A BIT OF EVERYTHING AS OPENING ROUND OF BOYLE SPORTS DERBY CONCLUDES
Ian Fortune
The opening round of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby came to a wonderful conclusion at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and it provided some incredible racing action.
There was everything on offer, sensational displays, tight finishes, some real shocks, drama and it left those present wanting more.
There were so many superb displays but the honour of going fastest went to Rolo Tokyo as he made a statement in Heat 19 as he posted a brilliant 29.29 to establish himself as a serious Derby contender. It was also a big night for the ladies with four heat wins for Lennies Dream, Ballymac Danica, Magical On Fire and Magical Sapphire.
Heat 13 – FIVE WINS FROM ONE
Callaway Five made the most of an ideal draw on the fence in Heat 13 to make his way to the front in the opening exchanges.
Prince Naseem was fastest into stride but couldn’t match Callaway Five for early dash.
Once going to the front, Callaway Five was always containing the persistent challenge of recent Munster Oaks winner Badly Behaving. The son of Ballymac Cashout and Clondoty Amy held a narrow lead down the back straight but once hitting the third turn, eased on to eventually score with a bit in hand.
There was traffic in behind the front two around the last two bends allowing Prince Naseem and Maireads Diamond to qualify but they were never going to worry the pace-setter. Trained by Owen Mckenna for Denis Murphy, Callaway Five would go on to beat Badly Behaving by three lengths in 29.86. there was a five length gap to Prince Naseem with Maireads Diamond fourth.
Heat 14 – HEADLEYS TRUMPS MAASAI IN A THRILLER
Headleys Trump (Coolavanny Hoffa/ Mercenary Mary) and Tarsna Maasai had a wonderful buckle in Heat 14 with little separating the pair from trap rise.
Importantly, Headleys Trump, who was making his Shelbourne debut for Nick Cotter, had the inside line and that would ultimately make all the difference.
Breaking smartly from four, Headleys Trump and Tarsna Maasai went to the corner side by side. Headleys Trump would emerge with a narrow advantage, which he would hold throughout. Barefoot On Song did close up behind the front two and looked a threat as they hit the final turn but the leaders kept finding up front.
In a tremendous finish, Headleys Trump would go on to see off his rival by a head in 29.82. Barefoot On Song would eventually finish just a length down in third with Glengar Silent fourth.
Heat 15 – SCHOLSEY A SERIOUS PLAYER
Carrick Scholsey, much like his footballing namesake, is a serious player.
After impressing from trap five last weekend, he again relished the wider draw in Heat 15 showing superb early speed and pace throughout to emerge a facile winner, in turn justifying restrictive odds.
Under the guidance of Robert Gleeson for owner Thomas Glynn, Carrick Scholsey is most certainly a leading fancy for Derby glory and this was the perfect start to his campaign. Ballymac Kamala was his nearest challenger in the early stages but checked her stride off the second turn.
Instead, Fahee Phantom displayed plenty of dash to move second and did all he could to close on the leader but Carrick Scholsey wasn’t for catching. The son of Droopys Scolari and Droopys Beaufort would run out a most impressive four length winner in 29.42. Fahee Phantom was two lengths clear of the fast-finishing Happy Jet while fourth went to Untold Rufiyaa.
Heat 16 – TEDDY BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Hopes Teddy may have been lightly raced since winning the easter Cup earlier in the year but he blew away the cobwebs with a trap to line success in Heat 16.
Magical major was the hot favourite but a tardy start allied with bad traffic on the opening turn ended his Derby dream.
In contrast, Hopes Teddy broke fastest and quickened into a clear lead by the turn. Left further clear at this point he seemed certain to run out a comfortable winner but just couldn’t get away on his rivals.
