SCAGLIETTI IN CRUISE CONTROL AS DERBY CONTINUES

Ian Fortune

There were some real shocks at Shelbourne Park on Friday evening as the second round of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby got underway but there were also some magnificent performances including that of Scaglietti who made it look so easy as he emerged a comfortable four length scorer in a best of the night 29.26.

The real surprise on the night was the shock elimination of Ballinabola Ed, while English Derby champion Gaytime Nemo was another big-name casualty. Below we take you through all eight heats.

Heat 1 – PORT ON TOP AS NEMO MAKES EXIT

There was something of a shock in the opening heat as English Derby Gaytime Nemo again found plenty of traffic before crashing out behind his kennel companion Newinn Port.

The latter was always close to the pace, turning second to Capitan Garfio before making his move down the back straight.

Taking charge between halfway and the third turn, the Graham Holland trained son of Kinloch Brae and Delboys Cushty was always going to be difficult to reel in. Capitan Garfio did stick to his task in second but Newinn Port emerged a two length winner for his owners, the Hill of Port Syndicate, in a decent 29.53.

Capitan Garfio was second with Millridge Levi qualifying in third, some three lengths further back. Sadly, it just didn’t happen for Gaytime Nemo as he found the traffic spots before finishing fifth.

Heat 2 – DUKE SHOWS HIS METAL

Graham Holland completed a quick double in the second heat with Clona Duke proving that he isn’t just about pace and power. He is also a very determined tracker with a huge will to win.

That was certainly evident as he displayed great bravery on the bend.

In doing so, he seemed certain to guarantee himself a comfortable victory but Mr Chelm had other ideas. Clona Rocko actually led to the turn but was given no chance when Clona Duke barged his way through along the fence to take up the running.

Mr Chelm was left second and he displayed huge back straight to join and briefly head Clona Duke at the third turn. Clona Duke is very strong, however, and he was soon back on terms before powering clear on the run in. Kevin O’Brien’s Juvenile Derby and Select Stakes champion went on to win by an ever-widening two lengths in 29.55.

Heat 3 – DREAM HUNTS DOWN WELL MET

Well Met made a bold bid from the front in the third heat only for dual classic winner Bobsleigh dream to show exactly what she is about.

The former actually opened a clear advantage into the back straight and seemed for a few strides as though defeat was very unlikely.

That quickly changed when Bobsleigh dream slipped onto the fence to move second. Once entering the back straight with daylight in front of her, Bobsleigh Dream was always going to hunt down the leader.

Trained by Pat Buckley for Willie Joe Murphy, the wonderfully fast Bobsleigh Dream closed right up to the third turn before making her move along the fence. Once going to the front, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Bobsleigh Jet may have been expected to stretch on but Well Met rallied on the run in. You always got the sense Bobsleigh Dream would hold on by she only did so by a head, albeit in a fast 29.36. Garfiney Blaze found himself in third at the third turn and he ran on well to finish just five lengths further back. 

Heat 4 – SYDNEY SWOOPS TO CONQUER

Clonrooske Sydney, owned by Ray Conroy and Ollie Dunne, came with a swashbuckling run in Heat 4 to win for the second week running, maintaining his unbeaten record in the classic.

Ballymac Walt was a warm favourite and duly set a strong gallop, but his fate was sealed when Clonrooske Sydney got the better of the two inside runners into the turn to slip around in second from trap three.

Closing the gap down the back straight, he made up eye-catching ground around the last two bends to move to the front. It was all pretty straightforward once he hit the front. The Matthew Harte trained son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Matilda was now in full stride and he eased on to win by three lengths in 29.61.

McNeill came through for second, while Ballymac Walt was a little disappointing in third. If he is to go any further, he may need to return to his best Champion Plate form. As for the winner, there is little doubt he is short of a yard of pace to the turn but his engine is there for all to see and it is currently firing on all cylinders.     

Heat 5 – SCAGLIETTI CONTINUES TO PURR

One would assume that Scaglietti is named after the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, a car with a top speed of 199mph.

