ALL THE DERBY TRIVIA
Ian Fortune
The following will appear on tonight’s card at Shelbourne Park.
It highlights some of the trivia pertinent to tonight’s BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby decider.
Graham aiming to create history on 5 wins
Graham Holland has long been the dominant trainer in Irish greyhound racing and will have a chance to claim perhaps the greatest record of his career this evening when sending out the red-hot favourite Cheap Sandwiches in the Derby decider.
Graham currently sits on four Irish Derby wins but could create history if his 2024 Derby runner-up does this business this evening. His first Derby success came in 2016 with Rural Hawaii, three years later it was the turn of Lenson Bocko in 2019 with Newinn Taylor obliging the following year in 2020.
And then of course, there was Bockos Diamond last year, allowing Graham to join such greats as Tom Lynch and Gay McKenna on four wins.
Lynch trained the great Spanish Battleship to three Derby wins in the 1950s before claiming the last of his four wins in 1967 with Russian Gun, while McKenna’s final success came just over 50 years ago with Catsrock Daisy winning the 1972 decider. His other winners were Ballyowen Chief in 1965, Always Proud in 1966 and Monalee Pride in 1970.
And so, if Graham Holland were to win this evening, he would become the first trainer to win five Derby titles. Now that would be something very special.
UK’s Heiress following in some famous footsteps
Mark Wallis and those connected to Proper Heiress must be applauded for taking a chance to challenge for Derby honours.
The record of UK trained runners hasn’t been spectacular in recent years but in getting to the final he has done something none of his compatriots have managed since 2008.
On that occasion Ballymac Ruso, for Matt Dartnell, would finish third to Shelbourne Aston. A year earlier, Groovy Stan would represent Malcolm Daniels in the decider. In fact, in the early years of this century, British trained finalists were common place.
The legendary Westmead Hawk would finish fifth to He Said So in 2005, La Fontaine fourth to Climate Control in 2003, while Tinys Bud and Droopys Vieri would finish behind Cool Performance in one of the greatest Derby finals of all time in 2001. Rapid Ranger got the century off to a flying start for the UK, finishing a good second to Judicial Pride in 2000.
But when was the last time a runner from across the Irish Sea captured our blue riband? You have to go all the way back to 1997 and Toms The Best. The Nicky Savva trained star would go on to become the only greyhound in history to complete the Irish/ English double when coming home clear at Wimbledon the following June.
For the record the David Geggus trained Sole Aim in 1971 and John Bassett handled Yellow Printer were the only other UK trained winners of the Irish Derby. Proper Heiress really is aiming to create a bit of history.
Can Silent become the youngest ever champion?
Tina Marina raced to a wonderful success in the 1996 Derby, becoming the youngest greyhound to do so.
At 684 days old she was a full three days younger than 2021 champion Susie Sapphire. Just four years on, Glengar Silent will tonight bid to eclipse both.
You see Glengar Silent was born on November 18th, 2023, meaning he will be 679 days old as you read these words. Should he come home in front, he would take over the mantle as the youngest Derby champion of all time.
Ladies doing themselves proud
The last female winner of the Derby was the exceptional Susie Sapphire in 2021.
Second to her on that night was another flying lady, Singalong Sally, making it the first time bitches were first and second in the Derby.
Incidentally, one of the main fancies for tonight’s Derby decider is Glengar Silent who is actually a son of Singalong Susie. But it’s up to Magical Mag and Barefoot On Song to fly the flag for the fairer sex this evening.
Prior to Susie Sapphire, the previous bitch to win the Derby was Spring Time in 1999. Remarkably, Ger Watson’s brilliant bitch was the third female to win Derby in the 90’s. The others being The Other Toss in 1990 and Tina Marina in 1996.
For those wondering, the nine bitches to have tasted Derby success are Monalogue in 1933, Muinessa (1937), Brave Damsel (1941), Catsrock Daisy (1972), Penny County (1979), The Other Toss (1990), Tina Marina (1996), Spring Time (1999) and 2021 winner Susie Sapphire.
Silent hoping to end drought for trap four
Aside from bidding to become the youngest Derby winner of all time, Glengar Silent is also hoping to end a trap our drought in Derby deciders.
You have to go all the way back to 2011 to find the last time the black jacketed runner would come home in front. On that occasion, it was Razldazl George that emerged on top for Dolores Ruth.
In contrast, the orange jacket of trap five has been the most prolific. Fans of Cheap Sandwiches will be glad to hear that trap five has won nine Derby finals since the turn of the century. Coincidentally, prior to the 2022 Derby winner Born Warrior, the previous trap five winner came in 2019 when Lenson Bocko raced to victory. He happened to be partly owned by Graham Box, Bev Lochead and Austin Whelan, who were also lucky enough to own last year’s champion Bockos Diamond. He wore the stripes of six and was the first winner to wear the stripes since Newinn Taylor in 2020. He too was trained by Graham Holland.
Can Sandwiches emulate Hawaii?
Back in 2016 Rural Hawaii would hand Graham Holland a first Derby success.
He has since won two more but Cheap Sandwiches tonight has the opportunity to emulate the 2016 champion. You see, the year that Rural Hawaii came out on top, he happened to win Heat 1 of round 1, meaning he won the first and last race of that year’s classic.
You guessed it. Cheap Sandwiches also won the opening heat of this year’s Derby and is a red-hot favourite to win the final contest of the classic. It would be quite a way to bookend the Derby.