KNEGARE A SPECIAL WINNER OF THE JUVENILE DERBY
Ian Fortune
Those that hadn’t being paying attention to Callaway Knegare in recent weeks, stood up and took notice on Saturday as he produced a typically brilliant display to capture the TIME Juvenile Derby in the manner of a greyhound with greyhound world at his feet.
This was more than just another superb performance; it was a statement. The son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Sweet was sent to traps the 1-2 favourite and he would become the shortest priced winner of the final this century.
Ballymac Briar was the second choice in the market, starting at 10-3, and he would play a big part in the contest. Going up fast along the fence, Ballymac Briar held a narrow advantage over the wide running Hello Diego with Callaway Knegare just a neck further back in third between the pair.
Boylesports Blue and Innfield Destiny bumped at trap rise, leaving them playing catch up, while also Tivoli Milo mistimed the start.
THE RACE TAKES SHAPE
The race was now starting to take shape. Callaway Knegare slipped up in the inside of Hello Diego to go second on the turn and found himself right in the slipstream of Ballymac Briar.
There was a brief moment of concern for favourite backers at the second turn as Callaway Knegare was forced to check slightly on heels.
Moving off the fence, he was almost joined by Hello Diego but quickly regained his momentum to set his sights on Ballymac Briar. Behind the front three, Innfield Destiny had moved second and began to move through the gears.
KNEGARE MAKES HIS MOVE
It was in the final fifty yards into the third turn that Callaway Knegare began to make his move.
With Ballymac Briar continuing to occupy the rails line, Callaway Knegare took the decision to challenge on the outside of the leader.
It was again a clear indication of his incredible track craft. Moving with fluency and real purpose, Callaway Knegare was upsides right between the final two bends and he shot past his rival before the final turn. In a matter of ten strides, he put the result beyond any doubt.
KNEGARE COASTS CLEAR
Innfield Destiny continued to catch the eye in behind, moving inside Hello Diego to go third but he was never going to concern the new leader.
Callaway Knegare, displaying his trademark power, began to ease on.
As they straightened for home, Callaway Knegare was two lengths clear and piling on the pressure. He would race on to a sensational three and a half length victory in a wonderful 27.96. Innfield Destiny carried all his momentum into the home straight to pick up Ballymac Briar to take second, while the latter was just another half length adrift in third.
Both the runner-up and third ran huge races. Innfield Destiny is clearly developing into a serious performer and will no doubt target further clashes with Callaway Knegare in the future.
But this night belonged to Callaway Knegare. To win the race by three and a half lengths in the manner he did is just the latest indication that he is very special indeed. His owners, the Denis Murphy led Field Sports Syndicate, can now start dreaming of further classic glory. Owen McKenna has done a masterful job with his star and the path going forward is pretty clear.
The November ’22 whelp has had just eight career starts but he is now destined for a Boylesports Derby campaign. One thing is certain, he will appreciate every inch of the extra twenty-five yards over the 550yd Derby trip, while it seems fair to say it’s going to take something very special to lower his colours.
Shane Rigney presents the trophy to Elizabeth Murphy after Callaway Knegare won the 2024 Time Juvenile Derby. Also included are trainer Owen McKenna and John Fox - Time Greyhound Nutrition. Pic: Imelda Grauer
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Undercard
EARLY SPEED TO THE KEY FOR DALGAN
There was a mighty impressive €3,500 on offer in the final of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Open 550 and Dalgan produced a career best display to cause a surprise, albeit he fully deserved his success on the night.
Oddly returned at 18-1, his few supporters would have been happy from the start. With the favourites Yorkie Ollie and De Foxy Devil making mistakes at trap rise, Dalgan again produced a fast start to set the pace from the outset.
Sogna In Grande and Down To Business chased him into the turn but they had their hands full. Maintaining a strong gallop throughout, Dalgan continued to repel the challenge of those in behind. Down To Business finished well to win his semi-final and looked a big threat when second into the third turn but he could never get to the leader.
Representing the Iggy Daly led Euro Dollar Syndicate, Dalgan ran up the straight with purpose to contain the challenge of Down To Business by a length in 29.58.
BEACH IMPRESSES
The semi-finals of the Upcoming Yvonne Barry AA0 Dual Distance produced two fine performances from Alisan Bandurak’s Ryhope Beach and Rapido Bob.
Ryhope Beach, the Shelbourne Open 600 winner, was close to his best in the opening heat, clearing the turn after a good start from the outside box.
