KOBE STARS AS DERBY FIELD REDUCED TO FINAL TWELVE

Ian Fortune

Twelve of Ireland’s fastest greyhounds will take their place in the semi finals of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby next weekend after four exceptional quarter finals at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

Each of the four heat winners won in superb fashion but The Other Kobe took the headlines with a stunning trap to line success in a joint fastest of the Derby 29.15. De Lahdedah, Bens Teddy and Clonrooske Sydney all came home in front in their respective heats and we can now look forward to halving the field for the final time just a few days from now.

Heat 1 – DE LAHDEDAH

Liam Dowling and the Garsun Syndicate came up the road praying their wonderful puppy, De Lahdedah, would come away racing in the opening heat and their prayers were certainly answered.  

The brilliant son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo shot from trap three and quickly hit the front. Raha Mofo and Seven Beach also came away well to chase de Lahdedah into the bend but there was no such luck for Scaglietti, who was sent off favourite.

For the first time in the stake, the brilliant tracker missed the kick and could never get involved once doing so. In contrast, De Lahdedah was relentless up front. Easing right away to the third turn, he put the result beyond doubt in the style of a greyhound on a mission.

Seven Beach may have tired a little on the run in but he held on for second with Raha Mofo third but De Lahdedah took the headlines with a wonderful seven length victory in a rapid 29.31. Seven Beach contained Raha Mofo by a head to finish runner-up. The winner really franked his obvious Derby claims.

Heat 2 – SUPER TED TAKES FLIGHT

Bens Teddy had the draw, the engine and, as it transpired, the start to win the second heat in mighty impressive fashion for Kim Prichard and Pat Buckley.

Sent to traps the 2-1 favourite, his many followers were in clover after the son of Droopys Sydney and Beechgrove Bell flashed from the inside box to lead early.

He was soon headed by Bockos Crystal and Clonbrien Treaty but remained far too close for comfort. Showing great track craft and pace, he moved second, past the wide running Clonbrien Treaty, on the second turn before setting his sights on Bockos Crystal.

Bockos Crystal did all she could to hold her advantage but Bens Teddy was just too strong. Forcing his way upsides and past Bockos Crystal between the last two bends, he eased on to score by an ever-widening four and a half lengths in 29.39. Bockos Crystal was second with Threesixfive finishing at real speed to grab third, just a length further adrift.   

Heat 3 – KOBE SLAMS ON HIS RIVALS

The Other Kobe had hinted at a big run in a couple of his recent outings but his Derby challenge really came alive in the third heat as the son of Ballymac Best and Mountaylor Queen left a brilliant field trailing in his dust. This was the ultimate statement-like display.

Flashing from traps, posting a fastest of the Derby 3.38 and a sizzling 16.88 (also fastest of the Derby) to the third turn, the Jennifer O’Donnell trained star emerged a comfortable winner in a joint fastest of the classic 29.15. Plenty more was happening in behind but The Other Kobe was simply different class up front.

Trinity Junior and Coolavanny Hoffa went up side by side in second with the latter looking likely to move second on the corner only to get a couple of bumps from his nearest rival. It meant that Trinity Junior was second into the back straight but he could never threaten the pace-setter.

The Other Kobe, owned by Brian Clare and Davi L’estrange, increased his lead into the third turn before staying on to secure a comfortable three length victory. Meanwhile, Trinity Junior continued to race in second with Coolavanny Hoffa pushing hard into the third turn. Exploring the option of going up the inner, Coolavanny Hoffa decided it wasn’t the right moment and checked his stride in a move very similar to what happened him in last year’s semis. This time, however, he recovered, driving the third turn to cut off the advancing Mr Chelm. It was enough to secure him third, a length and a half behind Trinity Junior.

Heat 4 – SYDNEY COMES OUT ON TOP IN A WONDERFUL FINISH

Clonrooske Sydney was one of the best backed greyhounds of the entire round and he duly obliged at 3-1, although he needed every inch of the 550yd trip.

There was a staggered start with Bobsleigh Dream, Millridge Levi and Undulation all missing the start.

In contrast, Music Glideaway and Well Met came away racing with Clonrooske Sydney also gong up well in third. Music Glideaway actually held a narrow lead into the turn but Well Met drove through gap on the fence to bump his rival out of the way.

Importantly, Clonrooske Sydney, trained by Matthews Harte for Ray Conroy and Ollie Dunne, was close in behind in third and it was inevitable the powerful son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Matilda was going to have a big say.

The battle for the lead continued to the third turn with Well Met just repelling Music Glideaway but Clonrooske Sydney was now closer and moving with real purpose. In a driving finish, Clonrooske Sydney hugged the fence to launch his challenge.

Well Met rallied on the run in but Clonrooske Sydney was just too strong and he emerged a head winner in 29.55. Well Met ran his heart out again to contain Music Glideaway by a neck in third.   