Indeed, by the third turn his kennel much younger kennel companion Sallagh Curly was on his heels and closing. Hopes Teddy kept finding, however. Trained by Pat Buckley for Ciaran O’Sullivan, the son of Confident Rankin and Dolls Lady would stay on to secure a three parts of a length verdict over the fast-finishing Town Lucky in 29.96. there was just a half length to Sallagh Curly with Ballinabola Jim fourth.
Heat 17 – MAGICAL CERTAINLY WAS ON FIRE
There was another wonderful finish in Heat 17 with Magical On Fire forcing her way past the hot favourite Rural Pest only to be pressed hard by the fast-finishing Cagey Billy.
In essence, Magical On Fire had to win this race twice for Pat Guilfoyle.
Rural Pest was sent top boxes the 4-6 favourite and all seemed to be going to plan when he shot from trap six to lead early but Magical On Fire was in determined humour. Going up fast along the fence, she entered the back straight a very close second and proceeded to match Rural Pest to halfway.
By the third turn she was upsides and, with the inside line in her favour, took over. Rural Pest attempted to rally, while Cagey Billy started to bridge the gap in third. In a superb finish, Magical On Fire ran right to the line to contain the advancing Cagey Billy by a short head in 29.67. There was just a neck to Rural Pest in third.
Heat 18 – DANICA DANCES IN
Ballymac Danica may have been off the track since the Champion Stakes decider but she looked razor-sharp in Heat 18, getting first run on her kennel companion Ballymac Stud and making every inch to claim a lucky thirteenth career victory.
The market certainly got things right with Liam Dowling’s daughter of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Arminta the big mover before going to traps joint favourite at 6-5 with her kennelmate. She would justify the support with a thoroughly professional effort.
Flashing from two, she quickly opened a two-length advantage on Ballymac Stud. The duo turned clear of those in behind and the order would never change. Ballymac Stud did run hard to the third turn but Ballymac Danica was up to the challenge, pulling out extra to maintain her advantage to the line.
Danica would go on to win by two lengths in 29.52 with Ballymac Stud just clinging onto second by a short head from the staying on Blastoff Heffo. Alva Mist would take fourth.
Heat 19 – TOKYO ON A ROLL
Rolo Tokyo couldn’t have been any more impressive in Heat 19, leaving a number of talented rivals chasing shadows as he posted a fastest of the night 29.29 for Damian Maginn and owner John Schofield.
From an ideal draw on the fence, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Oi Oi Upenalty was always likely to have a say but he turned this into little more than a procession. Flying up the fence, he was three lengths clear by the turn and would pound his rivals into submission with every stride thereafter.
Cushie The Best gave chase but couldn’t land a glove on the leader. The same could be said for Callaway Knegare in third. Indeed, the latter couldn’t even hold third with Upper Horgan running on strongly to finish just behind Cushie The Best.
They were all a long way behind Rolo Tokyo, however. Maintaining a relentless stride to the line, the May ’23 whelp would eventually hit the line seven lengths clear. Cushie The Best had a half-length to spare over Upper Horgan while Callaway Knegare was a disappointing fourth.
Heat 20 – SAPPHIRE WITH A MAGICAL DISPLAY
Pat Guilfoyle was always destined to have a big say in Heat 20 with half of the field representing his Nenagh based operation and he duly sent out the first two home with Magical Sapphire outgunning her kennel companion and long-time pace-setter Magical Keith.
The duo broke fastest to dominate from the outset. Magical Keith showed the better early speed and would enter the back with two lengths in hand before increasing it to two and a half lengths by halfway.
Magical Sapphire was only readying herself for a big challenge, however. Closing on the leader into the third turn, she was poised to make her move turning for home and she duly outstayed her kennelmate to win by a length and a half in a fast 29.58. Magical Keith was second with Coloursaregreen finishing another three and a half lengths away in third.
Heat 21 – BRUNCH IN A BUNCH FINISH
There was no tighter finish in the opening round of the Derby than that of Heat 21, while it also provided some real drama with one of Ireland’s best over the past two years Boylesports Bob grabbing the attention of the stewards.
