A NIGHT OF BRILLIANT DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
Saturday’s action at Shelborne Park was right out of the top drawer. Of course, the quarter finals of the Tote Gold Cup were the feature and honour of going fastest went to Ballymac Siun.
She posted a rapid 28.30 to lower the colours of her kennel companion and ante-post favourite Solo And Go but it was the display of another kennelmate on the undercard that got most people talking as Ballymac Setanta produced a stunning run over the sprint trip to begin his 2026 campaign off to a winning start.
SIUN AT HER SHARPEST
The Tote Gold Cup rightly had top billing, however. Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Siun set the standard in Heat 2, scoring at odds of 5-1.
Solo And Go was an odds-on favourite but missed the start and dived inwards in the early yards, finding himself behind the early leaders Ballymac Siun and Droopys Orator.
Ballymac Siun is very strong, so it was something of a surprise when she rocketed from trap one to dispute the early lead. Droopys Orator also went up fast, holding a narrow advantage into the bend.
Ballymac Siun was drawn on the inside of her rival and she began to ease on as they hit the back straight. Solo And Go was soon in chase, showing big pace down the back straight to go second into the third turn. He was within a length and a half of the leader at this point but Ballymac Siun was always going to kick again.
Despite swinging wide off the final turn, the daughter of King Elvis and Ballymac Merkle stayed on powerfully to beat Solo And Go by a length and a half in 28.30. Droopys Orator was five lengths further adrift in third.
COMET TAKES FLIGHT
Just one spot slower was Clona Comet in the last of the four heats. A 7-1 chance ahead of the off, the proven sprinter was razor-sharp in the opening yards and quickly asserted at the head of affairs for Thomas McKevitt and Graham Kelly.
Crossfield Matt was a red-hot favourite from an inside draw but he failed to get loose in the opening exchanges, instead finding himself only fourth into the bend. This Approach and Grouchos Hoffa bumped at this point, leaving Crossfield Matt in second but Clona Comet had set sail for home.
Maintaining a relentless gallop to the finish, the son of Newinn Session and Newinn Mimi emerged a brilliant winner by a length and a half in 28.31. Crossfield Matt was second with Zenith Gizmo the same distance away in third.
FIVE STAR DISPLAY
Callaway Five was a tremendous winner of Heat 3, showing great grit and determination to come through to score for Owen McKenna and Denis Murphy. Beautiful Paul did the pace-setting duties up the fence but Callaway Five turned in his slipstream.
This set up a great tussle into the third turn. Callaway Five chose to make his move up the inner of the leader and this would prove decisive. Shooting through the gap to take up the running, Callaway Five powered clear on the run in to emerge a three-length winner over the staying on Lemon Hidalgo in 28.49. Beautiful Paul finished just a head back in third.
MORE STYLE FROM SWORDS
Swords Style followed up an impressive opening round success in the first quarter final. The Graham Holland trained son of Grangeview Ten and Emers Sally was to the fore throughout. He came away racing to contain Unanimous Leo into the bend but still had to worry about Ballymac Stud who turned a close second.
As they hit the second turn, Ballymac Stud seemed set to challenge but he was forced to switch wide early in the back straight, hampering Unanimous Leo in the process. This allowed Swords Style to increase his advantage.
Ballymac Stud remained in second and did all he could to close on the leader but the line came in time for Swords Style. Barbara Lowndes’ Swords Style hit the line three parts of a length clear of Ballymac Stud in 28.55. Coloursaregreen again caught the eye in third, another three quarters of a length adrift.
Undercard
SETANTA SENDS OUT A CLEAR WARNING
Ballymac Setanta is undoubtedly amongst the best greyhounds in training. Already amongst the favourites for Derby glory later in the year, he made a stunning return to action in the open sprint, showing a talented field a clean pair of heels.
An even money chance, it quickly became evident he was greatly overpriced. Liam Dowling’s brilliant son of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Art shot clear of his rivals after a flying start to emerge the easiest of winners.
