QUALITY FARE WHETS THE APPETITE AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
With the start of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby just days away, Saturday’s action at Shelbourne Park served to whet the appetite for greyhound racing enthusiasts ahead of the classic.
It was a relatively low-key night with just one final up for decision but there were plenty of fine displays to get the juices flowing ahead of the greatest five week period in greyhound sport.
NOELLE BREAKS HER SILENCE
The final of the Two Steps to Victory Open Dolls 525/550 was the sixth race on the card and it was the Derby bound Silent Noelle that took the €3,000 prize.
The Nolan-Mullins-Ahern Syndicate owned daughter of Newinn Taylor and Terezas Mendoza was at her very sharpest on this occasion.
Pic right: RM Conor Matthews presents the trophy to Paul Mullins after Silent Noelle won Two Steps To Victory AAO Dolls 525/550, included are Tom & Trish Nolan, Paul Mullins & Jane Collins. Pic: Imelda Grauer
In what was her first start over 550yds, she had clearly read the brief. Shooting from four, she was prominent from the opening yards and eased into a narrow advantage by the turn. Cutting across the corner, she forced her way into a greater lead with Maireads Susie forced to take half a step as to not run out of room.
This proved to be crucial. Silent Noelle raced into a clear lead to halfway but needed the line as Maireads Susie stuck on well in second. The well-matched dup were separated by just three parts of a length on the line with the verdict going to Silent Noelle in 29.55.
TINA SENDS OUT A REMINDER
It was just one of a number of fine displays over the 550yds.
Ballydoyle Tina was the fastest of them, however. In what was her first start after a seasonal rest, she gave a reminder of her abundant talent when seeing off some talented rivals in the fourth race.
Breaking smartly from three, she was in front from the opening stride. Lennies Dream went up in second but was no match for Ballydoyle Tina, who increased her advantage into the bend and to halfway. It was all very straight forward thereafter for the Graham Holland trained daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballydoyle Rossa. Lennies Dream did stick on well in second but Ballydoyle Tina emerged a comfortable three and a half length winner for Paul Ellis and Seamus Hagan, stopping the clock in 29.35.
SHELBY IMPRESSES IN TRIAL STAKE
The same combination was on the mark in the final Derby Trial Stake ahead of the classic as Roaming Shelby made the most of an ideal draw on the fence.
Despite making a tardy start, the Paul Ellis and Seamus Hagan owned son of Tommy Shelby and Roaming Shari had the space to get into stride on the run up and he asserted on the turn.
Pic right: RM Conor Matthews presents the trophy to Seamus Hagan after Roaming Shelby won BoyleSports Derby Trial Stake A1 550, also included are Rachel Holland - daughter of trainer Graham Holland, Sean Hagan and Pat Muldoon. Pic: Imelda Grauer
Once doing so, it was all one-way traffic for the Graham Holland trained tracker. Roaming Shelby proceeded to come home six and a half lengths clear of Clonfert Annie in 29.42.
JAMESMAC SHOWS HIS STRENGTHS
Paul Hennessy also recorded a fine double with Lennies Jamesmac and Priceless Romeo taking the last two races on the card.
Lennies Jamesmac is named after one of the truly great Gaelic footballers, James McCarthy, and the well bred son of Ballymac Best and Crafty Kokoro displayed many similar qualities to his namesake and co-owner.
He had to show great balance, determination and ability to avoid opening bend traffic, while still maintaining some momentum. In doing so, he skipped into the lead by the second turn and proceeded to quickly open a clear lead.
Owned by the Lee, Ash & James Mc Syndicate, Lennies Jamesmac went on to make every yard thereafter to beat Miami Hyland by five lengths in 30.01. The slow time can be accounted for by the opening bend scrimmaging.
ROMEO OH ROMEO
Priceless Romeo again highlighted his ability to win at the top level in the finale.
Here the hugely promising Grouchos Chief was installed a warm favourite for his first outing over the Derby trip and things seemed to be going to plan when he overcame a moderate start to take over the lead on the turn from the fast-starting Lamrock Ace.
He quickly moved on by over four lengths to halfway but Priceless Romeo was in no humour to be seen off by a young upstart. Moving second down the back straight, Bryan and Kathleen Murphy’s talented son of Priceless Jet and Priceless Opera began to bridge the gap into the third turn.
Grouchos Chief was still moving well but the petrol gauge was starting to flicker. In contrast, Priceless Romeo was full of running and he charged up the home straight to pick up his younger rival for a three parts of a length victory in 29.46. It was a fine run by the winner but also the runner-up, who seems likely to develop into a star in the future.
WILLOW IMPRESSES
Barry Clancy has his team purring at present and he would have been delighted with his promising youngster, Mill Willow, as he emerged a comfortable and impressive winner of the third race over the Derby trip.
The son of Orchestrate and Highview Willow, who is owned by the Stone hedge Cutters Syndicate, was prominent in the early yards before taking over on the corner. Uncle Keith flew home in second but Mill Willow ran right out to the line to win by three and a half lengths in 29.50. Given his age and inexperience, Mill Willow is one for the notebook.
WINK BOLTS CLEAR
After showing plenty of promise in his previous start at Shelbourne Park, only to take an awkward tumble off the final turn, Boltaway Wink put that experience behind him when making every inch in the second race for Ian Reilly and the KSS Syndicate.
An early paced son of King Sheeran and Highway Wink, Boltaway Wink led after a stride and moved into a near four length lead to the second turn. He maintained his advantage throughout to see off Droichead Nua by three and a half lengths in 28.41.
BULL’S DETERNMINED DISPLAY
Jacktavern Bull (Droopys Sydney/ Droopys Dancer) returned to winning ways in the seventh race over 550yds.
Aussie Reward got loose into the bend but the writing was on the wall when Jacktavern Bull found a way to turn second despite diving towards the fence from trap three.
Moving with purpose into the third turn, Jacktavern Bull joined and headed the early leader only for the latter to rally. It was short lived, however. Trained by Michael Taggart for Daniel Kerr, Jacktavern Bull eased clear into the home straight before going on to beat Kilcolgan Norman by two and a half lengths in 29.66.
YACHT SAILS HOME
Eugene Hearns and Gerry Merriman will continue to get real sport out of Yacht View for some time to come if her latest display in the 525yd opener is anything to go by.
The versatile daughter of Orchestrate and Highview Moment has fine pace from start to finish and she was a deserving winner.
Hackney Buck set a strong gallop, opening a clear advantage to the third turn but Yacht View had the bit between her teeth. Third for much of the way, she moved second at the third turn before storming home to pick up the tiring pace-setter. Yacht View got up to win by a length in 28.42.
YORKY RIDES HIS LUCK
The ninth race ultimately went to Thomas Glynns Carrick Yorky, although it didn’t look likely in the early yards as he missed the kick to sit at the tail of the field.
This was the pace to be, however, as Highview Quitly ran off the opening bend up front, causing something of a traffic jam.
As all this happened, Carrick Yorky stayed close to the fence to emerge in front at the second turn. He bumped the challenging Callaway Fia at this point but maintained his momentum to move on. The David Murray trained son of Signet Ace and Ballymac Orna then eased on to win by six lengths from harry Houdini in 28.68.