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NEON LIGHTS IT UP

The opening heat of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate saw a shock winner in the form of Neon Lights as he came storming home to score for Alan Byrne and Paul James.

Here Ballymac Pete came away fastest to set a strong gallop only to be joined and briefly headed by the wide-running Magical Kuba at the third turn.

While all this was happening, Neon Lights was stalking the pair in third after slipping through on the fence around the opening two bends. The son of Ballymac best and Ballymac Natalie was in the perfect position to strike as the front two began to tire. In a driving finish, Neon Lights stormed home to grab the lead in the dying strides for a length verdict over Ballymac Pete in 29.69. The staying on Optic Chico grabbed third, some two lengths further back.

FREDDIE WITH A BOLD EFFORT

Craig Day and Vicky Dobson’s Da Bold Freddie returned to winning ways, some six months after his most recent victory, showing tremendous early speed to make all in the second quarter final of the Derby Plate.

He was pursued by Sogna In Grande and Pied Piper into the back straight but neither could get back on terms.

Pied Piper emerged as the main threat in the latter stages but the Paul Hennessy trained Da Bold Freddie (Ballymac Bolger/ Ballymac Belle) kicked again to emerge a length and a half winner in 29.76. Sogna In Grande also safely negotiated his way into the semis, a further three lengths back in third.

MIGHTY MAC DOUBLES TALLY

Despite showing plenty of ability in his subsequent starts, Blastoff Mac hadn’t won a race since his debut but he put that right in the third heat of the plate.

Philip Buckley’s son of Grangeview Ten and Blastoff Apache chased Beepers Lariat into the turn, leaving him in the perfect position to strike down the back straight.

Showing tremendous pace to the third turn, he shot up the inside of Beepers Lariat to strike the front. Press Unlock ran on strongly to finish just a half-length adrift in second with Beepers Lariat recovering from his third bend bump to qualify in third, two lengths further back.    

BAILEY TOO STRONG

After a big display behind fastest opening round scorer Ballymac Run, Dan and Peter Stackpoole’s Annagh Bailey claimed his place in the semi-finals of the plate with a fine victory in the last of the four heats.

There was a pretty level start but Pape Di Oro and the Rachel Wheeler trained Annagh Bailey emerged from the pack to challenge for the lead into the turn.

Cheque For Sir was also prominent but was left short of room and forced to check wide. This left the front two clear of the chasing pack. Pape Di Oro had a narrow lead but Annagh Bailey (Droopys Sydney/ Bellmore Fantasy) bridged the gap into the third turn before edging on at this point.

He quickly put over a length between himself and Pape Di Oro before going on to secure a two-length verdict in 29.71. Ballinabola Una flew home to grab third, four lengths further back.  

AWESOME ALF

Ballinakill Alf was simply awesome as he sent out a clear warning to his potential Juvenile Derby rivals in the eleventh race.

Trained by Graham Holland for the Pillar Syndicate, the son of Pestana and Newinn Madam displayed massive early speed after a slick exit to put the contest to bed before it even started.

Clear by halfway, he posted a sizzling 15.81 to the third turn before running out a most impressive six and a half length winner over the always second Droopys Zelda in a stunning 28.12. 

LASS TOO STRONG

Ballinakill Alf wasn’t the only impressive winner Graham Holland had on the undercard.

Clogheen Lass came in as a reserve to emerge a good winner of the tenth race, showing great pace and strength to take over in the second half of the contest.

Corbrack Prince took them along but was always under pressure when Clogheen Lass (Laughil Duke/ Leevalley Dancer) turned second. Charging to the front on the final bend, the Farran And Away Syndicate owned bitch eased on to win by three lengths in 28.57.

CASHOUT LEADS LATE

Racing ended with Storys Cashout showing his strength to reel in Newinn Port.

Trained by Murt Leahy for Gavin O’Mahoney, the son of Tullymurry Act and Droopys Hunch came into the contest as a reserve before turning third.

Newinn Port took up the running down the back straight from Ballymun Boy but it was soon evident that Storys Cashout would be the main threat. Moving second between the last two bends, the powerful galloper ran on strongly to collar Newinn Port in the closing yards for a three parts of a length victory in 29.69.

EXILE IMPRESSES

Road Exile, owned by the Blarney Ten Syndicate, emerged a good winner of the opening race on the card.

Showing fine determination to get the better of Kapuka Warrior around the opening two bends. The Pat Buckley trained star actually broke fastest but seemed to momentarily lose his footing.

The son of Droopys Sydney and Trusted Exile was quickly back on terms, however, and drove the corner to get the better of Kapuka Warrior to the second turn. The latter continued to press hard throughout but Road Exile had enough in hand to score by a length in 28.57.