DIAMOND EARNS HIS PLACE IN HISTORY AS DERBY DELIGHTS

DIAMOND EARNS HIS PLACE IN HISTORY AS DERBY DELIGHTS

Ian Fortune

Bockos Diamond is the fastest greyhound to ever race over 550yds around Shelbourne Park.

There were many wonderful displays at the famous venue on Saturday night in the third round of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby but each was eclipsed by the record-breaking run of Bockos Diamond as he again left even the most hard-nosed observers reaching for superlatives.

This was greyhound racing at its best. Yes, Bockos Diamond deserved the headlines but his handler Graham Holland also had a very special night, sending out no fewer than half of the eight heat winners with Untold Dollar, Bombay Pat and Cheap Sandwiches completing the four-timer. Below is our heat-by-heat guide to the third round.

Heat 1 – BOCKOS IS A ONE OF A KIND DIAMOND

Many were of the belief that Bockos Diamond would struggle to match his sensational second round effort but he didn’t just better it, he also lowered the track record as he produced yet another flawless display of front running to earn his place in history.

Pic right: Bockos Diamond on his way to victory in Heat 1, third round of the BoyleSports Derby.    Pic: Imelda Grauer

This was truly one of the best displays ever seen on any greyhound track on the planet by a greyhound that will go down as one of the all-time greats. Sent off a 1-5 favourite, both he and his nearest market rival, Carrick Aldo, came away racing on the outside of the track.

Showing astounding early speed, Bockos Diamond quickly asserted into the turn. To race clear of a former Irish Sprint Cup winner is scarcely believable but neither what was to follow. Hitting the turn with a length and a half to spare, Bockos Diamond edged onto the fence, running a wonderful corner to increase his advantage into the back straight.

Moving on by three lengths, Bockos Diamond was on his way to a famous success by the time he straightened up into the back straight. Carrick Aldo continued to run with real purpose in second, doing all he could to stay in touch with the leader but Bockos Diamond was striding out majestically.

The Graham Holland trained son of Dorotas Wildcat and Seaglass Shadow was almost four lengths clear by the third turn and still moving purposefully. Posting a fastest ever 16.63 to the third turn, the brilliant brindle was clearly on his way to producing something special.

Carrick Aldo continued to chase hard in second but Bockos Diamond would race on to the most sensational three length victory in 28.94. The Remember Them Syndicate owned superstar took five hundredths of a second off the previous best of Pestana to become the fastest greyhound to ever cover 550yds on Irish soil. Superfast Gorden was another four lengths back in third.       

Video: Bockos Diamonds Record Breaking Run & Reaction from Nicky Holland

Heat 2 – BRIAR WINS A THRILLER

Ballymac Briar (Ballymac Cashout/ Ballymac Cams) certainly made the most of an inside draw to win an eventful and rather thrilling second heat.

The race to the turn was competitive with five greyhounds within a length of the lead into the bend, It was clear something had to give.

Ballymac Briar, after a fast start from trap one, held a narrow lead into the turn where he nudged Bubbly Shadow, in two, causing traffic for a few of those on their outside.

With Bubbly Shadow running off the turn, cannoning into Tarsna Maasai, De Lahdedah was left second behind his pace-setting kennel companion. Scooby Pacemaker was next with Deadly Choice fourth.

Ballymac Briar looked like a sitting duck up front but clearly wasn’t feeling the pressure.

De Lahdedah closed into the third turn as did Scooby Pacemaker but Ballymac Briar was in no humour to surrender his advantage. All the way to the line, De Lahdedah and Scooby Pacemaker closed but Ballymac Briar would hold on for Maurice Brick and Liam Dowling to score by a head from Scooby Pacemaker in 29.68 with De Lahdedah just a short head away in third.    

Heat 3 – DOLLAR GETS LOOSE

Callum and John Purdy’s Untold Dollar had the draw of all draws on the rail in Heat 3 with his two nearest neighbours absent after being withdrawn.

This left him with plenty of room on the inside of the track but he still had to work hard to get to the front.

Last from traps, the Graham Holland trained son of Newinn Taylor and Glenegat Mildred had to work his way into contention into the bend. He was still last on the corner but was close enough to push Is She There into Glengar Martha, who in turn ran into Seven Beach.

