Choicely bred Badminton Rossa one to note
In a race in which most of the runners suffered a degree of interference, the Donal Murphy-trained, David McGrath-owned and Pat Maguire-bred bitch ran a remarkably good race to record victory in 29.08. Regulars to this track will know how difficult it is to break through the 29.00 barrier, but, given the trouble, this was one such run in all but official figures.
The winner is bred to be a champion and, unbeaten in three starts, could go a long way to living up to the expectations which come with her bloodlines. Her dam, Rossa Baby, trained by John and Margaret Kiely, in Cork, was very strong over four bends, breaking the 525 and 600 yards track records at Enniscorthy – the latter on two occasions. Remarkably, those three record runs came within four outings.
She was bred to be that good, being a Brett Lee bitch out of Maybe Baby. Her dam was a useful sort in a short racing career, but her progeny quickly outshone her on the track. In the Rossa Baby litter she produced six individual winners, three of which won more than 10 races.
One of those was 11-time winner Rafa Baby, who was a finalist in the 2009 Southern Oaks in Youghal and a semi-finalist in the Guinness Trophy at Curraheen. As with her dam, she proved even better as a brood bitch, producing none other than current Laurels champ Midtown Raffa.
In a litter to Premier Fantasy, Maybe Baby produced some really smart sorts, most notably Maireads Fantasy and Slick Sioux. The former won the Cork Oaks in 2009 and finished third behind Skywalker Queen and Lady Glenard in the Irish Oaks at Shelbourne just a few weeks later. Also a winner of a Derby heat, Joe Horan’s bitch had just one litter, but from it emerged a three-time Derby finalist, Tyrur Sugar Ray.
Slick Sioux’s biggest day came in 2009, when she won the Champion Bitch Stake in Galway, a stake then worth €26,000 to the winner.
There were many more closely related sorts which made their mark, but it’s quite clear the bitches in the line have really excelled. Badminton Rossa has ensured that tradition continues.
As well as the link to the Kielys and to breeder Pat Maguire, what made Friday’s victory all the more apt was the fact Badminton Rossa is a daughter of Taylors Sky, who was bred by Noel and Damian Fleming, who have long been strong supporters of Youghal.
When known as Rising Hawk, he won an unraced stake at the track, being one of the few greyhounds to break 29 seconds around Youghal on debut. He was sold to race in Britain soon afterwards, and was crowned English Derby champ in 2011.
The runner-up in last Friday’s final, Happy Omen, is also classically bred, being from the first litter of a full sister to former Puppy Derby winner Razldazl Luke. Third-placed Witches Belle, trained by Liam Twomey, Midleton, also caught the eye. Out of a half-sister to former star stayer White Soks Roks, the pup is a half-sister to former Laurels semi-finalist Lemon Miley and to the extremely talented Sir Paddy.
There may not have been a big entry for the stake, but there was no shortage of class, and the leading players will serve it well by franking the form in future outings.
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The Marshes Dundalk International is the feature of this weekend’s action, and it’s great to see a plausible British challenge for the €20,000 winner’s prize.
Making Paper, trained by Diane Henry, was an English Derby finalist last month, finishing fifth, beaten less than three lengths behind Rio Quattro. He didn’t enjoy the clearest of runs there, and has clearly improved since the time he was a regular at this track.
Swift Keith, representing John Mullins, is the other raider. He won the East Anglian Derby in 2014, and the Anglo Irish Derby Invitation at Wimbledon on his most recent start.
They’re welcome visitors but have something to find with a formidable home team, headed by Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Matt. He was brilliant throughout the Gain Dog Food Open 600, particularly that scintillating effort in the final. If he could maintain that level of consistency at traps, he’d be a real player in the upcoming Irish Derby.
Cesarewitch winner Paradise Maverik and Leger champ Paradise Silva form a two-pronged attack from the Pat Buckley kennel, while Kirby Memorial winner Cable Bay completes the line-up, representing Brendan Matthews.
The International is the eighth race on Sunday’s 12-race programme, and the action on the greyhound track begins at 7.30pm. There is, of course, a double header, with horse racing action on the all-weather, beginning at 2.05pm.
At Curraheen, the Burgess A1/A2 Puppy stake, worth €1,200 to the winner, gets underway tomorrow night on a card which features the final of the Rockybay Munster Hurdle, sponsored by John Slyne, Minane Bridge. Comeout Russell, so impressive in the semi-finals, looks drawn for a huge run, and it’d be no surprise were he to rattle the track record.
At Thurles, the Thurles Fresh Milk Tipperary Cup, with a winner’s prize of €7,500, gets underway tomorrow evening with seven heats.
The summer season at Youghal continues, with free entry to the track each Monday and Friday night until August 21.
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It’s probably no great surprise to hear there was a reason for Laughil Blake racing as wide as he did at the first two turns in the Boylesports Derby Trial Stake at Shelbourne Park last weekend. He’s reported to have sustained an injury to a hock, resulting in a short spell on the side-lines.
With a sizzling opening sectional in that race, he was clearly in peak form. Quite what he might have recorded had he not sustained the injury is anyone’s guess, but he was really motoring.
This hold-up is just a headache for connections, and it is hoped he’ll make it back in time to defend his crown.
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