If that is the case, the canine version is doing justice to the name as he continued to impress in the Derby with a brilliant success in Heat 5 for Cheryl Sutcliffe and Pat Guilfoyle.

The son of Magical Bale and Outdoor Roller was a warm favourite despite the presence of some hugely talented rivals and he made light work of the task. Ballyhimikin Rex moved into second on the turn and chased hard throughout, once again showing his many qualities but Scaglietti is relentless on the lure and he kept turning the screw.

Clocking 17.12 to the third turn, he continued to pile on the pressure, easing on up the run in to eventually score by four lengths in 29.26, identical to his opening round clock. ON current form, Scaglietti is without question a huge player in the Derby.

Ballyhimkin Rex was a fine second with the battle for third going right down to the wire. Burj Khalifa just did enough to contain Good Maestro to take the final qualifying spot, four and a half lengths behind the runner-up. 

Heat 6 – MARTHA SPRINGS A SHOCK WITH A SUPERB DISPLAY

Glengar Martha was a tremendous winner of Heat 6. If you take the success at face-value, she was amongst the easiest and most straightforward winners on the night but that doesn’t tell half the story.

Of course, the Pat Buckley trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Glengarbadminton was returned at a massive 28-1 with her kennel companion Ballinabola Ed sent of the 4-5 favourite, just ahead of De Lahdedah at 7-4. It wasn’t meant to be for the big guns in this contest, however. Both the front two in the betting badly missed the start and were always struggling to land a blow.

Instead, 2022 finalist Droopys Nice One emerged as the only real threat to the pace-setter. Glengar Martha entered the back straight with a near four length lead and this was to prove decisive. Despite the best efforts of Droopys Nice One, William Wood’s Glengar Martha ran out a ready and thoroughly deserving length scorer in 29.48.

Behind the front two, De Lahdedah, despite cutting inwards in the early yards, forced his way through the gaps to go third where he was to finish, some two and a half lengths behind Droopys Nice One.  Ballinabola Ed, after his missed start, had rushed into the turn before finding traffic. He did run on well but there was no catching De Lahdedah and he made his exit in fourth.         

Heat 7 – A WINNING CASHOUT FOR STORYS

As soon as the draw was made, Heat 7 was circled as one of the most confusing and difficult to predict contests of the entire round.

The race itself seemed to follow a similar pattern with each and every runner having a say at some point.

In the end the success went to Storys Cashout, who after showing fine track craft, was in the perfect position to strike off the final turn. Carrigmore Logan and Hello Mom took them on for much of the way but the pack were always on their heels.  

Storys Cashout stayed tight to the fence on the turn to enter the back straight right behind the front two. This was to make all the difference. Trained by Murt Leahy for Gavin O’Mahoney, the powerful son of Tullymurry Act and Droopy Hunch got first run at the leaders.    

Moving second behind Carrigmore Logan on the third turn, he eased slightly to ensure the door wasn’t closed on him before launching his challenge off the final turn. By this point Press Unlock had joined in the battle on the wide outside, while Threesixfive and Sporty Bigman were flying in behind. 

Storys Cashout is mighty strong, however, and he drove on to take the verdict by a length from the fast-finishing Threesixfive in 29.68. Sporty Bigman also ran on strongly to finish just two lengths further adrift. 

Heat 8 – JETARA HAS AN ACCELERATOR

Jetara may have been a big drifter in the betting for the final heat of the night but he seems to be getting to grips with Shelbourne Park and those that stayed loyal to the son of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx were richly rewarded as he engaged the accelerator after a few strides to charge to the front into the turn.

Goldirocks Magic and Seven Beach initially gave chase but it was Droopys Bro that emerged as the only realistic threat entering the third turn. He closed rapidly to the final turn but, once turning for home, Jetara kicked again.

It was enough to secure Peter Comerford’s charge came home in front. Owen McKenna is clearly not rushing his young star and better is certain to come. He eventually hit the line two lengths to the good over Droopys Bro in 29.69. Seven Beach was five lengths further adrift in third.