Ireland’s Derby monopoly takes a hit
Thankfully, the Dolores Ruth trained Toomaline Jack didn’t fall victim to the general malaise which appeared to affect the Irish runners and he stormed to victory in a best of the night 28.37. He had already been quoted a clear favourite prior to the quarter finals but he is now a best priced 7-4 in advance of Saturday’s semi-finals.
The eight strong team was cut in half and Toomaline Jack is accompanied in the semi-finals by Oran Classic, Krug Ninety Five and Slick Robert. Toomaline Jack will be the lone standard bearer in the second heat with the other three involved in a very first semi where the fast starting ex Irish but now Hungarian trained Lyreen Wonder will be making his usual outward path from the inside box to close up the dogs on his outside.
With all the hype surrounding Toomaline Jack, the performances of the Fraser Black trained Krug Ninety Five have been largely ignored. He has been producing fantastic efforts and he was quite brilliant in come from fifth place to finish a two and a quarter length second behind Toomaline on Tuesday night. Don’t rule him out of your calculations.
Toomaline Jack is again our banker best for Saturday’s semis where he is expected to lead all the way again and to lead home the top ranked home runner Bandicoot Tipoki.
The Lee Strand 550 quarter finals will be run at Tralee tomorrow night and the competition is really taking shape. Following two rounds it would appear that Nicken Shaw and Canary Dave have been established as the leading prospects and their clash in the third heat tomorrow will be a real highlight.
Apart from having the two best clocks in the second round the two dogs also have the fastest halfway sectional times which would suggest they have the early pace to carry them clear of potential early trouble. But can both survive this very tricky test tomorrow night?
Ken Duce’s Nicken Shaw posted a 14.40secs sectional last week, which was three spots faster than that returned by Jim Healy and John McGough’s Canary Dave. Best of the rest was Pat Buckley’s Kiln Kylie with 14.59 while the others were Shaneboy Sport & Movealong Storm 14.64, Latin Piper 14.68, Blue Social 14.94 and Sign On Anu 14.95.
Also tomorrow the semi-finals of the Red Mills Champion Unraced will be run at Kilkenny and two very interesting races are in prospect. Fastest in last week’s second round was Tom Harte’s Hawk Man with a 29.13 run and he will be opposed by similarly unbeaten Kilara Mac, trained by Paul Hennessy for his brother-in-law Philip O’Keeffe, in the second semi.
The favourite for the opening semi would seem certain to be the Pat Buckley trained Hats My Boy (ex Ardera Gent) after his fine run last week when he won in 29.22. He should be better suited by the inside box this time and can get the better of likely leader Glenalbyn.
News from Curraheen Park is that the Macroom Motor Services Stakes (2008 whelps) has been put back a week and it will now close on Tuesday next at noon. There is a winner’s prize of €3,500 and the heats will be run on Saturday week.
The bitches are about to take over centre stage and entries close on Saturday for the Sporting Press Irish Oaks at Shelbourne. The first round heats will be run next Thursday and Saturday and the eventual winner will receive €21,000. There have been some fine performances from the bitches in recent weeks and there will again be a few special races for them on Saturday.
But we will finish up this week with news of a very popular male greyhound called Kiowa Myth. Remember he was one of the stars last season when becoming the first American racer ever to challenge for the Irish Derby. He became an instant star and was unlucky to be knocked out at the quarter final stage. Well, the good news is that he is coming back from Wheeling Downs to challenge for this year’s Ladbrokes Irish Derby and will have a better preparation this time. He will again be handled by Mossie O’Connor in Castleisland.
The draw for the semi-finals of the Williamhill.com English Derby on Saturday night:
Heat 1: 1 Lyreen Wonder; 2 Glenard Sunrise; 3 Oran Classic; 4 Krug Ninety Five (m); 5 Slick Robert (m); 6 Westmead Scolari (w).
Heat 2: 1 Romeo Reason; 2 Bandicoot Tipoki; 3 Head Iton Ellis; 4 Adageo (w); 5 Farloe Skywalker (w); 6 Toomaline Jack (w).
