BRILLIANT RACING AS PUPPY DERBY COMMENCES
Ian Fortune
Tuesday’s action at Shelbourne Park may have started later than normal to allow the temperatures to cool but the action on the track quickly heated up proceedings.
The TIME Greyhound Nutrition Puppy Derby got underway and a brilliant crop of young greyhounds produced some outstanding performances, although none could match the run of Wi Can James as he posted a sensational 27.88 to set an unbelievable standard.
Heat 1 – RYDER SURVIVES A SCARE
Callaway Ryder came out on top in the opening heat for the Field Sports Syndicate and Owen McKenna but not before riding a hefty bump at the third turn.
The son of Callaway Pro Am and Droopys Charm broke fastest from the inside box and led the field into the back straight.
Behind the leader, Franchesco got a clear run along the fence to enter the back straight in second and he displayed fine pace to challenge up the inside of the pace-setter at the third turn. The pair clashed at this point with Franchesco badly losing his feet and knocking over Biorra Prince in the process.
Despite losing plenty of momentum, Callaway Ryder remained in front and ran right to the line to win by nine lengths from Razldazl Loreal in 28.73. There was a two-length gap to the third qualifier, Curraghmoredaisy.
Heat 2 – FELIX BREAKS 28
The Graham Holland trained Slippery Felix didn’t win by a wide margin but still managed to dip under the magical 28 second barrier in Heat 2, holding off a gallant run from Razldazl Thelma.
The pair were always to the fore with Slippery Felix showing fine early speed off a slick exit to better the fast-starting Razldazl Thelma into the bend. By halfway there was three lengths between the duo, but Razldazl Thelma wouldn’t go away.
Larry Dunne’s Slippery Felix continued to run with real purpose up front with the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Vigorous Orla going on to stop the clock in 27.99. Razldazl Thelma stayed on really strongly to finish just a length and half adrift in second, while Grouchos Chief finished five lengths further back in third.
Heat 3 –BECKS OBLIGES AT ODDS-ON
Carrick becks was a 2-5 chance to win Heat 3 and he did everything that was needed, showing all his qualities to lead from the drop of the hat.
Trained by Robert Gleeson for Thomas Glynn, the son of Doolin Duke and Droopys Beaufort shot from trap two and quickly asserted into the bend.
Lennies Jamesmc also displayed fine early speed to turn second but Carrick Becks was on a mission. Maintaining a merciless gallop throughout, Carrick Becks saw off Lennies Jamesmc by four and a half lengths in a rapid 28.01. Croydon Avenger was best of the remainder, three lengths away in third.
Heat 4 – MAJOR PROVES TOO STRONG
Heat 4 was a competitive affair although Kilwest Major ultimately proved too strong for his rivals, challenging at the third turn before forging clear.
The inexperienced Killers King displayed superb early speed to lead early but drifted off the second turn to allow Kilwest Major close the gap.
Again running wide at the third turn, Killers King lost the lead and second spot with Anothercupoftea briefly challenging Kilwest Major but the latter is very strong and he drew away on the run in. Trained by Gerry Holian for the Keating Syndicate, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Goldcash Ice went on to win by three and a half lengths in 28.44. Killers King rallied on the run in, storming home to take second with Anothercupoftea a length further back in third.
Heat 5 – JAMES SETS THE STANDARD IN SOME STYLE
Wi Can James was simply sensational in Heat 5, emerging a facile winner in a stunning 27.88 for Lars and Anita Wicander.
The Pat Guilfoyle trained son of Ballymac Cashout and Right Nicki had shown exceptional pace in his previous starts at Shelbourne but this was the first time he got loose into the turn.
He did so after a fast start from the inside box. Once turning in front, it was a case of by how far he would win. Im Here ran a really encouraging race in second but Wi Can James was awesome, hitting the line seven lengths clear. Droopys Unreal was third, some four length further back.
Heat 6 – DIAMOND TAKES HIS CHANCE
Swords Diamond saw off Ballymac Scheff to win Heat 6 but for much of the race it seemed as though Villaricos was going to emerge on top after setting a strong gallop.
The wheels began to come off for the pace-setter around the last two bends.
Swords Diamond and Ballymac Scheff were poised in behind and made their move turning for home. With Villaricos starting to tire, Swords Diamond hit the front for Graham Holland and Barbara Lowndes. The son of Swords Rex and Glenegat Mildred went on to score by a length in 28.58. Ballymac Scheff finished fast in second with Villaricos another two lengths back in third.
Heat 7 – SLICK SANCTUARY DOMINATES
Through his relatively short career Slick Sanctuaryhas shown a real liking for the fence but Tuesday was the first time he got to wear the red jacket and, predictably, he made the most of it.
Keith Allsop’s massive son of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire has a superb turn of early speed and he led the field from the outset.
Droopys Monk also went up fast to challenge but he took a bump on the turn from the leader, allowing Carrick Coley move up his inner. This left Slick Sanctuary to dictate down the back straight. Droopys Monk and Carrick Coley battled it out for second with the pair rubbing shoulders a few times.
In contrast, Slick Sanctuary was afforded plenty of room to maintain a strong gallop and the Karol Ramsbottom trained star ran right to the line to win by a length and a half in 28.39. Carrick Coley was second with Droopys Monk brushing off third bend traffic to take third, some two and a half lengths adrift.
Heat 8 – CLIFF SHOWS HIS CLASS
There was much to like about the display of the Tom O’Neill trained Ballyhooly Cliff in the final heat.
This was far from straightforward with the talented son of Orchestrate and Lemon Tilda only third into the back straight behind the early paced Southwind Storm and Fahrenheit Ace.
Carrying real momentum off the second turn, Ballyhooly Cliff made a decisive move passing halfway. Displaying huge back straight pace, he quickly moved past the front two to lead before the 750yd boxes. Kapuka Coley was also advancing at this point and moved second between the last two bends.
There was no stopping Ballyhooly Cliff, however. Owned by the Ashgrove Trio Syndicate, Ballyhooly Cliff powered clear to win by two and a half lengths in 28.21. Fahrenheit Ace was another three and a half lengths away in third.
Undercard
CMAX LOOKS A PROSPECT
Racing commenced with the semi-finals of the June Monthly Novice ON2 525 and Ballymac Cmax stepped up on a fine opening round effort to post a superb 28.34 in the second semi-final for owners the Keeping It Civil Syndicate.
A well-bred daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Minton, she broke in front and stayed there throughout. She went on to beat the always second More Readies by three lengths.
LEVI TAKES HIS CHANCE
The opening heat went to Dolores Merriman’s Highview Levi.
Although headed early, he got a lovely passage around the opening two bends to move to the front as they hit the back straight. Once doing so, the Gerry Merriman trained son of Orchestrate and Highview Honour was always in charge before going on to beat Valentines Day by three parts of a length in 29.02.