BOYLESPORTS DERBY REALLY DELIVERS AGAIN
Ian Fortune
Once again, the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby really delivered at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
Bouncing Monarch was again flawless and remains the hot favourite to land the blue riband but the Pat Guilfoyle trained duo of Wi Can James and Waitingforastar sent out a reminder of their undoubted brilliance with the first named actually setting the standard with a sizzling 29.10 run.
Of course, there was little room for error on the night and a few big names made their exit including one of the all-time greats, Bockos Diamond. In a twist of fate, as he was fading out of contention, it was his younger kennel companion and namesake Bockos Gold that came through to score.
Heat 1 – SPECIAL SPARKLES
Bombay Special lived up to her name in the opening heat showing more than just class and an abundance of pace.
Indeed, Grouchos Chief forced her to dig deep and show great determination to add to her other many qualities.
This quickly developed into a two-dog affair. Bombay Special flashed from the outside box to lead early but Grouchos Chief displayed his trademark early dash to join and bump his rivals out of the way on the corner.
However, Bombay Special was always close enough in second to mount a renewed challenge. Grouchos Chief continued to dictate down the back straight and around the final two bends but Bombay Special was pressing hard for Jack Ryan and Graham Holland.
The hugely talented daughter of Dromana Bucko and Tory Aria began to ease closer as they turned for home before grinding out a fine success. Bombay Special got up to beat Grouchos Chief by a length in 29.47. Low Profile, after losing ground on the opening bend, dug deep to hold on for third, some three lengths adrift.
Heat 2 – DIAMOND OUT BUT GOLD TAKES OVER
Bockos Diamond and Bockos Gold both played a big part in the second heat with the latter coming through to win a dramatic contest, while his brilliant kennel companion made his exit from the competition after failing to secure the early lead.
This was a wonderful spectacle. Firstpastthepost set the fractions after bursting his way up the fence to lead on the corner from Bockos Diamond. Bockos Gold had actually held a narrow advantage but dabbed on the brakes ever so slightly between the pair to turn third.
This set up an incredible second half to the contest. Firstpastthepost dictated the pace into the back straight with Bockos Diamond pressing hard. Although forced to challenge on the wide outside, Bockos Diamond joined the leader around the bottom two bends but things were starting to tighten up.
It was clear that the efforts of Bockos Diamond were starting to leave a mark and he began to tire. In contrast, Bockos Gold, owned by the aptly named Jolly Good Company Syndicate, was full of running and advancing. Firstpastthepost was still pitching, while the remainder were also closing.
However, Bockos Gold was too strong. The Graham Holland trained son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Newinn Cuckoo found room up the fence to lead soon after the final turn to emerge a length and a half scorer in 29.56. Firstpastthepost again ran a huge race to qualify in second with another length to Priceless Romeo in third.
Heat 3 – DANCER REMAINS UNBEATEN
With each passing week, Hackney Dancer seems to be getting stronger for Michael O’Donovan and his lucky owners, the Swifttrack BC Ltd Syndicate.
He faced some notable rivals in Heat 3 but displayed real grit to maintain his unbeaten record in the classic.
Im Here came away racing and held a very narrow advantage into the bend, but Hackney Dancer was never going to surrender his inside line. Running a true line, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Miss Mini Moll moved on from Im Here, who was soon challenging again.
The duo went toe to toe down the back straight and into the third turn but still Hackney Dancer had the inside line and kicked again as they began to turn for home. This was the decisive moment in the contest. As hard as Im Here tried, Hackney Dancer was simply too strong and pulled away to record another impressive victory. Hackney Dancer would see off the Puppy Derby champion by two and a half lengths in 29.37 with the fast-finishing Blastoff Heffo the same distance away third.
Heat 4 – MONARCH IS REALLY BOUNCING
Bouncing Monarch was again absolutely flawless in Heat 4.
For the third week running, the brilliant son of Deerjet Sydney and lemon Elsa never saw a rival. Smashing from three, it was clear from a stride in that he was going to justify cramped odds but Getup The Boy did keep him honest with another superb effort in second.
Trained by Michael O’Donovan for Dave Fradgley, Bouncing Monarch never put a foot wrong. Making every inch, he moved with his typical fluency throughout to eventually contain the staying on Getup The Boy by two and a half lengths in 29.13. Mark Robinson actually provided the runner up and third as Uncle Keith flew home to finish another two and a half lengths back.
Heat 5 – JAMES SIMPLY BRILLIANT
Wi Can James was on a different planet to his rivals in Heat 5.
Not only did the hugely talented son of Ballymac cashout and Right Nikki run right away to win by a wide margin for Lars and Anita Wicander, but he also managed to post a fastest of the night and joint fastest of the Derby 29.10.
