BIG JIM STARS AS SECOND ROUND OF DERBY CONCLUDES
Ian Fortune
On a night of brilliant performances in the concluding second round heats of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby, the headlines went to Ballinabola Jim as he posted one of the fastest times ever recorded for the 550yd trip at Shelbourne Park.
Big Jim was simply outstanding as he shot from the outside box to dominate in a 29.07 success. Next fastest was Scooby Pacemaker as he found his trapping boots to record a superb 29.16, while Cheap Sandwiches, Bubbly Shadow and De Lahdedah also went fast. Below is our heat by heat guide to the evening’ Derby action.
Heat by heat guide to Saturday’s Derby heats:
Heat 9 – DE LAHDEDAH IS BACK
De Lahdedah may have suffered an odds-on defeat in the opening round but those that stayed loyal to the exceptionally talented English Derby champion were rewarded in Heat 9 as he produced a brilliant effort, flashing from the inside box to dominate throughout.
This was over as a contest from the opening stride. The Liam Dowling trained son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo quickly asserted to hold a comfortable lead into the back straight while his rivals raced in racecard order in behind.
Bartlemy Cop initially gave chase but he was headed by the big finisher, Extra Gain at the third turn. While Extra Gain certainly stayed on well, he was never going to worry De Lahdedah, owned by the Garsuns Syndicate, who raced on to a superb two and a half length victory in 29.30. Clonfert Annie ran on well to take third in the closing strides a further three lengths adrift.
Heat 10 – PODGE HAVE A BEANO
Beanos Podge may have been having just his eighth career start but he looked a seasoned campaigner in Heat 10 as he led home Singalong Dolly to give his handler Pat Buckley a terrific one-two.
Whyaye Bonnylad took them along after a flying start from two but Beanos Podge appreciated his rails pitch and turned a close second.
It was down the back straight that Beanos Podge displayed his track craft. He initially looked to go on the outside of Whyaye Bonnylad but when the leader began to drift off the fence, he quickly changed his mind and shot up the inner into the third turn.
It would prove decisive. Moving with real fluency to the front, Adrian Mannix’ son of Vulturi and Seomra Oreo drove clear to win by three lengths in 29.42. Singalong Dolly ran on well to take second with Whyaye Bonnylad a half length back in third.
Heat 11 – GALAXY NOT THAT FAR, FAR AWAY
Robbies Galaxy (Pestana/ Shinawill) arrived late and come out on top in one of the best and tightest finishes of the Derby thus far in Heat 11.
One of the real eye-catchers of the opening round, he certainly had to work hard to eventually reel in Superfast Gorden, while also containing the ever-persistent Southwood Stan.
This really was a terrific contest with favourite backers making themselves heard when Superfast Gorden turned a close second to Southwood Stan before making his move into the third turn. Robbies Galaxy was never far away, however. The pair moved onto the flanks of Southwood Stan with Superfast Gorden getting first run up the inner. Going to the front, the favourite seemed certain to score but Shea Campbell’s Robbies Galaxy is immensely strong and he continued to advance with real menace.
Meanwhile, Southwood Stan also began to rally. It really was an incredible finish but Robbies Galaxy got up in the final half stride to deny Superfast Gorden and Southwood Stand by two short heads in 29.66.
Heat 12 – BOMBAY PAT OBLIGES AGAIN
Pat Muldoon and Bayliss Gee’s Bombay Pat was the hottest favourite of the night in Heat 12 and duly obliged, again showing fine early speed after a slightly tardy start but he did have to work harder than eight days earlier.
Down To Business broke best and led in the opening yards but he couldn’t hold the Graham Holland trained Bombay Pat.
He did make it interesting, however. Bombay Pat eventually got loose just as they hit the second turn and started to move through the gears down the back straight to put the result beyond doubt by halfway.
Three lengths clear at halfway, he continued to pile on the pressure to halfway. The son of Pestana and Clar Mountain was four lengths to the good by the third turn and he proceeded to coast home the most straightforward four length winner in 29.41. Down To Business was second with Blackeyed Turbo running on strongly to grab third, some three lengths further adrift.
Heat 13 – BIG JIM RUNS RIOT
Ballinabola Jim is building quite a fan club at present and it doesn’t come as a surprise.
The Brendan Murphy trained powerhouse, who has earned the moniker ‘Big Jim’ due to his 90lb frame, is on a run of six straight wins after what was, without doubt, a career best display in Heat 13.
This was simply sensational from the thoroughly likeable son of Good News and Ballinabola Rum. Despite his size, he shot from the outside box to assert from the very first stride. Posting a 3.38 sectional, he left his rivals with absolutely no chance of getting back on terms.
