DOMINANT DUKE IS CROWNED IN JUVENILE
Ian Fortune
Clona Duke may have been five months younger than his nearest rival, the rank outsider of the field at 20-1 and seen as badly housed in four, but he produced a brilliant display to run out a thoroughly deserving winner of the RPGTV Juvenile Derby on Saturday night at a busy Shelbourne Park.
The racing throughout the evening was of the highest standard and Bockos Crystal was a brilliant winner of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 but the headlines had to go to Clona Duke as he sent out a clear warning to the world that he is a greyhound to fear in 2023.
THE ALL-IMPORTANT START
In a race packed with early dash, none of the big three in the betting got their usual flying start.
In fact, the first three to hit the ground running were Bogger Hunter, Clona Duke and Three Canons, leaving Droopys Got It, Trinity Junior and Another Holiday with work to do from the start.
The door quickly closed on Droopys Got It as Bogger Hunter eased off the fence, while Three Canons, after getting a tough from Droopys Got It edged slightly in. Meanwhile, Clona Duke got first run on those on his outside and he made full use of it.
The Graham Holland trained son of Malachi and Coolavanny Pearl was challenged on his outer by Another Holiday but he was up to the task. Showing superb early speed, Clona Duke cleared those on his inner including Bogger Hunter, who checked off as Coolavanny Duke drove the bend.
DUKE SLIPS THE FIELD
After a pretty level start, the race was now starting to take shape.
For Clona Duke’s owner Kevin O’Brien it was going the way he could only have dreamed of. Once clearing the turn, he was left further in front as Bogger Hunter bumped Another Holiday leaving a gap for Droopys Got It to shoot through.
The pair entered the back straight first and second with three lengths the gap. There was a further three lengths to Bogger Hunter, while Trinity Junior and Another Holiday came next. After a fast start, Three Canons was baulked at the turn and sat at the tail of the field.
It was evident from this early stage that it was going to need something extraordinary to deny Clona Duke a famous victory. Droopys Got It did all he could to bridge the gap but his efforts were futile.
Clona Duke is an exceptional young tracker. Many may have been persuaded by his starting price that he had little chance but that was never the case and the evidence was unfolding in front of the packed stands.
Behind the front two, three Canons had flown into the third turn only to find the door shut on her by Bogger Hunter. Remarkably, she regained her momentum and flew up the straight to grab third but could never get close to the front two.
A VICTORY PACKED WITH PURPOSE
Clona Duke maintained his impressive gallop to the third turn, increasing his lead to nearly four lengths around the last two bends before staying on strongly.
Although sensing he had little to worry about, Clona Duke powered on majestically to emerge a truly wonderful five length winner in a rapid 28.23.
It wasn’t meant to be for Droopy Got It but he ran a fine race in second, while Three Canons was a further two and a half lengths adrift in third.
For Graham Holland and Kevin O’Brien, it was yet another famous night at the Ringsend venue. The pair had combined to capture the Easter Cup in 2019 with Clona Blaze, who just so happened to be a half brother to Clona Duke.
They duo can now start dreaming of further big race success with the March ’21 whelp. Given the fact he only debuted in late August, there seems no doubt he will strengthen up and improve further over the winter. Where he ends up in 2023 nobody knows, but one suspects he will be targeted at the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial for which he must already be amongst the favourites.
Presentation of trophies after Clona Duke won the final of the RPGTV Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne Park. (L to R ) Michael Dempsy Racing Manager, owner Kevin O'Brien, Robert Catterson representing sponsors RPGTV, handler Nickey Holland, Brian Mac Neice RPGTV, Gillian O'Brien and sitting in the front Shay and Kevin O'Brien Jnr. Pic: Imelda Grauer
Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker 600
CRYSTAL SPARKLES IN YVONNE’S 600 DECIDER
It was understandable that much of the talk ahead of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 decider was of the hot favourite and Derby third Crafty Kokoro but it was clear from early that Bockos Crystal was going to take some stopping.
With the favourite bumping with the rails-seeking Bobsleigh Dream in the early yards, she was always on the back foot. In contrast, Bev Lochead’s brilliant Bockos Crystal was always on the front foot.
Making a smart start from trap three, she was in control from the opening strides. Showing huge early dash, she quickly built a good lead over her brother Bockos Palace, while the others were all jostling for position.
From as early as the second turn, with the bigger finishers many lengths off the pace, it was clear Bockos Crystal was on her way to a straightforward success. The Graham Holland trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Vigorous Hilary, who is amongst the very fastest in training, was never going to leave the door open.
Bockos Palace continued to give chase into the penultimate turn with Storys Peewee third and Crafty Kokoro a distant fourth. Showing no signs of taking her foot off the pedal, Bockos Crystal put the result beyond any doubt around the last two bends as she maintained a powerful galloper.
Coasting up the home straight, the brilliant brindle bitch emerged a wonderful five length scorer in a rapid 32.07. Storys Peewee flew home to grab second off the retreating Bockos Palace, while the favourite was a fast finishing fourth. There seems no doubt Bockos Crystal is now close to the finished article and seems set to have a massive 2023.
