AWESOME ALF BOWS OUT AND IS SET FOR STUD DUTIES
Ian Fortune
Just days after getting another nomination for Sprinter of the Year, Noel Byrne has confirmed that one of the great early paced greyhounds of modern times, Ballinakill Alf has run his final race and is off to stud.
The news has been on the horizon for some time with his final race coming in the second round of the Irish Sprint Cup last year but every opportunity was given to the sensationally fast son of Pestana to return to full fitness.
While the injury that ended his career was never too bad, it would be unfair to ask the brilliant tracker to perform at anything less than one hundred percent.
It is fitting that this announcement came just days after he was nominated for Sprinter of the Year for the second time although it is also worth remembering that he was also top class over four bends, posting some incredible runs in his youth.
Indeed, he had the speed to break track records over two bends and the strength to reach two major finals over the standard trip including the 2023 Juvenile Derby.
RIGHT OUT OF THE TOP DRAWER
From the very outset, his connections felt he was right out of the top drawer and he was targeted at the Champion Open Unraced Stake at Kilkenny to begin his career.
And he soon set tongues wagging. He produced a fine run to win on debut, posting a fast 28.91 but it was the manner of his success that really impressed.
In the following weeks, he seemed to get quicker and quicker, leaving his rivals standing to the third turn in the second round, quarter and semi-finals. He may have been picked up late in each of these outings but when you look back at the opposition and, how comfortably Ballinakill Alf led them, it only goes to highlight how incredible quick he was.
He again set the pace in the final only to have his heels clipped at the second turn but he had done enough through the famous competition to be seen as one of the most exciting puppies in the land.
A BRILLIANT JUVENILE CAMPAIGN
After a brief hiatus, he returned to racing action with a couple of impressive sprint runs at Dundalk before connections decided on a return to four bends for a crack at the Juvenile Derby.
He flew in a couple of prep runs at Shelbourne, winning in 28.30 and 28.12 while going well under the magical 16 second barrier to the third turn.
That trend continued in the early rounds of the Juvenile Derby. He had a memorable battle with subsequent English Derby winner De Lahdedah in the opening round, going down by a length, but he immediately returned to winning ways a week later as he flew in 28.21.
A week later, he produced a near-perfect display of early speed. Posting an incredible 15.73 to the third turn, he would go on to beat a top-class field with ease in a stunning 28.10. He would make the final after a luckless run in the semis but again luck wasn’t his ally.
Left with no room to race in the early yards he would finish well off the pace but the fact that he was only 5-2 in the decider, which was won by the sensational Droopys Flytline, tells its own story.
ENDING 2023 ON A HIGH
He wouldn’t have many more races before the end of the year but still managed to pick up four wins, all over two bends, including the Winter Racing Festival Sprint at Shelbourne Park in his final start of his debut year.
Sent off the 7-4 joint favourite along with the Irish Sprint Cup champion Carrick Aldo, Ballinakill Alf again displayed the most awesome early pace to win by a length in 18.49.
He was now firmly established as a dual threat, a greyhound good enough to beat the best sprinters in training and with the pace and ability to win at the highest level over four bends. 2024 was another big year for Ballinakill Alf, although he was largely campaigned as a sprinter.
MORE BIG RACES SUCCESS AND A TRACK RECORD
After a couple of one-off victories, he lined out in the Islandbridge Open Sprint at Shelbourne Park and proceeded to go unbeaten through the valuable competition seeing off some of the best sprinters in the land in the decider.
Next up was the Treaty Cup at Limerick and he produced one of the finest runs of his career in the opening round, displaying awesome pace to smash the track record with a stunning 18.22 track record breaking return.
He would again impress in the semi-finals before going to traps the 2-5 favourite in the decider. On this occasion he had to settle for second spot with Burgess Jack getting loose early. Sadly, he would never win another race.
He took his place in the Irish Sprint Cup and ran well in the opening round but didn’t look himself in the second round. After picking up small injury he was facing time on the sidelines but, unfortunately, it never fully healed.
A WONDERFUL RECORD AND NEW CAREER
In a career than spanned just 34 starts, the Graham Holland trained star won an incredible 19 times for his owners, the Pillar Syndicate.
He was blessed with the most sensational early speed and truly was a joy to watch in full stride. He will now begin life as a stud dog and is already set for his first mating to leading stayer Jacktavern Bella.
Given his wonderful pedigree, Alf is likely to attract plenty of breeders. As a son of the world class Pestana and Newinn Madam, who is a litter sister to one of the great early paced Derby champions Newinn Taylor, you can see just where Ballinakill Alf got his incredible early speed.
He joins his litter brother, the wonderfully fast Jacktavern Bolt, at stud and is certain to pass on some of his immense talent to his progeny in the future.
Until then, we will remember Balinakill Alf fondly, reflecting on some of the best early paced performances witnessed on the tracks of Ireland in recent years. Happy retirement Alf, best of luck in the new career and thanks for the memories.