Suddenly, Untold Dollar found himself with a lot more room and a narrow advantage. Once turning into the back straight with a couple of lengths in hand, the race was over as a contest. Seven Beach recovered very well to move second but Callum and John Purdy’s Untold Dollar was on his own up front and charged to the winning line to win by six lengths in 29.34. Seven Beach lost nothing in defeat in second while Is She There was best of the remainder in third, a half length further back. 

Heat 4 – EXTRA GAINS AN ADVANTAGE

Attempting to accurately describe Heat 4 in detail would need pages of copy but, needless to say, plenty happened in the opening exchanges before eventual winner, 25-1 chance Extra Gain, was left in front off the second turn.

March On Freddie was the warm favourite in the stripes although he was headed in the early yards by the fast starting A Lucky Julie. Grangeclare Lady also went up well on the fence but March On Freddie was in front by the turn.

All seemed set for the UK raider to drive around in front only for him to get his heels clipped before taking a further bump from Grangeclare Lady. Suddenly, Tuono Charlie was given a seam up the inside and looked certain to take control only for him to check wide off the second turn, causing further mayhem.

For the final time in the contest, the lead changed hands with the Gerry Holian trained Extra Gain left in front. Susan Garrahy’s powerful son of Pestana and Slippery Jade was always going to take some catching but great credit must go to those that chased him home.

March On Freddie recovered wonderfully well to finish second, while A Lucky Julie also ran on with real purpose to take third. Extra Gain would win, however, by a half length in 29.82. In turn, March On Freddie had the same margin to spare over A Lucky Julie.

Heat 5 – SEVEN UP FOR BIG JIM

Ballinabola Jim continued his incredible run of form with a brave display in Heat 5, completing a seven-timer for Brendan Murphy and the Murphy Ballinabola Syndicate.

The massive son of Good News and Ballinabola Rum was sent to traps the 11-8 favourite and his many followers would have been a little concerned into the turn.

Hot Wood and Thats It Jack broke fastest from the middle with the former going up the faster to hold a narrow lead. Meanwhile, Ballinabola Jim took a couple of bumps from Dynamic Force, who was also attempting to get into a prominent position by the bend.

Hot Wood was almost a length to the good but he seemed to be slipped on the heels. At the same time, Ballinabola Jim attempted to drive the turn. The pair clashed, while Dynamic Force and Thats It Jack both lost ground as they were left short of room.

Da Bold Falcon was now in prime position to take advantage, staying tight to the fence to move third. Up front, Hot Wood and Ballinabola Jim were side by side between the opening bends but, despite his huge frame, the latter displayed great balance to recover and take over at the second bend.

Ballinabola Jim, known as Big Jim to his friends, hit the halfway mark a length to the good over Hot Wood, while Da Bold Falcon was just a length further adrift in third and moving with menace.

By the third turn, Da Bold Falcon was in second and starting to close on Ballinabola Jim. In a tremendous finish, Ballinabola Jim dug deep to contain his rival by a half length in 29.39. There was a three lengths gap to Singalong Dolly and Hot Wood, who dead-heated for third. Singalong Dolly would subsequently progress after winning a coin toss. 

Heat 6 – BRILLIANT PAT AT HIS VERY BEST

For the first time in this year’s Derby, the Graham Holland trained Bombay Pat failed to set the pace into the back straight in Heat 6 but, in many ways, this made his success even more impressive.

Short Grip flew from four and led the field into the turn with Bombay Pat and Callaway Knegare in her slipstream.

Even at this early stage it was evident the winner could only come from the first three. Short Grip continued to set a strong gallop into the back straight but Bombay Pat, owned by Pat Muldoon and Bayliss Gee, began to move through the gears as they hit halfway. Charging up the outside of the leader, he took charge into the third turn.

In contrast, Callaway Knegare found Short Grip in his way when attempting to slip through at the same point. In the style of a greyhound that clearly meant business, Bombay Pat shot clear to put the result beyond doubt.

