EVERGREEN DIAMOND THRILLS AS DERBY CONTINUES

Ian Fortune

Wi Can James and Sleight Of Hand both impressed at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, dipping under the 29.30 mark as the second round of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby came to a conclusion but neither could steal the headline from the undoubted star, Bockos Diamond.

The brilliant 2024 Derby champ may be getting on a bit and is sporting more than a few grey hairs around his snout, but he remains one of the very best in training and it was simply joyous to see him produce another awesome display at his second home.

Heat 9 – A TRUE DIAMOND

Every word that has ever been said in praise of Bockos Diamond is thoroughly deserved. He has long been a racing machine and it seems old age isn’t slowing him up.

The sensational son of Dorotas Wildcat and Seaglass Shadow was a hot favourite to win Heat 9 and he not only justified favouritism but also reminded the greyhound racing world that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

This was a typically swashbuckling display from the Graham Holland trained superstar. Although only breaking on terms, he quickly mastered his rivals into the bend. Showing his famed early speed, Bokos Diamond left some talented rivals in his dust.

Ballymac Charbel was second to the bend but stayed to the middle of the track to allow Crossfield Matt moved second. He, in turn, had no answer to the impressive back straight pace of Downtothewire. 

The latter moved second into the third turn, but Bockos Diamond was in a different parish at that point. After posting 16.92 to the third turn, Bockos Diamond cruised to a facile five length verdict over the eye-catching Downtothewire in 29.19. Crossfield Matt was best of the remainder, a length away in third.

Bockos Diamond was that impressive, it seems scarcely believable he will turn four years of age in just over a month. He couldn’t, could he?   

Heat 10 – BRUNO DELIVERS ANOTHER KNOCKOUT BLOW

Skywalker Bruno may have been changed to an inside seed but a trap one draw wasn’t a problem for the Michael O’Donovan trained son of Dromana Bucko and Ballyverry Sarah.

Breaking smartly, he led early only to be headed into the turn by Gaytime Clyde but he forced his way through on the fence to again take up the running into the back straight.

Gaytime Clyde came back at the leader into the third turn and eyed up a gap along the fence only for Skywalker Bruno to shut it. This led to Gaytime Clyde checking his stride, holding up Miami Hans and Grangeview Rocco.

Uncle Keith arrived with a rush and moved second between the last two bends, but there was no catching Skywalker Bruno. Ray Patterson’s progressive tracker went on to score by four lengths in 29.34. Uncle Keith flew home in second with another two and a half lengths to Grangeview Rocco in third.

Heat 11 – DANCER WINS A DRAMATIC CONTEST

Few would disagree that Heat 11 was perhaps the hottest of the round in paper and it turned into quite a thriller despite Hackney Dancer making virtually all to emerge on top.

However, that doesn’t tell the full story.

Ballycowen Frank, Ballymac Kamala and Ballymac Gwennie were the big three in the market and each of the trio were part of the storyline. Ballycowen Frank was a little outpaced into the turn by his kennel companion Hackney Dancer and checked off the turn, losing ground.

He got racing again down the back straight, showing astounding pace to close into the third turn but again ran out of room. This time the traffic between the third and fourth bends ended any hopes he harboured of getting back into contention.

Ballymac Kamala also came away well, but couldn’t quite match Hackney Dancer to the bend. She had to ride a bump on the turn and was slightly held up entering the back straight, allowing Ballymac Gwennie to move closer after turning third.

Hackney Dancer remained in front but was under severe pressure when Ballymac Gwennie moved up to challenge Ballymac Kamala for second. Just a length back at the third turn, Ballymac Gwennie looked likely to pick up the leader but Hackney Dancer was in no mood to surrender his advantage.

Despite the pressure from behind, he didn’t faulter. The Michael O’Donovan trained son of Dorotas Wildcat and Miss Mini Moll dug deep to hold off Ballymac Gwennie by a length in 29.48. The race was third was even more dramatic.

Ballymac Kamala had again been held up around the third and fourth bends but somehow rallied to pick up Avenue Queen, while also containing the fast-finishing Oriental King. Three lengths behind the runner-up, Ballymac Kamala held off Oriental King and Avenue Queen by two short heads to progress to the last 48. Such small margins are huge in a Derby.    

Heat 12 – HAND FOLLOWS UP IN STYLE

Laurence Jones’ Sleight Of Hand was one of the undoubted stars of the opening round when scorching around in a joint fastest of the Derby 29.10.

A week later, he had to work a little harder, but it would be hard not to be impressed by his run in Heat 12 as he gunned down the fast-starting Harvard Square to take up the running into the third turn.

Harvard Square smashed the lids down to post a 3.32 sectional but Sleight Of Hand displayed fine early speed to go second and the result was never really in doubt once avoiding traffic. Showing huge pace into the third turn, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Kilmore Diamond cruised past his rival before the third turn and eased away to win by two and a half lengths in 29.27. Harvard Square ran a big race to finish second with In The Sunset again running very well to take third, a length further adrift.

