TRAPRISE - Vincenzo as convincing as any in Derby heat double
A favourite night of action on the entire calendar for many racing purists, the 2022 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby was reduced to a single session for the remaining 48 Round 3 hopefuls at Shelbourne Park on Saturday, and it was the Moneygall trained Vincenzo (Droopys Sydney-Alien Nipper) who went fastest of all as part of a three-pronged challenge from the kennels of Pat Guilfoyle.
Backing up his second-round victory in 29.45, the February 2020 whelp went to trap 4 for the concluding Heat Eight as a warm favourite in the market and justifying every confidence, led throughout a dominant performance on a track which had proven slower than normal on Saturday.
Leading Fernandez by a tight length on the approach to the opening bend, that rival would give keen pursuit to the backstraight but easing clear in dismissive fashion when tackling the third bend with that same one length advantage, Vincenzo completed a cosy five-length defeat of Gortkelly Nestor in a fastest of the session 29.49 while staying very strongly.
Clearly in sparkling form, the Cheryl Sutcliffe owned Champion 550 winner is displaying pace at all points of the Shelbourne 550-yard trip with aspirations as strong as any ahead of this week’s quarterfinals where he will contest Heat Two from trap 4 with most to fear from outright Derby favourite Coolavanny Hoffa to his immediate right in trap 5.
The first of the Guilfoyle Derby trio to enter the action on Saturday was last season’s finalist Explosive Boy (Good News-Delightful Girl) and though suffering his first defeat of the event, the Peter Sutcliffe owned superstar safely negotiated his way to the quarterfinals in typically professional fashion.
Contesting from trap 2 in the opening heat, the affectionately named Bertie broke on level terms but despite displaying his smart early dash on the run to the corner, was matched by the rails running Tullig Raven. Ushered wide at the turns as that impressive Pat Buckley youngster defended the inside line, Explosive Boy ceded crucial ground on the run to the backstraight and though rallying in the home straight, was made to settle for a one and a half-length second in 29.56.
Often said at this point of a Derby, qualification is all that matters and there was plenty to take from this performance for the Moneygall kennels. Remaining a leading fancy ahead of this week’s quarterfinals, Explosive Boy has been drawn in trap 1 for Heat Four and this commentator would be shocked if the 2021 Dog of the Year did not progress to semi-final stage with a qualifying passage at the very minimum.
The second of Saturday’s heats offered no such safe passage for young Pat Guilfoyle star Magical Kuba when suffering early bumping almost immediately upon exiting traps. Left a lofty task when only fourth to halfway with a strong stayer ahead, the Kirby runner-up bowed out behind English Derby hero Romeo Magico in 29.59.
The following Heat Six brought another luckless passage which saw the end of All About Ted’s Derby challenge for William Rigney when suffering a fall at the opening bend in a heat which was won by Owen McKenna’s Callaway Pro Am in 29.76.
Jet Powered Ryan double
There was much to entertain outside of the Derby action again last week and commencing the local winning exploits on the Thursday fixture at Limerick was Newport handler PJ Ryan as he registered a quick double on the SIS programme.
Hinting at a return to form in a strong staying placed effort last time, it was Jet Power Class (Droopys Jet-Zari Class) who secured bragging rights for the van ride home as he claimed his sixth career win in A5 company over 525-yards. Last successful in A4 grade, the May 2019 whelp found his best break from trap 5 this time and once leading around the opening bends, was never likely to be contained thereafter. A one length advantage while turning quickly extended and impressing along the backstraight, Jet Power Class had the verdict settled long before striking the line with three lengths to spare in 29.09 (+20). The performance will bring a rise to A3 next time but with a career high level of A2, the Ryan runner can cope with the upgrade.
Sparking the Ryan double just a half hour earlier, and also in A5 525 company, was Oaktree Arthur (Droopys Buick-Lasses Charm) as the August 2020 youngster doubled his win tally in similar fashion.
A previous A7 winner, he had been held of late but bounced back near his very best on Thursday when breaking just behind the pace from his trap 3 draw. Showing smart early pace to forge a one-length lead at the opening bend, Oaktree Arhtur proved much the strongest along the backstraight and thoroughly impressed when drawing clear to a four and a half-length victory in 29.26 (+20). A small rise to A4 may not contain the Ryan youngster on the evidence of this performance.
Sandwiched between these two Ryan winners within a wonderful thirty minutes was a red-hot runner on the local scene as James Treacy’s Montore Phill (Ardnasool Jet-Montore Sally) secured a fifth win from his latest seven outings. Within a hugely entertaining run of sparkling form, the May 2020 whelp has proven extremely difficult to contain in A4 company of late and again plundered at that level this time as the slick early pacer broke well to occupy the lead position throughout the early stages. He would be kept up to his work throughout the 525-yard contest but not for passing when fending off his nearest challenger by a half-length at the line, Montore Phill posted 29.10 (+20) and ominous for all at the level in Limerick, avoided an upgrade for his next outing!