Gone to the dogs: Four Offaly winners
On a very wet night a bumper crowd turned out at Headquarters for the final of the best Greyhound Derby in the world. With every possible seat taken up in the restaurants and standing room only on the terrace, space was at a premium, all trying to get the best vantage point to witness history being made. The six dogs in the final all had reasons to think they had a chance of getting their name inscribed on this wonderful trophy and a first prize of €125k kindly sponsored by great friend of greyhound racing John Boyle and Boylesports. Loads of other top class action around all tracks but the big emphasis was Shelbourne on Saturday.
Early Week Racing
Enniscorthy, Thursday, first round of the Good Cody @ Stud Open Unraced Stake, five heats with one standout performance. Left Corner Back stopped the clock in a fine 28.88 (20 slow) winning by eleven lengths at 4/6 fav for Damien O’Connell.
Shelbourne, also Thursday, final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition A2 525 stakewith the €2.2k going to Annual Eile (Broadstrand Bono-Allowdale Coco) in 28.94 by two lengths for Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson. First Offaly winner of the week was at this meeting as Laughil Sky won an A2 race in 28.97 by a short head for Kilcormac owner Mary Jennings with David Murray training.
Friday Racing
The feature event in Newbridge was the final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition and NTSC A3 stake where the €2.6k winners pot went to Freffans Bond (Broadstrand Bono-Bay Ciara) in a smart 28.67 (20 fast) by three lengths at 9/4 for John Hegarty.
In Shelbourne, final of the Upcoming Winter Festival A2 600 Stake, Owen McKenna supplied the winner here as Banter Boost (Roxholme Olaf- Banter Breeze) was first over the winning line in 32.62 by eight lengths at 3/1 with €2.2k going his way. Also at Headquarters in the first round of the IGOBF National Puppy stakes, three heats with Lemon Joey setting the bar highest for Murt Leahy in a decent 28.15 by four lengths at 4/1.
Saturday Racing
No Offaly winners in Mullingar which is a rarity despite having quite a few runners.
Tralee, final of the Kingdom Stadium Novice ON3 stake with a winners prize of €1.55k going to Ardrahan Ohio (Top Honcho-Ardrahan Cabra) in 29.94 by one length at 6/1 for Daniel Nolan.
There was some cracking racing in Shelbourne as well as the Derby with nine races with €2k to the winners and also two very valuable finals. In the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate the €7.5k purse went to Elite Josh (Elite Black-Ellies Runaway) for Myles Roban in 29.61 by two lengths at 8/1.
In the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby Consolation stakes De Lahdedah just got up on the line to win the €3k first prize for Liam Dowling, in 29.46 in the tightest of finishes at 11/4, to hold off Short Grip for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman with Carrick Aldo just a head back in third for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn. Both Offaly dogs were so unlucky here as both were in front all the way except on the line.
Boylesports Irish Derby
Cream came to the top in this years Derby final as the shortest priced favourite ever at 3/10 Bockos Diamond (Dorotas Wildcat-Seaglass Shadow) cruised to victory in a super 29.25 on a wet track to win by one length for champion trainer Graham Holland.
Once the lids went up and he came away racing with the others Bockos had put this to bed by the first bend. He opened up a five length lead down the back and although fading a bit on run home he was never in danger and crossed the line to an almighty roar as the patrons at the track knew history was being made as the watched the fastest dog ever in Shelbourne take the spoils. This was the winners sixteenth win from seventeen starts and his only loss was a second place. For the owners The Remember-Them-Syndicate the €125k first prize is amazing but knowing they have the fastest dog ever is probably more gratifying.
Holland also had the runner up as Cheap Sandwichs held on for the Bark-Wahlberg-Syndicate and got themselves €30k. Callaway Knegare was third for trainer Owen McKenna and owners The-Field-Sports-Syndicate and a cheque for €15k is in the post heading their way. All remaining three dogs in final got €10k each.
Derby Runners Stats
With Shelbourne Park being renovated during the summer and the Derby being moved back on the calendar two months it was a major gamble but it turned out to be a roaring success as the numbers attending were through the roof and the crowd last Saturday was biggest in years. The popularity of our sport is certainly on the rise once again.
Bockos Diamond became Graham Holland’s fourth Derby success to add to Rural Hawaii in 2016, Lenson Bocko in ‘19 and Newinn Taylor in 2020. For Bockos Diamond sire Dorotas Wildcat this is his first derby to win and also his dam Seaglass Shadow.
The strength of the open unraced stakes ran annually in Ireland never fails to produce champions, Bockos started his career in the Champion Open Unraced in Kilkenny which was formerly the Redmills and once again came good. Runner up Cheap Sandwichs started his career in the Open Unraced in Tralee while third placed finisher Callaway Knegare started his in Cork in the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced. If you are finishing in the top three in any of these stakes you have a very special dog as the quality is best in the world.
The winter racing festival is next big event on the calendar, whether the Derby winner will appear will be up to Holland as he certainly knows best but would be fantastic to see him once more before he rests up to have a crack at all the majors again next year. This Derby turned out to be probably the best in years with the quality of entries so high but there has to be a winner and we certainly got the best one ever with 2024 Derby winner Bockos Diamond.
Sunday Racing
At the matinee meeting in Mullingar we had three Offaly winners. In the first race on the card, an A5 contest Knockroe Bob won for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 30.12 (50 slow) by four lengths at 5/2.
In an A3 grade Killeshill Milo had his third career win in five starts for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in a fast 29.59 (50 slow) by five lengths at 3/1.
In another A5 race Lahinch Toby crossed the whitewash in front for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 29.96 (50 slow) by two lengths at 13/8 fav.
At an evening meeting in Limerick there was plenty of prize money on offer with a load of finals up for decision. The best final on the night was the Ned and Babs Quinn Memorial A2 stake with the €2k pot going to Starson Katie (Explosive Boy- Hazelfield Echo) for Colm and Pat O’Connell in 28.66 (10 fast) by four lengths at 7/4. In the final of the Pascal O’Ryan Memorial A4 bitch stake Peakys Glory (Razldazl Peaky- French Deluxe) won for Nelius O’Connell with a cheque of €1.7k heading his way when winning in 29.19 (10 fast) by five lengths at 7/2.
In the final of the Greyhound and Petworld A2 550 yard stake another €1.7k first prize went to Creative Ozzy (Dromana Bucko-Paradise Asia) for Gordon Rotheram in 30.16 (10 fast) by three lengths at 3/1.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, quarter-finals of the Goog Cody @ Stud Open Unraced in Enniscorthy.
Friday, semifinals of the IGOBF National Puppy Stakes in Shelbourne.
Saturday, final of the RCETS Traceability App ON2 unraced in Tralee.
Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week
Although not a winner Short Grip gets the nod this week as she was only beaten a nose in the final of the Consolation Derby for P.J. Cocoman by English Derby winner De Lahdedah in 29.46. So unlucky. Still super performance.
Offaly Winners
Four Offaly winners this week, well done to all connections.