Dazzler secures safe passage in Derby Plate pursuit

TRAPRISE

On a hot Saturday of sizzling elite racing at Shelbourne Park, the highlight for local supporters was the safe progression of the Pat Guilfoyle trained Knockeen Dazzler (Laughil Blake-Love Island) to the semi-finals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate 550 Yard Stake as the Kirby Memorial champion filled third place in a thrilling second quarter final.

A winner in 29.44 on the previous weekend, the March 2022 whelp again began smartly from his ideal trap 6 draw and narrowly leading throughout the early stages, could never fully shake off the attentions of Miami King, and that strong runner crucially retained the inside line to the closing bends before heading the Moneygall charge into the home straight. Knockeen Dazzler would second position on the line to the fast-finishing Elite Josh but only went down by a length and a half plus a shorthead in 29.50 while losing little in defeat.

The performance earns him a trap 6 berth in this Saturday’s semi-final and although facing-off against Owen McKenna’s sizzling 29.05 winner Carmac King who occupies trap 5, the pair should dominate the early exchanges as likely forecast fillers in a safe gallop to final stage of the prestigious perennial.

Derby disappointment for Fever

There was no such safe passage from the quarter finals of the 2024 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby for the Guilfoyle trained Mustang Fever (Droopys Sydney-Mustang Kay Cee) who, despite a gallant effort through crowding in the second quarter final on Saturday, missed out by one place when fourth behind A Lucky Julie in 29.31 following her most game and competitive event campaign.

Possibly the hottest renewal of the Derby, especially in modern times, a classic field with astounding depth of talent have been taking full advantage of a fast Shelbourne circuit in recent weeks with blistering times in every round and justifying his place at the top of the market having registered new track record figures on the previous weekend, Graham Holland’s Bockos Diamond is just 5/4 for Derby victory as he landed his quarter final in 29.19, a modest effort by his own standards on the back of a mind-boggling 28.94 quarterfinal performance!

He is far from crowned in the Derby however, as fellow early paced performers lay down big markers on Saturday with kennelmate Bombay Pat improving to 29.19 before the David Murray trained former Irish Sprint champion Carrick Aldo also produced his best 550-yard effort when leading throughout his 29.15 defeat of Boylesports Bob who was just a half-length adrift!

At 8/1 the field behind the favourite with just twelve remaining, there is value in the market, although getting a result against Bockos Diamond who has now rattled off a dozen wins on the spin is hopeful at best. However, this week’s semi-final presents a new Derby assignment for racing’s latest world superstar as the wide seed is drawn in trap 3 for a semi-final which is heavily laden with early pace.

With fellow wide seeded Seven Beach to his left in trap 2 and Bombay Pat to his immediate right, Bockos Diamond will struggle to get away with the slower start that he produced on Saturday last. That said, his unquestioned raw ability still earns him the vote in the race but with a watching betting brief, especially as Carrick Aldo looks best drawn of the wide seeds in trap 5 while all but assured to lead trap 6 runner A Lucky Julie for clear passage on the outside of a vicious early battle for supremacy. 14/1 in the outright market with three places in each-way terms, Carrick Aldo is a value option for this commentator.

The opening semi-final houses four further wide seeds but capable of leading from trap 3, Cheap Sandwiches gets the nod to overcome his tricky draw at the chief expense of the hugely respected Boylesports Bob.

Dreamy Thursday score for Gortglas

The local winning exploits last weekend again commenced on the Thursday SIS meeting at Limerick and concluding the fixture in the Lucky Last A3 525, Marting Kennedy’s Gortglas Dream (Magical Bale-Our Marys Dream) secured her ninth race win in typical early paced fashion.

Held last time following victory in the same grade, the September 2021 kennel stalwart faced a tricky assignment while drawn widest of the inside seeded runners in trap 5 but having begun on terms, she cannily avoided any marked drift inwards in the initial exchanges, allowing her early pace to secure clear racing room while advancing beyond runners to her inside on the run to the corner. Reaching the opening bends with command of the rails, the Kennedy darling held a one length lead over her closest pursuer to the top of the backstraight and continued to repel a persistent threat thereafter. Brave on the bunny, Gortglas Dream displayed pleasing resolve in the closing stages while retaining a two-length winning margin, stopping the clock in 28.96 (+20). Avoiding a rise next time, she will again prove tough to contain on this evidence.

A strong staying second in her opening round of the Time Greyhound Nutrition & NTSC A3 525 Yard Stake, Christopher Delaney & Billy Finnerty’s Cagey Pauline (Pestana-Lilly Lula) went one better in Friday’s second round when securing a sixth race victory at Newbridge.

Much swifter to stride than when trailing all in the initial exchanges on the previous weekend, the April 2022 whelp tracked an early paced leader on the outside of the field throughout the early stages and eased her way to a threatening second position before reaching the backstraight.

Stealthily reducing three length arrears from that point while displaying her usual strength beyond halfway, Cagey Pauline was ushered wide off the final turn within a three-way tussle but strongest when straightening for the line, gamely forged a half length winning margin in 29.33 (+20) and can continue to progress in the valuable event granted clear passage next time.