Heat 13 – DASH AND DETERMINATION FROM PHANTOM

It has long been obvious that Glengar Phantom had the ability and potential to become a top class tracker but his performance in Heat 13 was the clearest sign yet that he could develop into a superstar.

Somehow, the Pat Buckley trained star managed to show some of the best early speed seen in this years Derby, while also showing more strength and determination than most. The reason he was forced into the latter was down to Coloursaregreen as he simply wouldn’t quit and displayed huge pace to join his younger rival around the last two bends.

Glengar Phantom had flown to the turn after a fast start and proceeded to clock a sizzling 16.87 to the third turn. In normal circumstances that would be enough to burn off his rivals but Coloursaregreen was within a length and running with purpose.

Glengar Phantom looked in danger of dropping away when challenged on his inner by Coloursaregreen. Neither gave an inch, however. Turning for home, Colursaregreen and Glengar Phantom were basically level with Im Here arriving with a rush on their outside to challenge.

It seemed as though the trio would flash past the post locked in battle. Meanwhile, Ballymac Siun was also flying and now a close fourth.

For all that Glengar Phantom is still very young, he displayed a real desire to win and he really drove to the line. Calling on extra reserves of stamina, Richard Colwell’s son of Ballinabola Ed and Ambey Bamby went on to score by a length from Im Here in 29.48 with Coloursaregreen holding off Ballymac Siun by a short head, just a half length behind the runner-up.

Heat 14 – A RISING STAR

Sandra Guilfoyle’s Waitingforastar has a huge engine.

That’s not exactly new news, but it was never more evident than in Heat 14 as the Pat Guilfoyle trained son of Droopys Jet and Magical Poppy picked up and beat Droopys Monk with real authority.

The latter was a little tardy at the start but soon shot to the front, heading Faypoint Harvey into the bend, but the writing was on the wall when Waitingforastar moved third into the bend. Once straightening into the back straight, the race began to really take shape.

Droopys Monk continued to stretch them out to halfway but Waitingforastar was closing. Going second soon after halfway, he went from being over four lengths down to within two and a half lengths as they hit the third turn.

By the time they hit the home turn, he was within a length of Droopys Monk and continuing to push. Coming around the long-time leader on the run in, Waitingforastar powered home to score by an ever-increasing four lengths in 29.48. Faypoint Harvey stuck on well, but Droopys Monk took second by a neck.

Heat 15 – LOREAL SHINES IN THE STRIPES

Razldazl Loreal may have been drawn a little wider than ideal in trap six in Heat 15, although the stripes did little to stop her from claiming an overdue second career success for Dolores Ruth and Richard Brown.

The daughter of Droopys Scolari and Forest Willow was sharp at boxes and soon asserted into the turn. Croydon Avenger cleared those on his inside to move second and it was race on. Importantly, Razldazl Loreal clung onto her advantage into the third turn, forcing Croydon Avenger to take a stride for himself just as he was attempting to challenge.

This made a big difference as he came again on the run in. However, Razldazl Loreal was nothing if not determined and she stayed on to secure a three parts of a length victory over Croydon Avenger, who ran a big race in defeat, in 29.48. Barntick Bucko again ran on strongly to take third spot, some four lengths further back. 

Heat 16 – JAMES REALLY CAN

Lars and Anita Wicander’s Wi Can James was understandably one of the hottest favourites of the entire round in Heat 16 and duly obliged as a long odds-on favourite should. Breaking smartly, he was in front after a stride and proceeded to dominate.

Promising youngster Mill Willow took up the chase, but it was futile. Wi Can James is amongst the fastest greyhounds in training and he made full use of the daylight to really put his foot down. Maintaining a relentless gallop throughout, he emerged a comfortable and most impressive six and a half length winner in 29.21. Mill Willow was a good second with Droopys Winsome just three parts of a length away in third.

Undercard

A FLYING MOMENT

Racing commenced with a career best effort from Fleeting Moment as he shot from four to make every inch for the Dream Catchers Syndicate and Gerry Holian.

Flashing from four, the son of Coolavanny Calvn and Fleeting Angel never saw a rival as he made every inch to emerge a three length scorer over the always second Old Alaska in a rapid 28.05.

MEL WINS FINALE

The Other Mel returned to her best to win the finale over 525yds or Jennifer O’Donnell and the Born Wild Syndicate.

A high-class daughter of Grangeview Ten and Scooby Duchess, she was prominent from the start.

Cheque For Cash broke fastest but The Other Mel stuck to the fence to slip inside her rival before the second turn. Once going to the front, she was always travelling like a winner and duly saw off Cheque For Cash by a length in 28.41.