a sizzling 2.03 sectional and a brilliant 15.78 to the third turn, the son of Good News and Burgess Sarah never gave his rivals so much as a sniff of a chance. The September ’21 whelp ran on well to beat the eye-catching A Lucky Julie by three lengths in a rapid 28.01.
Heat 3 – KING RULES
Miami King, owned by Tony Howard and Dave Lawrence, emerged a wide-margin winner of Heat 3 but he certainly didn’t have a wide margin on his rivals at the opening turn despite setting the pace.
Just a half-length in front from a wide draw, he really drove the corner, riding a hefty bump in the process, to take charge.
Once getting loose, the Garry Dempsey trained son of Ballymac Vic and Newline Mo eased right away to see off Dazl Hermes by eight lengths in 28.58. Scotty Scheffler was best of the rest in third, just a half lengths further back.
Heat 4 – MANDOLIN ON TUNE AGAIN
Droopys Mandolin, owned by Alan and Pat Dobbs, continued the perfect start to her career in Heat 4, in turn initiating a double or Robert Gleeson.
Unlike her four previous wins, the daughter of Laughil Blake and Droopys Curio didn’t set the pace to the corner. Instead, Jim By Two went up fastest only to be headed on the turn by Scooby The Duke.
Droopys Mandolin was squeezed up between the pair but forced her way around in second, leaving her close enough to mount a decisive challenge. Joining Scooby The Duke on the third turn, Droopy Mandolin eased on between the last two bends before going on to secure a three-length victory in 28.57.
Scooby The Duke was second with another length and a half to the eye-catching Orchid Legacy in third. Boylesports Bob recovered from a slow start and early traffic to qualify in fourth.
Heat 5 – JETSTREAM ARRIVES LATE
The well-bred Jetstream Breeze (Droopys Sydney/ Aayamza Breeze) was just too strong for Slaney Valley in the fifth heat.
The latter set a strong gallop in his first start since capturing an A4 stake at Shelbourne and would have done his connections proud but, ultimately, Jetstream Breeze was too close.
Jetstream Breeze was only fourth into the turn but displayed fine track craft to move third at the second bend. Slaney Valley was getting the better of Hod Rod down the back straight but he was soon under pressure by the eventual winner.
Despite his best efforts, Slaney Valley just couldn’t hold on. Trained by Marie Gilbert for Mike Freshwater, Jetstream Breeze ran on strongly to lead late for a half-length verdict in 28.60. Coolemount Jake was a further three and a half lengths adrift in third with Ela Maestro qualifying in fourth.
Heat 6 – FLYTLINE TOO HOT
After the success of his litter sister Droopys Mandolin earlier on the card, Droopys Flytline produced a sizzling display to complete a double for Robert Gleeson in Heat 6.
Not only did he win in the style of a greyhound with a huge future but he also maintained his unbeaten career record.
Owned by Michael Dunphy and Alice Guiney, the son of Laughil Blake and Droopys Curio was simply too good. Showing fine early dash off a moderate start, he was already in control by the turn. Maintaining a strong gallop thereafter, Droopys Flytline ran out a facile six length winner over Scooby Pacemaker in a tremendous 28.18. There was another five lengths to Capuletto in third. In Good Time qualified in fourth.
Heat 7 – JETARA TAKES OFF
Jetara had a few sighters of Shelbourne Park in the Derby, winning his opening and second round assignments before making a third round exit, and they seem to have put him spot on for a Juvenile Derby challenge.
The Owen McKenna trained son of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx was hugely impressive in Heat 7 as he displayed superb early speed to master Unmatched into the turn before going on to make every inch thereafter.
Peter Comerford’s potential star went on to beat a gallant Unmatched by two lengths in 28.26. There was another two and a half lengths to Riverside Pingu in third. Ballymac Samuel overcame traffic to qualify in fourth.
Heat 8 – DE LAHDEDAH SIMPLY UNBELIEVABLE
Heat 8 was the most anticipated of the evening with the top two in the outright betting, Ballinakil Alf and De Lahdedah going head-to-head.
Despite being the short-priced favourite for Derby glory ahead of the semis, De Lahdedah was installed the second choice in the betting and the layers seemed to have it right when Ballinakil Alf got loose into the turn.
In contrast, De Lahdedah was tardy at boxes and sat only fourth into the turn. By all accounts, this looked over as a contest with Ballinakil Alf setting a searing gallop. De Lahdedah is very special, however, and that was never more evident.
Turning into the back straight, Ballinakil Alf has a clear lead over Droopys Zelda, Kilwest Ranger and De Lahdedah. The last named was fully six lengths behind the favourite but he had yet to show his hand.
And then it happened. Approaching halfway, the son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahajo began to motor. Kilwest Ranger and Droopys Zelda had no answer to him. Ballinakil Alf remained clear to the third turn but De Lahdedah was now in full flight in second.
Incredibly, the Liam Dowling trained star continued to close off the final turn before pouncing late. It looked very unlikely in the early yards but De Lahdedah sent out a remainder to those watching of just how good he is. Owned by the Garsuns Syndicate, De Lahdedah got up to win by a length in 28.29. Ballinakil Alf ran another huge race in second while there was five and a half lengths to Droopys Zelda in third. Kilwest Ranger qualified in fourth.
Heat 9 – SYD SHOWS HIS PACE
Michael O’Dwyer’s Stonepark Syd may have been a little off the pace in the early yards but when the opportunity arose, he displayed stunning back straight pace to put Heat 9 to bed.
A line of dogs went to the bend together with Stonepark Syd sitting fifth on the inside of the track.
Avoiding an opening bend melee, the Michael O’Donovan trained son of Droopys Sydney and Affane Beauty slipped around in third behind Dazl Omega and Ballymac Marcia. Once doing so, he was not going to be stopped.
Charging down the back straight, he flew past his two rivals to hold a clear advantage at the third turn before staying on well to emerge a seven-length winner over Ballymac Marcia in 28.39. Dazl Omega was just a short head back in third with Singalong Dolly finishing fourth.
Heat 10 – ELVIS IS IN THE BUILDING
Glengar Elvis opened his account at the fourth time of asking in the penultimate heat.
Trained by Pat Buckley for Kenny Glen, the well bred son of Brett Lee and Droopys Smasher has improved with each outing and this was his perfect opportunity to score.
Breaking smartly, he was upsides Simonas Cap into the turn before asserting. It was left up to the latter to press him down the back straight but Glengar Elvis appreciated the chance to dictate. Easing on to the third turn, Glengar Elvis emerged a three length scorer in 28.56. Simons Cap was second throughout with Follom Fleet another six lengths back in third. The fourth qualifier was Faypoint Sydney.
Heat 11 – GROUCHO SHOWS HIS CLASS
Two and a half hours after his litter sister Short Grip won the opening heat in tremendous fashion, Grouchos Duke ended proceedings with a thoroughly professional and brilliant victory in the final heat of the round.
The John Bryne trained son of Grangeview Ten and Mystical Luna was razor sharp in the opening yards, breaking fast from three to dictate into the turn. Lemon Mundy forced his way through on the fence to go second but he was never going o threaten the leader who was running free up front.
Owned by the Paddy Last Syndicate, Grouchos Duke ran out a ready five length winner in a rapid 28.19. Ballymac Seanie stayed on well to grab second with Lemon Mundy fading away to finish a further five and a half lengths adrift in third. Deadly Jet was the fourth qualifier.