Once doing so, few would have expected him to have much to worry about although both Jaytee Craze and Dashing Toro displayed huge pace top keep him honest. Despite swinging wide at the final turn, the Michael O’Donovan trained Ryhope Beach (Droopys Sydney/ Calzaghe Jan) would go on to win by three lengths in 30.82, while Jaytee Craze and Dashing Toro lost nothing in defeat when dead-heating for second.
BOB JUSTIFIES SHORT ODDS
Rapido Bob was a hot favourite to come home in front in the second heat and he made no mistakes, flashing from trap two to dominate.
Elite Josh ran a big race in second but could never get back on terms with Margaret Walsh’s pace-setter.
The Peter Cronin trained son of Dorotas Wildcat and Ballintee Annie emerged a pretty comfortable winner, crossing the line two lengths clear of Elite Josh in 30.84.
LADIES DOMINATE IN OPEN 525 SEMIS
Dapper Zara and Now Were Talkin were the two impressive semi-final winners in the Upcoming Shelbourne Maiden Derby Open 525.
The latter went fastest with a brilliant front-running display in the second heat.
Trained by Joe Ivory for Tara Bates, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Correctandwrong was at her sharpest in the early yards and contain Farney Chime to turn in front. Farney Chime pressed her hard throughout but Now Were Talkin was not for catching. Kicking again at the final turn, she would emerge a superb two and a half length winner over Farney Chime in 28.22.
ZARA OUTSTAYS MEMPHIS
The opening heat saw Dapper Zara outstay long-time pace-setter Phoenix Memphis. Sam McQuade’s Dapper Zara was only fourth into the corner but stayed wide of those on her inner to move second early in the back straight.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Designer was still four lengths adrift of Phoenix Memphis but she began to bridge the gap into the third turn. Staying on strongly, Dapper Zara got up in the dying yards to win by a half length in 28.42.
SPARKY FLIES IN THE OPENER
Racing commenced with the semi finals of the IRGT A0 Dual Distance and all three heats were won in electric times with Stripe Sparky going marginally the fastest to kick off proceedings.
Ned Freeman’s strong running son of Ballymac Bolger and Gareths Star may have been an 8-1 chance in the betting but he won as though he was the odds-on favourite.
Breaking smartly, Stripe Sparky soon found himself in front and that was where he stayed. Powering home, the October ’21 whelp emerged a facile six length scorer in a sizzling 30.70. Jades Rocket was second while the hot favourite Pennys Lynx was only third, some two lengths further back.
EMILY IN FLYING FORM
Crescent Emily is clearly in the form of her career and she made it three wins on the bounce in the second heat for Gabreial Horan and David Flanagan.
A strong running daughter of Good News and Killenaulerocket with winning form over six bends, she was always going to be hard caught when turning in front.
Highview Mia and Saleen Pearl did all they could to get back on terms but Crescent Emily was in no humour to entertain their challenge. Staying on with purpose, Crescent Emily hit the line two lengths clear of Highview Mia in 30.73 with a further two and a half length gap to Saleen Pearl in third.
BLUE FINDS A WAY
The last of the three heats was a really competitive affair.
In fact, four dogs had real claims into the third turn. Oscar The Grouch and Ballyhooly Bruno disputed the lead at this point but they were joined by the advancing Glenlara Blue, while Hunters Angel also drew closer in fourth.
Glenlara Blue took his opportunity as the front pair bumped. Going to the front, the well built son of Droopys Sydney and Glenlara Rosa ran hard to the line. Owned by Liam Kirley and Thomas Garry, the June ’21 whelp went on to beat Hunters Angel by a length and a half in 31.14.
DILEMMA CUTS A DASH
Dark Dilemma has been in the form of his career in recent weeks and he produced another serious effort to see off some very talented rivals in the sixth race on the card.
Breaking fastest from trap three, the David Murray trained son of Droopys Sydney and Jet Ski Queen flew into the turn to lead both Cheque For Cash and Breaghmore Dice.
The latter emerged as the main threat, showing big pace down the back straight to move second into the third turn. Slipping up the inside of Dark Dilemma at this point, it seemed as though Breaghmore Dice was set for another impressive victory only to find his rival wasn’t ready to give in.
Showing real determination, Dark Dilemma rallied on the run in to get back on terms before easing on to score by a half length in 28.34.
HALO SHINES ON COMEBACK
Halo hasn’t been seen around Shelbourne in a while his last win came in November but he put that right in the fourth race.
Showing fine early speed to get the better of Cheque For Sir into the bend, the son of Laughil Blake and Murlens Maura took charge before going on to make every yard thereafter. Trained by Gerry Holian or Basil and Bernadette Holian, Halo went on to beat the fast-finishing Val Tashadelek by a length in 28.74.