SENSATIONAL GIZMO BOWS OUT

SENSATIONAL GIZMO BOWS OUT

Ian Fortune

Just a month shy of his fourth birthday, one of the greatest sprinters of this century, Gizmo Cash, has been retired from racing.

Jamie McGee confirmed the news saying, “He had a little injury since the final of the Islandbridge and grandad got him back to his best for Lifford. He broke the clock there but, after the final, it flared up again so we decided to call it a day. He’s a hundred percent now but we don’t want to risk him getting seriously hurt at four years of age.”

Indeed, Gizmo Cash owes his connections little after a wonderful career that saw him smash a number of track records, a national record, race on the highest stage and be named 2022 Sprinter of the Year.

His career began with a sprint win around Drumbo Park in June 2021, although he soon stepped up in trip to win over for bends around Shelbourne in 28.89. It was soon evident he had an abundance of early speed and could make a sprinter of some note.

A 17.36 return at Newbridge in just his third start over two bends came in mid-August before a couple of promising four-bend runs at Shelbourne. They were to be his third to last and penultimate starts over four bends with his focus switching to sprinting.

His first step into the top echelon came in the 2021 Fair Warrior at Mullingar where he made the final with minimum fuss. A brilliant 21.26 return in the quarter finals hinted at what was to come in the future. He carried no luck in the final but was now established as one of the best sprinters in the land.

He ended his first year with a few impressive runs, winning at Dundalk in 21.34 and going on to Shelbourne where he reached the final of the RCETS Open 350.

A HUGE YEAR

It was a busy start to his career but he was clearly developing at a rapid rate and that progression was evident in the early weeks of 2022.

His first start of the year came at Dundalk in mate January as he left a talented field standing in a 21.13 success.

He was now ready to fulfil his massive potential. His next big target was the Supersprint at Curraheen Park and it was to provide him with his first big race success, leading home a talented field in the decider to claim the €3,500 prize.

A RECORD THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME

Next it was on to Shelbourne Park for the Islandbridge Open 350 and it was in this competition that he really made a name for himself.

Despite running out of luck in the final, it was his semi-final display that ensured his legacy.

A wonderful 18.44 winner in the opening round, he produced one of the greatest ever sprint runs in the semi-finals. Making a flying start from four, he dominated a top-class field, hitting the corner almost three lengths clear before powering to a facile three and a half length victory in 18.18.

Not only did he break the previous track record, he smashed it, taking a full fifteen spots off the previous best. (Pic above) Jamie and Bailey celebrate with Gizmo Cash after he smashes the Shelbourne Park sprint record.         

To highlight just how good the run was, the 2004 track record of Sycamore Dan lasted almost fifteen years until the brilliant Ardnasool Jet smashed it twice in 2019. His best of 18.33 looked likely to last the test of time but Gizmo Cash had other ideas.

Have no doubt, if the track record of Gizmo Cash is to be broken any time soon, it will need a paw-perfect display from a sensational sprinter on the right night with conditions in his/her favour. This scribe suspects the current record will survive for a few years to come.

MORE GLORY IN TREATY

After the disappointment of his Islandbridge final defeat, Gizmo Cash quickly atoned for it in the Treaty Cup at Limerick.

He was superb in the decider, coming home a length and a half to the good in 18.48.

His sights were now set on Dundalk for the Irish Sprint Cup but sadly, he picked up a problem after the opening round and was on the sidelines for a couple of months.

He returned on Derby final night at Shelbourne, finishing a good second from an unkind draw. A fortnight later, he lined out in the opening round of the Fair Warrior Open 400 at Mullingar and was truly brilliant, posting a sizzling 21.11. Better was to come, however.

After a 21.18 return in the second round, he clocked an unbelievable 21.06 in the semi-finals to equal the track record. He was a 1-3 favourite for the final but it just wasn’t meant to be. After early crowding and bad traffic on the turn, he finished out of the frame.

He then had a brief spell in the UK but was soon back on Irish shores for a 2023 campaign. He again reached the final of the Islandbridge Sprint and was installed the even money favourite to follow up his 2022 success. He made a flying start but the spark didn’t seem to be there. He was subsequently found to have picked up a problem, which accounted for his flat display.

A FITTING END

Thankfully, his career didn’t end on that low. He returned for the Bar One Racing Crystal Vase 325 at Lifford and was back to his best, going unbeaten through the three-run competition.

It was fitting he raced to a very easy victory in the decider, breaking the track record in the process. That would be his final start but what a way to bow out.

As a son of Droopys Jet and Down The Green, Gizmo Cash was bred to be special and he certainly lived up to his billing. For Jamie McGee, he will be impossible to replace but he will always have the many great memories of his flying brindle.

He produced some sensational displays over two bends but his 18.18 run at Shelbourne Park was astronomical. As a track and national record for 350yds, it could be quite some time before any dog gets near it. For Jamie it was also a very special night. That happened to be the first time Gizmo Cash had been paraded by his sister Bailey. She must have been the lucky omen.

Jamie has confirmed that Gizmo Cash has already mated his first bitch and there are  a few straws available. With the emphasis on raw early speed these times, I’m certain many breeders will take a chance on Gizmo Cash and we look forward to seeing his progeny hit the tracks in the years to come.