Row over trials scuppers Fahy’s English Derby bid

PJ FAHY’S plan to contest this year’s English Derby was scuppered even before it got underway yesterday. Fahy and his trainer-son Conor brought five intended challengers over for trials in advance of the Derby but an altercation with Wimbledon official Gary Matthews resulted in the Galway team leaving for home without trialling their dogs and having rescinded their earlier plans.

The track official seemingly castigated Fahy senior because he alleged the first he knew about plans to run the dogs was when he read it in a newspaper and that the dogs had not been officially entered for trials. However Conor Fahy confirmed that he had spoken with a named Racing Office staff member, had entered the dogs by name and had been assured that the dogs would be given early trials to facilitate their early journey back to the ferry.

It then transpired that the dogs were actually listed on the official trial sheet but were down for generally late trials. At this stage PJ reckoned he had enough of it all and informed the Wimbledon official that his Derby plans had been abandoned.

A clearly annoyed PJ later commented: “If that was English dogs coming to Dublin they would get trials whenever they wanted them. But to tell us that we hadn’t booked them in and then to see their names down on the list for late trials, that was too much for me”.

However, Wimbledon’s loss was Shelbourne’s gain as four of the Tyrur quintet, Domingo, O’Gorman, Carey and Lohan are now in the draw for the Hegarty Open 600 on Saturday while the fifth, Tyrur Gasco, will run in an open 550 on the same card. This is just the latest of a series of incidents involving Irish owners and trainers when attempting to race dogs in major UK events. No doubt there will be more to follow but I would wager against the Fahys returning to Wimbledon in the near future!

Where are all the stayers? Last year was a vintage year with some great racing, plenty of entries for all the majors and worthy champions. But the first real major six bend of the year, the Barry’s Tea 750 cannot even attract the minimum number of 24 entries by the appointed date and has had to be put back. Why?

Is it that the open class stayers are just not around this year or have they fallen foul of injuries at an alarming rate? Whatever, it certainly does not help those of us who try to promote the staying racing. Anyway, let us hope that the required 24 dogs will be available when the draw is made next week. One leading fancy that will not figure in the draw is recent impressive six bend debutante Air Force Ellie after she sustained an injury at Shelbourne last weekend. It looked very serious but Paul Hennessy is hopeful that she will be able to return for the later major events.

It’s going to be quite an Easter Sunday at Clonmel with the two semi-finals of the Red Mills Produce Stakes down for decision. Two great races are in prospect but the second semi looks a real tartar and a few fancied contenders are going to drop by the wayside.

Spearhawk is in a league of his own as far as the first split is concerned and Craig Kelly’s dog is again ideally housed in six. He continues to go up fast but the slightly worrying aspect is that the son of Droopys Vieri, while he has been brilliant on the clock, has gone back on the time test in each round. He clocked a brilliant 28.47 first time up, then 28.56 in the second round and 28.66 last Sunday when again he never saw a dog.

This is his biggest test yet with the similarly unbeaten Colourful Bolt in opposition as well as fastest third round winner Coole West Bound, the eye-catching Piercestown Sand and big finishing St Louis Charlie. One had to be impressed with the way Shanks Whelan’s Piercestown Sand ran on to be beaten just half a length by Spearhawk at the weekend and if he can get away a little better then he would have a serious chance. But Spearhawk deserves to be the selection again.

The opening heat also contains a number of useful performers but I suspect that the Marie Gilbert trained Short Grass has a big run to come. He has run very big races in defeat in his lat two outings and is a dog with a big run in his locker. I would expect the main challenges to come from Bit View Micko, Nurse Jackie and Uncle Eoin.

The busy schedule at Shelbourne will continue with two major competitions commencing this week. Tonight the eight first round heats of the Healthcare & Transport Services Puppy Oaks will be run and then on Saturday the first round of the Hegarty Bookmakers 600 will draw the crowds.

Incidentally, the Puppy Oaks was advertised for just 36 dogs and it is very encouraging to find that more than 48 bitches were entered. It is a classy affair and the clash of the first round could be in Heat 1 where Mutual Decision and Olympic Stunner will renew rivalry after the latter won a thrilling contest last Saturday. Other leading contenders will include Jerry Griffin’s Limerick Oaks runner-up Local Flyer and John Linehan’s Tralee Juvenile Classic runner-up Droopys Twirl.

The draw for Saturday’s first round of the Hegarty Bookmakers 600 at Shelbourne is:

Heat 1: 1 Lemon Velvet; 2 De Ex Factor; 3 Serious Sam; 4 Tyrur O Gorman; 5 Advantage Jonjo; 6 Luminous Park (m).

Heat 2: 1 Hello Ringo; 2 Fleeting Image; 3 Paddy The Pricer; 4 Croom Star; 5 Typical Toast; 6 Pool Hawk (w).

Heat 3: 1 Master Blaster; 2 Razldazlbroadway; 3 Dirty Old Town; 4 Tyrur Carey; 5 Croom Upper; 6 Fatboyz Tyson (w).

Heat 4: 1 Skywalker Cindy; 2 General Dogsbody; 3 Tyrur Lohan; 4 Kingo; 5 Loughview Gem; 6 Air Force Roxsy (w).

Heat 5: 1 Spot The Hawk; 2 Fastaway King; 3 Droopys Joe; 4 Helmet Boy; 5 St Louis Spirit (m); 6 Lady Lucielle (w).

Heat 6: 1 Joey Jojo Junior; 2 What A Tornado; 3 Pachacuti; 4 Rockchase Zico; 5 Ballymac Linda (m); 6 Gizmo Titan (w).

Heat 7: 1 Magical Ozzie; 2 Vigorous Berito; 3 Whatsupjack; 4 Tyrur Domingo; 5 St Mullins Pride; 6 Elegant Rumble (m).