Hare wins the day for Glin syndicate in Derby

GO Home Hare, the property of the Mel Syndicate from Glin, Co. Limerick captured the Boylesports.com Derby at Clonmel yesterday when he defeated an injured Blueview Sam by a wide margin in the decider.

There were no surprises in the quarter-finals of the Derby with India Rio having a bye when Belated Birthday was withdrawn, Go Home Hare then led all the way to the escape when putting out Prime Example by eight lengths.

Solid Monk got the better of a gallant Skellig Wish, who had been hard run in the opening three rounds, by a length and a half for the only turn while the overnight favourite Blueview Sam saw off Aftertiming, when coming from behind, by three lengths.

Go Home Hare then took over at the top of the market and put paid to the chances of India Rio by a half a length in a tight course, while Blueview Sam had two lengths to spare over Solid Monk.

The stage looked set for a thrilling final but after fifty yards it was obvious that Blueview Sam was injured and Go Home Hare raced away.

The surprises of the previous two days continued in the Greyhound & Pet World Oaks. The opening quarter-final worked out as expected with Emmas Goldrush getting the better of Feede Blonde by a length and a half for the only score. The long odds favourite, Fives Treasure duly accounted for Awe And Wonder by four lengths with the loser getting in for the only other turn. Few gave Oh Banba any chance of advancing as she was hard run in the third round, but she confounded the pundits by putting out the fancied Coffee in Currow by two and a half lengths for the only score. In the last quarter-final Dale Roisin had a great battle with Rosie Hedge before coming out on top by two lengths.

It was generally expected that the winner of the Emmas Goldrush — Fives Treasure buckle would take the honours and when Emmas Goldrush upset the favourite when taking the only turn she became a hot favourite to win out.

Dale Roisin then raced all the way to the escape in her semi-final with a tired Oh Banba, having four lengths in hand.

Emmas Goldrush was a 1-3 chance in the final but Dale Roisin took an early lead and then raced away to take the turn by three lengths, much to the delight of the bookmakers as it sank most of the trebles.

It was a great afternoon for Mrs. Marie Field of Patrickswell, Co. Limerick as she got her two representatives, last year’s Derby runner-up Kyle Ranger, and Kyle King to the decider of the Classic Club Champion Stakes with Kyle Ranger declared the winner.

The surprises of the Oaks continued in the Grace Bruton Memorial Champion Bitch Stake where Portinard Nine, the rank outsider of the field at 12-1 beat Southside Tess by a length in her quarter-final and then put paid to the chances of the even money favourite, Beautiful Chrisy, by a narrow margin in the semi-final.

In the final she was opposed by Class Attraction (1-2), who won the event last year, but Portinard Nine (6-4) wasn’t to be denied and raced away to a five lengths success.