The warm favourite was Juvenile Derby champ Callaway Knegare but he moved right from trap two and immediately found himself struggling for room. In fact, he ran a big race to come through for second but the stage belonged to the Murphy Ballinabola Syndicate owned Ballinabola Jim and he played a starring role.
Maintaining a merciless gallop to the finish, he would eventually stride on to a facile nine and a half length success in a stunning 29.07. Callaway Knegare lost nothing in defeat, showing awesome pace and power after plenty of traffic, while Mustang Fever simply had her heart broken by the pace-setter as she finished another head back in third.
Heat 14 – BUBBLY COMES OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Under his former name, Merits Inclusion, Bubbly Shadow ran up the Kirby Memorial around Limerick.
He has always been very talented but his winning run in Heat 14 was evidence that he has taken the next step.
Is She There broke fastest from four but Bubbly Shadow also came away racing and, showing wonderful acceleration, quickly asserted into the turn. In contrast, the hot favourite Boylesports Bob walked from the outside box and found bad traffic on the turn.
His Derby challenge looked set to end only for the powerful tracker to come through in the closing stages to grab third. Bubbly Shadow had no knowledge of what was going on behind, however. Showing huge back straight pace, the Champagne Club owned Bubbly Shadow increased his lead from two to five lengths into the third turn.
The Brendan Matthews trained son of Dromana Bucko and Million Dreams maintained his impressive gallop all the way to the line to see off Is She There by six lengths in a rapid 29.24. Boylesports Bob made up huge ground to take third, just a head further back.
Heat 15 – PACEMAKER LIVES UP TO HIS NAME
Scooby Pacemaker was sent of a 16-1 chance to win Heat 15 but not only did he win but he produced one of the most stunning displays of the Derby thus far.
A change of seeding saw him line out as a middle seed and he seemed to break far faster from a trap five draw.
Despite edging inwards into the turn, squeezing up those on his inner, before turning in front. It was a race-winning maneouvre from the son of Droopy Sydney and Scooby Princess but still better was to come.
Arthur Cornflake rode a bump on the turn to slip around in second, while Deadly Choice was third and looking a huge danger. Deadly Choice flew down the back straight to go second into the third turn. Scooby Pacemaker looked a sitting duck but he was to maintain a relentless gallop to the finish.
Staying on strongly, the Jennifer O’Donnell trained Scooby Pacemaker would hold his fast-finishing rival by three lengths in a sizzling 29.16. The winner came home in an incredible 11.97, comfortably holding one of the strongest greyhounds in training.
The real drama was happening in behind, however. Dashing Toro ran on strongly to join Arthur Cornflake on the line with the pair dead-heating for third. It would lead to the third-round draw being postponed (see separate story).
Heat 16 – CHEAP READS THE BRIEF
As an odds-on favourite in a four-dog contest, it was clear the Graham Holland trained Cheap Sandwiches (Burgess Bucks/ Hearthill Josie) read the brief as he did exactly what was expected of him.
Breaking smartly from the outside box before charging clear to make every inch in a comfortable and most impressive success in 29.20.
Hot Wood gave chase in second, while Ballymac Briar was third throughout. At the finish, the Bark Wahlberg Syndicate owned Cheap Sandwiches had four lengths in hand on Hot Wood with Ballymac Briar another six lengths adrift.
Undercard
CAILIN LOOKS A REAL PROSPECT
Pennys Cailin won the finale in the manner of a bitch with a big future, perhaps over further.
The Rosemary Price trained daughter of Droopy Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy hit the back straight in third behind pace-setter Ballymac Eli and Darbys Dancer but quickly moved second.
She still had work to do as they hit the third turn but finished with real purpose getting up inside the final fifty yards to win by two lengths in a rapid 28.28. Going clear into the escape, it’s evident she will stay further and is certainly one to keep onside.
SIR TAKES HIS CHANCE
Racing commenced with an A1 550 and Cheque For Sir (Droopys Sydney/ Yahoo Ava) added to his already impressive tally with a slightly fortuitous success.
Only third into the back straight, he was left in front as Corduff Mystery clipped the heels of the pace-setting Kilgraney Bolger.
Once in front, Cheque For Sir quickly opened up a race-winning lead before emerging a comfortable seven length winner over Kilgraney Bolger for Karol Ramsbottom and the Cash Back Syndicate in 29.84.
A WILD DISPLAY FROM MONGYS
Kieran Murphy’s Mongys Wild displayed all sorts of pace to win the second race on the card despite missing the start.
Last into the turn, he charged into a challenging position by the third turn before striking the front on the run in. Despite taking a bump off the final turn, the Graham Holland trained son of Roxholme Olaf and Banter Breeze saw off Amidus Hannah by a length in 28.79.