UNDULATION BOWS OUT AT THE TOP

Ian Fortune

Word came through in recent days that Undulation, one of Ireland’s very best and most popular bitches, has run her final race after damaging a monkey muscle in the quarter finals of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby on Saturday night.

Damien Matthews confirmed the injury wasn’t as bad as it could have been but she owed them little and the plan is to breed her when she comes into season. During a career that spanned over two years, she was a model of consistency, taking on, and regularly beating, the best in training.

A STAR FROM EARLY

Incredibly, in her 33-race career, she would only ever race at three tracks, Shelbourne Park, Limerick and Towcester, but she left a big impression at each. Her carer commenced in September 2022, reaching the final of an Open Unraced at Shelbourne Park. She displayed glimpses of what was to come in that stake and didn’t have to wait long for her first big prize.

Straight after her luckless run in the final of the unraced competition, she was thrown into the competitive waters of the inaugural Paddy Merriman Memorial. With each outing in the valuable stake she improved, posting a massive 28.24 return to land the €10,000 final by a wide margin in 28.24. It may have been just her eighth career start but it would be her last outside AA0 company.

Next, she travelled across the water to impress in the early rounds of the ill-fated British Puppy Derby at Towcester. Installed as one of the favourites, a series of cancellations due to weather saw that competition scrapped.

A RETURN TO TOWCESTER

It meant her year was over and, when she did return almost six months later, it was across the water for a crack at the 2023 English Derby. Once again, she seemed to appreciate the surroundings at Towcester winning her opening round assignment and chasing home Romeo Magico a week later before making an unlucky exit at the third-round stage.   

By now she was a well-established star before returning for her first start on Irish soil in almost nine months in the opening round of the Derby. She would go on to reach the quarter finals before producing a couple of huge runs over further. The best of these was a stunning 30.79 return over the 575yd trip in mid-September. It would be her final start of 2023 as mother nature stepped in.

EASTER CUP FINALIST

She returned for a 2024 campaign in the opening round of the Easter Cup in mid-March. It was soon evident she was better than ever, winning her opening and second round assignments. She finished a close second to Clona Duke in the semis to reach her first classic decider. Sadly, she carried no luck in the final when a clear second favourite.

Again, she was targeted at the English Derby but, after flying in a trial at Towcester ahead of the opening round, she came in season. It meant she wasn’t seen again until October when she appeared in a Dual Distance competition at Shelbourne Park.  

BACK WITH A BANG

After producing a remarkable run in the semi-final when coming home fast after a bad stumble at traps to qualify in third, she would see off a talented field in the final, charging to the front in the closing stages to win in 29.47.

It was then straight into the Derby and she was in terrific form through the classic. After a couple of eye-catching runs in the opening two rounds, she was brilliant in the third round, posting a rapid 29.16.

That saw her take her place in the quarter finals for the second year running. In what would be her final start, she was in a wonderful position into the turn only to inexplicably run wide. It would only come to light after the contest that she picked up the aforementioned monkey muscle injury. It was a sad way for her racing career to end but she did bow out at the top.  

“SHE OWES US NOTHING”

Damien Matthews was clearly disappointed, “We’ve had a bad run of luck lately but these things happen. It’s a shame as she was really in the form of her career and looked to be in a great position to qualify but it was clear something was wrong the way she ran the turn.

“It’s not that bad an injury and we could bring her back but she really owes us nothing and we’ll breed her when she comes in season. I’m not sure when she will break but it’s likely in the next month or two.”

A STAR ON THE TRACK

For a bitch that seemed to be around a long, long time, she had very little mileage. Luck wasn’t always her ally but she was a joy to watch in full stride. She certainly gave her all, had the speed and power to compete against the very best and will be difficult for the legendary Brendan Matthews to replace.

She now has a future in the breeding paddocks to look forward to. As a daughter of Pestana and the brilliant Unlock Unlock, she has the pedigree to be a special brood. Add to that her wonderful attitude and incredible ability and her pups will be hot property. We look forward to seeing them hit the track in 2026.