Brunch Pal would emerge on top, albeit the first five were only separated by inches. Razldazl Kamaria dictated the pace into the turn, pursued by Faypoint Ranger. The latter moved to the front off the second corner and set sail for home but he would struggle to get to the line.
Behind him, Brunch Pal would draw closer in third, while so too would Timmys Bucks and Boylesports Bob after early traffic problems.
In the most remarkable finish, Brunch Pal joined and headed Faypoint Ranger inside the final fifty yards. Timmys Bucks and Razldazl Kamaria also joined in, while Boylesports Bob was now hammering home on the outside of the field.
In the final strides, Boylesports Bob edged inwards, showing intent, squeezing up the field. Four greyhounds flashed past the line locked in battle with Faypoint Ranger just behind them. The judge was called into action, as were the stewards. Boylesports Bob was disqualified, while the judge declared that the David Murray trained Brunch Pal did enough to come home in front.
Owned by Anna Murray and Michael Malone, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Bo Bobbity would emerge a short head winner in 29.96. Razldazl Kamaria was second, Timmys Bucks a head away in third and Boylesports Bob another short head back in fourth. Faypoint Ranger would progress in fifth as a result of the indiscretion of Boylesports Bob.
Heat 22 – DREAM RUN FROM LENNIES
After the drama of Heat 22, the following heat was a far more straightforward affair with Lee Craze’s Lennies Dream earning the dream comments of fast away, always led. Droopys Deploy was favourite but a mistimed start cost him any chance of victory.
In contrast, Lennies Dream was lightning fast from three and never saw a rival. Born Braver and Da Bold Falcon turned closest but seemed to get in each other’s way on a couple of occasions.
Meanwhile, Lennies Dream was in splendid isolation. Maintaining a relentless gallop to the line, the daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet and Charming Pet would race out a facile scorer. The Paul Hennessy trained starlet would go on to beat the fast-finishing Highview Plan by six and a half lengths in a quick 29.37. Da Bold Falcon ran well in his comeback outing to finish just three parts of a length away in third while the fourth qualifier was Droopys Deploy.
Heat 23 – AXEL PUTS THE FOOT DOWN
Ballymac Axel was having his first start for Murt Leahy, his first start at Shelbourne Park and only his third ever outing on Irish soil in Heat 23 but it failed to stop him from emerging a superb winner.
Effectively a UK challenger for the JR Racing Syndicate, the son of Ballymac Cooper and Jaytee Pearl did everything right, coming away well to dispute the early lead before driving his way to the front on the corner.
Once doing so, it was all very comfortable for the powerful tracker. Cosmonaut ran a fine race for much of the way in second but was never going to worry the leader. Instead, Ballymac Axel stayed on powerfully to improve his advantage.
He would go on to cross the line by six lengths in 29.61 with the promise of much better to come. Cosmonaut was second with Magical Mag another length and a half adrift in third. Triangle Brando qualified in fourth.
Heat 24 – LEO LEAPS TO LEAD LATE
After scoring earlier in the evening with Hopes Teddy, Pat Buckley and Ciaran O’Sullivan completed a double with Unanimous Leo in the final heat.
Lennies Desire was a hot favourite from an outside draw but he encountered bad traffic problems, ending his Derby hopes.
Solo And Go, in contrast, flashed from the inside box to dictate the pace from the opening strides although he was pursued by Juvenile Derby runner-up Unanimous Leo. This would set up a great finish with the duo having a great battle up the run in.
Ventry Faith would close on the front two in third but never get close enough to get his nose in front. Solo And Go continued to lead the field around the last two bends but Unanimous Leo wouldn’t be shaken off.
The son of Glengar Bale and Nice Mystery would finally get to Solo And Go in the final strides to win by a neck in 29.75. Ventry Faith was just a half-length behind while the fast-finishing Hot Wood would finish a close fourth.