Both Short Grip and Callaway Knegare stayed on well up the straight but Bombay Pat would claim his fifth victory on the bounce by two and a half lengths in 29.30. Short Grip held off Callaway Knegare by a length. 

Heat 7 – SANDWICHES SIMPLY OUTSTANDING

Cheap Sandwiches, owned by the Bark Wahlberg Syndicate, is looking every inch a serious Derby contender and his display in the penultimate heat only cemented that view.

Hawkfield Blue flashed from trap two but Cheap Sandwiches was soon on the case on the outside of the track.

Showing tremendous early speed to join Hawkfield Blue on the bend, the hugely talented son of Burgess Bucks and Hearthill Josie ran a wonderful second turn to move on. Showing electric pace, he opened a race-winning advantage to halfway and continued to pile on the pressure to the final bend.

Hawkfield Blue did rally on the run in but Cheap Sandwiches was ultra-impressive as he coasted home a two length winner in a very fast 29.18, in turn completing an exceptional four-timer for Graham Holland. Mustang Fever was fourth in the early yards but moved past House Martin down the back straight to go third, where she was to finish, three lengths behind Hawkfield Blue.

Heat 8 – UNDULATION TOO STRONG

Undulation was at her brilliant best in the final heat, showing huge pace to get to the front and massive power to contain the late charge of Boylesports Bob.

Brendan Matthews’ brilliant daughter of Pestana and Unlock Unlock was faster into stride than recent outings and was a close fourth behind the fast-starting duo of Whyaye Bonnylad and Cheque For Cash.

By the turn, Cheque For Cash had taken the lead and cut for the fence, leaving Whyaye Bonnylad short of room and allowing Undulation to go second. By halfway, the brilliantly fast Undulation had taken the lead from Cheque For Cash but Boylesports Bob was now on a charge on the outside of the track.

Undulation hit the third turn a length and a half to the good but Boylesports Bob was now a serious threat. Importantly, the pair were on the same racing line and Boylesports Bob was left with a choice, to challenge up the inside or switch wide.     

BY the time he made up his mind, it was too late. Undulation is immensely strong and she ran right to the line to emerge a length winner in a brilliant 29.16. Cheque For Cash was best of the remainder in third, some four and a half lengths further adrift. 

Undercard

A CRACKING OPENER

Racing commenced with a top-class contest over 575yds and Ower Cracker produced a massive run from the front to post one of the fastest times ever seen at Shelbourne Park for the extended trip. Bursting to the front in the early yards from his inside draw, the Pat Buckley trained son of Deerjet Sydney and Nice Mystery never looked like relinquishing his lead.

Good Izzy slipped around in second and was always in pursuit but, despite her best efforts, could never get close enough to really worry the leader. Trained by Pat Buckley for June and Tony Harvey, Ower Cracker was merciless up front, powering to a comfortable two length victory over Good Izzy in a stunning 30.64. To highlight the quality of the run from both the winner and the runner-up, it was the second fastest ever run for the 575yd trip pat HQ and was just five spots outside the track record.

BABE RUNS CLEAR

The penultimate race on the card saw a massive run from Youandme Babe.

A noted big finisher for Paul Hennessy and Paul Hynes, she produced both the best start and biggest run of her career to emerge a facile winner.

Flashing from the inside box, she was a guaranteed winner when containing both Toolmaker Note and Droopys Kamari into the turn. Kerogue Lady gave chase down the back straight but it was futile. Once they hit the third turn, Youandme Babe began to really turn the screw.  Finishing at speed, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Jaytee Pearl ran right away to eventually win by eleven lengths from Droopys Kamari in a brilliant 28.07.       

DEPLOY SEES OFF MOLLY

A wonderful night of racing action ended in style with Droopys Deploy making every inch after a flying start from five.

He needed every inch of his advantage, however, as Singalong Molly ran on strongly to challenge on the run in.

Trained by Robert Gleeson for Paul Allen, Droopy Deploy entered the back with three and a half lengths to spare over Singalong Molly. The latter began to close the gap at the third turn but was still a length down as they turned for home.

Droopys Deploy (Malachi/ Droopys Charm) then swung wide, leaving the door open. In a tight finish, Droopys Deploy rallied to hold Singalong Molly by a head in 28.36.