This was an exhibition from the Pat Guilfoyle trained star. Breaking smartly from three, he displayed immediate acceleration to lead after a handful of strides.
Glengar Phantom also quickened to move second but Wi Can James got loose and was taking no prisoners. Skipping across the sand as though it were on fire, he soon moved into a three-length lead.
By the third turn, it was clear those in behind were starting to suffer as they attempted to stay in touch. Wi Can James had no such concerns. Turning the screw from that point, he pulled further and further clear to eventually score by an ever-increasing eight lengths.
Glengar Kane tired on the run in, leaving Croydon Avenger to come through for second with the pair separated by just a neck. But this contest was all about the winner. He was already prominent in the Derby betting, but this display would have left the non-believers in awe. Have no doubt he is a big player in the classic.
Heat 6 – COLOURS BACKERS SEE GREEN
Coloursaregreen has plenty of supporters out there and they were mighty relieved to see him come home in front in Heat 6 as he powered his way to the front down the back straight before digging deep to hold of Sleight Of Hand.
Sober Barry was fastest into stride and led the field into the back straight but Coloursaregreenwas not going to let him have things his own way. Trained by Paul Hennessy for Brendan Cocoman and Ian Cunningham, Coloursaregreen charged into the bend to move second and this left him in the perfect position to strike.
Showing huge dash, he joined and headed the early leader before halfway. There was still work to do, however. Behind the front two, Sleight Of Hand was working his way into a challenging position and moved second into the third turn.
The race was on. Sleight Of Hand looked a serious threat, but Coloursaregreen again proved that he is amongst the most plucky and dogged performers around by finding extra to see off his rival by two lengths in 29.47. Behind the front two, Sober Barry looked vulnerable but he found a way to cling onto third, just three parts of a length further adrift.
Heat 7 – A SHOOTING STAR
Pat Guilfoyle completed a magnificent double in Heat 7 with Waitingforastar seeing more daylight than he has even seen in his relatively short career.
Bearing in mind, he is amongst the fastest greyhound in training, it is therefore no surprise to see him emerging a facile scorer.
Indeed, the son of Droopys jet and Magical Poppy actually struck the front into the bend. Remarkably, that’s the first time he has ever managed the feat. Faypoint Harvey was fastest into stride but couldn’t contain his near neighbour and Waitingforastar moved on by a length on the turn. He quickly put ground between himself and the pursuers.
Faypoint Harvey kept giving generously to hold off those in behind in second but, out front, Waitingforastar was sailing off into the sunset. By the time Sandra Guilfoyle’s charge hit the winning line he was all of ten and a half lengths to the good in a brilliant 29.13.
Faypoint Harvey, despite his advancing years, was second with the battle for third going right down to the wire. Just two lengths behind Faypoint Harvey, Hackney Plan managed to see off Into the Sunset and Kapuka Coley by a head and neck to take third.
Heat 8 –SQUARE SHOWS HIS CLASS
Harvard Square again displayed the most wonderful early speed to emerge a superb winner of the final heat for Shaun Conway and owner Pat Grimes.
Solo And Go was the hot favourite from four but missed the kick and had to run a big race to even qualify.
In contrast, Harvard Square was really on his toes from the outset. Bolting from six, he soon found himself in front, cutting for the fence but clearing Harlequin Gee Up into the bend. Running a fluent opening turn, he shot clear of those in pursuit.
BY halfway, the Maiden Derby champion was clear and on his way to a comfortable victory. Behind the leader, there was a real battle on for the minor honours. Solo And Go, despite finding traffic on the second turn, entered the back in third.
As Harvard Square continued to dominate, Solo And Go was under big pressure from those behind but was proactive. Charging into the third turn, he slipped up the inside of Harlequin Gee Up to go second before the final bend to chase home Harvard Square.
The latter was imperious and went on to cross the line four lengths clear in 29.62. Solo And Go continued to come under pressure but dug in to contain the big finish of Barntick Bucko by a neck in 29.62.
Undercard
RANDOX WITH A CLEAN EXIT
Hackney Randox was a well-supported winner of the opener for the Hackney Boys and Michael Taggart.
Ideally housed on the fence, the son of Ballymac Vic and Ballymac Pebbles shot up the fence to lead from the early yards and kept finding throughout to repel the challenge of Carrick Yorky by a length and in 29.63.
TEXT SENDS OUT A MESSAGE
Racing ended with the prolific Text Amiright claiming a ninth career victory as he outgunned the early leader Southwind Storm from halfway.
Trained by Pat Buckley for Daniel Maher, Text Amiright turned in third but moved up to challenge at halfway.
This left him in a perfect position on the outside of the track to sweep the third turn. Driving to the front at this point, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Lamestep eased on to beat Southwind Storm by two lengths in 28.41.