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COLLEGE CONTINUES TO SET THE STANDARD ON ANOTHER WONDERFUL NIGHTS ACTION
A cracking night weather wise in Shelbourne Park as wife Alison and I arrive around 6.45pm. Parking is once again at a premium…you really do have to get there early. Lesson still not learnt!!!
First person we see is greyhound trainer Michael O’Donovan who pops across from his transporter with a spare racecard for my wife, a very kind gesture, good on you sir!
Inside Shelbourne Park its jam packed, another big attendance very much on the cards, ably assisted by those doggy loving folk up from Kerry for tomorrows big match in Croke Park, the All Ireland football semi final versus Meath. We had a mixed card this evening, including not only the Derby Quarter Finals but also the Derby Plate Quarters, for those greyhounds knocked out out the Derby itself in the first two rounds. So much to look forward to and we just couldn’t wait for it to get underway.
We kick off with an A1 grader over 525 won by So Your Crazy in 28.61, a well graded affair, and then two 525 open semi finals. The first of those is won in fine style by P.J.Fahy’s Minnies Oscar in a sensational 28.28 from off the pace, an aeroplane time, and the second goes to the strong Ballycanal Chief, coincidentally, also owned by the P.J’s but this time the P.J Syndicate. The winning time another fast one, 28.48. In between that second 525 semi and our next being the 1st Derby Plate Quarter Final, our beloved friend Don Cuddy is contacted by an acquaintance wondering what was going on Shelbourne?
Obviously having seen the fast times rattling through he couldn’t catch his breath, Dons’ eloquent reply….the hounds are diverting across the infield. Well I wish my selection had of quip, I may have been on a winner…when will I be able to pick one I ask myself, the theory I could stop trains again very evident. A whisper in my ear in a soft american accent, Steve ‘when he next wins a race white blackbirds will be flying about’, Don your a legend. We take a tea/latte break.
Next up the four Plate quarter finals, I’d priced them up in the morning, competitive but with a dangerous look about them, dangerous if your a bookmaker that is, think I got away with it overall. The four winners in order were Pat Curtins Shanaway Rex escaping bother at the first bend in a time 30.34, Seamus McGarrys Drumna Thistle in a titanic dual with Doitfordawn, the time 29.97, American superstar Kiowa Myth(getting the hang of things and one to watch) trained by Mossie O’Connor in a time of 29.81 and finally the fourth quarter final going the way of P.J Fahy’s strikingly good looking hound Tyrur Christy in a brilliant 29.59 beating favourite Cabra Minstral by eight lengths. Well that certainly wetted the old appetite for what lay ahead and well done P.J. a nice little double up following Minnies Oscars success earlier, couldn’t happen to a nicer man!
Twenty four greyhounds remained, the hopes, dreams and aspirations of all concerned dependant on being in the those first three qualifying spots up for grabs in each of the four quarter final heats of the paddypower.com Irish Greyhound Derby.
The first quarter final had the clash of the big two according to the outright market, the unbeaten and outstanding College Causeway taking on the very classy and brilliant Shaneboy Lee, many believing it to would throw up a titanic battle between these wonderful hounds. Early indications from the on course layers were they wanted to take on College as chalks of 11/10 and 5/4 flashed up before us.(odds on in the early morning markets) It was 5/2 Shaneboy, 6’s bar as great lines of punters appeared before them, hoping to take full advantage.
The bell for the hare rang out as those below scrambled for a view from the stands, Lids rose and it was Shaneboy Lee in six who got away best with the early paced Deanridge Fury, College Causeway and Contador on there heels, Belvedere Champ tucked on the inside, the poor Mecano completely missing the kick altogether. Deanridge taking a midwide course from 3, held the ground of Shaneboy rounding the first two corners as the clever tracking of College zipped up inside the pair of them…the writing appeared on the wall and as he loomed large at halfway there was only going to be one winner. Im sure the draw played its part as he bounded on from his main rival to win by 3 lengths in 29.47, Belvedere Champ again staying on well from off the pace taking the important third place from Deanridge Fury. What a start The second quarter final was another to bring together much fancied rivals, in the shape of Slip The Lark, St Louis Spirit and the fastest from last week Tyrur Giovanni. Punters latched on to St Louis Spirit in six, very well backed in the early exchanges, as his main rivals took an alarming drift in the betting. Was the spirit of St Louis going to regain his trapping boots, the layers were quaking in theirs…me included.
Lids up and the pace is down the middle of the track, Cashen Legend, Slip The Lark and Tyrur Giovanni. St Louis again tardy from the box.
Something had to give at the turn, Slip inching ever more to the outside moving Giovanni with him causing him to violently turn right hitting St Louis, as he tries desperately to recover the loss at the start. Its a mess, as Cashen Legend the main benefactor, invitingly turns in front and is not for catching as he holds the challenge of a determined Slip The Lark at the third bend to win in a time of 29.82.
Three One Three holds the fast finishing Corporate Attack for that all important third spot.
The best backed greyhound of the day Faypoint Man, 11/10 with me in the morning, is in the third quarter final, and Im tentatively looking towards the layers, in the hope he doesn’t turn out to be a 4/6 shot in disguise, a rick by myself of costly proportions as I have laid him for a row of houses?
My worst fears as 4/5 is displayed. I’m heckled all day about offering odds against for what many judges believe to be the bet of the night!
the 4/5 is a solid as could be, as the six greyhounds go forward to the traps.
Lids rise and the favourite stumbles….oh god, there is a god I proclaim. Oran Classic hammers out the traps with the sole UK challenger Magna Venturer close on his heels, the rest all tardily away and playing catch up. Its Classic who is away as Droopys Noel progresses inside Magna Venturer and tags on to him as they dual in second and third in behind. Meanwhile Faypoint, as the two immediately in front run wide, displays phenomenal back straight pace to go off after the clear Oran Classic. Finishing two for one, he cant reel him in and its a fast diminishing 3/4 length victory for Oran Classic at the line, I breath a deep sigh of relief. Mid West Blue again stays on bravely from way off the pace for third, the other outsider Global Hope cannot get into it. The last UK challenge Magna Venturer bows out but with a lot of credit gained.
Its all becoming too much as I’m overwhelmed with the whole buzz of the thing, strong latte time!
The fourth and final quarter final is the battle of the young guns, featuring the wonderful puppy Scolari Me Daddy, the classy Mesedo Blue, my eye catcher Royal Tornado and the super fast Airport Pilot.
There is unease about the favourite Scolari as he drifts out to 2/1, but its not apparent what is being supported in the ring….this heat does have an air of uncertainty about it, the first bend lead will be crucial…and that’s how it proves.
Mesedo although not foot perfect shows to the corner, as Tornado moves up with the slow starting pup, and Must Be Keano with a rush.
The draw again plays a part as Tornado in 1 buffers into the hapless Scolari and Keano, as Mesedo takes a clip on the back end. In all this bother, it allows Tornado to get away and his winning advantage is never in doubt as he beats the fast finishing Airport Pilot by 2 lengths with the staying star Group Skater back in third and final qualifying place. The time 29.73.
At the end of the race it is humbling to see the Glamour paws syndicate and their array of friends clapping the defeat of their superstar Scolari, who has done his owners and trainer so very proud, god willing, he is on show on Finals night in a supporting race, they have collectively bought such a lot to this competition, congratulations.
Another incredible evenings racing, its a truly wonderful Derby, that continues to capture the imagination of everyone, and in the
delightful words and description of Mrs Susan Hennessy wife of
Paul……..’Its because of the romance of it all’. Lovely way to end
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