Maintaining a merciless gallop to the line, Ballymac Setanta sent out a clear warning to his potential rivals in 2026 that he means business. He hit the line five and a half lengths clear in a stunning 18.35. Hugely promising youngster Early Payout was some five and a half lengths away in second.
To highlight the strength of the run, it is the fourth fastest time ever recorded for the sprint trip at Shelbourne Park.
DANCER LOOKS A PROSPECT
Carlow Rd Dancer confirmed the promise he had shown in the recent Callaway Pro Am @ Stud ON1 350, setting a strong standard in the semi-finals of the Rásaíocht Con Éireann A3 NB 525. Eddie Farrell’s son of Dorotas Wildcat and Miss Mini Moll did plenty wrong but the manner in which he recovered suggests he will be a top-class performer in the future.
After a tardy start, Carlow Rd Dancer was fourth into the turn behind Rapido Ivy but soon moved third. As the latter opened up, Carlow Rd Dancer began to make his move. Both he and Lennies Eddie moved past Rolo Eugenie to chase Rapido Ivy.
Carlow Rd Dancer got first crack at the leader but was forced to check his stride. He recovered quickly, however. Lennies Eddie was now also challenging the leader by Carlow Rd Dancer would outstay both his rivals on the run in. Finding a gap on the inside of the track Carlow Rd Dancer came through to score, staying on well to win in 28.74. Rapido Ivy clung on for second with the eye-catching Lennies Eddie a neck away in third.
KATIE TOO SLICK
Callaway Katie justified favouritism in the opening semi-final, albeit she needed the line as Ballymac Kandoo ran on well to make it interesting. Trained by Owen McKenna for Denis Murphy, Callaway Katie didn’t flash from traps but did show fine early speed to get loose into the turn.
It seemed all very straightforward for the daughter of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta to the third turn but the stride began to shorten as they turned for home. Ballymac Kandoo closed right to the line but Callaway Katie held on by a short head in 28.80. There was a long gap to Thin Lizzy in third.
MIAMI SHINES
Miami Hans was most progressive ahead of the Christmas break and he made a very encouraging return in the penultimate race, winning in fine style for owners Noal McSweeney and Biral Nadir.
The Garry Dempsey trained son of Ballymac Kingdom and Break the Best went up second behind Sawdust Barry but made a decisive move at the turn.
As Sawdust Barry attempted to cut the bend, Miami Hans didn’t give an inch, nudging the leader on the hind quarters. This provided him his opportunity. Forcing his way to the front along the fence, he entered the back straight in the driver’s seat.
Sawdust Barry had no answer to the new leader and fell away in the closing yards. Instead, Steeple Rd Amber ran on strongly to grab second but Miami Hans was not or catching. He hit the line two and a half lengths clear in 28.61.
SAPPHIRE IMPRESSES AGAIN
After impressing over 575yds in her previous start, Bockos Sapphire handled the step up to 600yds with little fuss in the finale, forcing her way to the front at the turn before showing great strength to contain the advancing Ballymac Tibet.
The Graham Holland trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire disputed the lead to the turn alongside West Coast Cool but entered the back with a clear lead as the latter steered a very wide path.
Ballymac Tibet emerged as the only real danger and closed all the way to the line but Bockos Sapphire is very strong and she held on to win by a half length in 32.48.
TRIBE POUNCES
The fourth race was the most competitive on the card with most of the line-up holding a chance at various points through the contest but it was the experienced Trionas Tribe that proved too strong for the opposition.
Second early behind Millabbey Roxie, Trionas Tribe was forced to check his stride between the opening bends. This saw him relegated to fourth but he quickly recovered. As the leaders battled it out on up the middle of the track, Trionas Tribe arrived into the third turn in a rush.
Going on at this point, the Wren, Sull, Walman Syndicate owned son of Burgess Bucks and Trionas Tune stayed on strongly to eventually emerge a comfortable four length winner over Notawordsaid in 29.06.