Michael Dempsy Racing Manager pictured with Liam Barry nephew of sponsor Yvonne Barry, handler Rachel Holland and sponsor Yvonne Barry. Pic: Imelda Grauer
Undercard
A FOUR-TIMER FOR GRAHAM COMPLETED BY NEMO
Aside from landing the two big prizes on the night, Graham Holland had two other impressive winners on the night to record an incredible four-timer.
Romeo Jet got the ball rolling in the second race, while Gaytime Nemo was the final leg as she flew from traps to dominate in the ninth race over 550yds.
Brendan O’Connell’s charge was well housed in the red of one but it scarcely mattered as he flew from boxes to make every inch. Stefans Rock flew into the urn to challenge Gaytime Nemo but the latter was always going to be too strong.
Maintaining a powerful gallop throughout, the son of Droopys Sydney and Gaytime Derval went on to emerge a comfortable four length scorer in 29.70. Beach Avenue flew home to gran second.
JET-POWERED ROMEO
Romeo Jet provided David Firmager with a fine winner in the second race as he dictated from the early yards to repel a gallant effort from Stickman.
In doing so he initiated the incredible four timer for Graham Holland.
Romeo Jet, a well bred son of Lenson Bocko and Riverside Honey, took charge early after a fast start from the outside box and always seemed to be in command, although Stickman did get much closer than expected at the finish.
Romeo Jet maintained a strong gallop all the way to the line to score but was pressed all the way by Stickman. At the line, Romeo Jet had a length to spare in 31.27.
HERE COMES SYD
Here Comes Syd is both a commentator and a headline writers dream.
And he certainly lived up to his name in the fourth race as he again displayed real promise to see off a quality field with a power-packed display. In victory, he also initiated a wonderful treble for Murt Leahy, that was later completed by Droopys Nice One and Irelands Own.
The ever-consistent Flaminmoneybags flew into the turn from his inside draw but was challenged by Deadly Showtime. Behind the front two was Crafty Bonanza while Here Comes Syd was giving them a head start.
Things began to heat up down the back straight with Deadly Showtime moving with purpose to join the leader but Here Comes Syd was now in full stride. Owned by the Lady and the Syd Syndicate, the son of Droopys Sydney and Lemon Ariana flew into the third turn to challenge the leaders.
Staying wide of Deadly Showtime, Here Comes Syd struck the front and stayed on well to emerge a most impressive length and a half winner in 28.35.
NICE ONE A PROPER ONE
Droopys Nice One gave plenty of clues in her brilliant Derby campaign that she would relish a step up to 575/600yds.
She did little to alter that view in her 575yd debut in the red-hot sixth race as she led home the track record holder for the trip Sentimental Lad.
The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dance broke fast and challenged into the turn alongside Sentimental Lad but she ran a far more fluent bend to cut across her rival. Once going to the front, there was no doubt she was going to take some stopping.
Sentimental Lad chased her hard throughout but John Coleman’s star stayed on powerfully to emerge a three length winner in a rapid 30.90.
OWN COMPLETES MURT’S TREBLE IN FINALE
Irelands Own provided Murt Leahy with the final leg of his hat trick.
This was a pretty emphatic success for the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Achieve. Flashing from trap five, Irelands Own made every inch of the running.
Dun Loich gave chase throughout but could never get close enough to land a telling blow. Instead, Irelands Own, owned by the Mclean Avenue Syndicate, ran out a comfortable three length winner in 28.39.
HAMMOND SAYS HELLO AND GOODBYE
The fifth race on the card was an eagerly anticipated 750yd contest containing many of the top stayers in the land but the sprightly veteran Hello Hammond decided he didn’t fancy a battle and he flashed from traps to dictate throughout.
One by one his challengers tried and failed to land a glove on the English Derby finalist and Cambridgeshire winner. Magical Poppy initially took up the chase but she was headed by Toolmaker Beach down the back straight. He was then overtaken by the eye-catching Pablo Escobark, who after a slow start ran a massive race, but there was no stopping the pace-setter.
Trained by Paul Hennessy for Gerry and Miriam Meaney, Hello Hammond galloped all the way to the line to emerge a comfortable five length winner in 41.58. Pablo Escobark was a good second.
PERFECT TIMING
Paul Cronin has his string purring at present and he had another tremendous winner in the third race as Droopys Timing shot up the fence to see off a decent field in pretty facile fashion.
The daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Zero was given a lovely path into the turn with Robbies Bear moving wide from boxes but she fully deserved her success.
Flying up the fence, she comfortably led the field into the turn and proceeded to dominate. Paradise Moldova gave chase down the back but failed to contain Robbies Bear. There was no stopping Droopys Timing, however, as she stayed on well to emerge a three and a half length winner in a fast 28.35.
KNIGHT TAKES CHARGE
Knight Honcho failed to set the pace into the turn in the opener but was always close enough to capitalise.
Leahs Turn led early but was forced out of the way by Blakemount Lotto on the bend with Knight Honcho slipping through into second.
This was to prove decisive as he got first run at the leader into the third turn. Taking over at this point from the rallying Leahs Turn and the staying on Some Playboy, Ollie Bray’s well-built son of Laughil Blake and Royal Highflyer hit the line a length to the good in 28.60. Some Playboy was a fast finishing second.