Paradise Silva stuns Ballymac Matt to land the Shelbourne Park spoils
Chief amongst the upsets came in the Boylesports Night of Stars Open 550, in which Derby champ Ballymac Matt, sent off the 4-5 favourite, had to settle for second place behind 2014 Leger winner Paradise Silva.
Third in this race last year, the Pat Buckley-trained runner was sent off a 14-1 chance but belied those odds with a trap-to-line success.
The favourite chased the leader into the first turn, where he was forced to check.
The powerful pacesetter quickly amassed an advantage of some three lengths, and was comfortable thereafter as he ran strongly to hold he renewed effort of the favourite by a couple of lengths, in 30.22.
Although out of luck in that race, Liam Dowling’s Ballymacelligott kennel has enjoyed a tremendous year and former Derby finalist Vulturi proved best in the Track Bookmakers 750, completing a double which had been initiated by Juvenile Derby winner Anopheles.
Well drawn, 5-4 chance Vulturi made all the running to land the €10,000 winner’s prize. He and market rival Priceless Lassie dominated from the outset, but the Dowling runner got first run, and made the most of it to score in 42.38.
Anopheles contested one of the supporting races, the Dog Puppy 525, and enhanced his reputation with a runaway success. After breaking particularly smartly, he was able to use his position to squeeze through along the inside of the fast-starting Scary Days at the first turn.
The remainder of the race was predictable, as he pulled clear to beat Aghaburren Lola by five lengths, in 29.11.
The first of the feature races was the Ted Hegarty Open 850 and Tradition proved in a different league on this occasion. Primed with an eye-catching run at this track a week earlier, the Pat Dalton-trained bitch flashed out of trap two and never looked in danger thereafter.
The Ronnie McKeown-trained Catherines Drico, winner of the Fair Warrior and third in the Irish Sprint Cup, took the Banner Open 350 in the style of a truly top-class dog. A flying break from what can be a difficult box, he was clear along the rails in a matter of strides, and won unchallenged, in 18.81.
Shane O’Gorman’s Yahoo Perlena, so impressive on Select Stakes final night at Waterford a week ago, took the Support Greyhound Racing at Wimbledon Open Bitch 525. A typically fast exit had the 5-1 chance clear at the turn and, with Skywalker Rossa and Jumeirah Dancer bumping a couple of times, raced to a smooth victory over the former, in 28.85.
Leave At Dawn, trained by Brendan Matthews, made all the running to take the Droopys Nidge Open 575. In front from an early stage, the 9-2 chance always looked to have something in hand as he raced to a length-and-a-half victory over Laughil Duke, in 31.51.
Slippery Fred showed versatility to match his talent when winning the BIF Open 525 for Larry Dunne. Usually a fast breaker, he missed a beat this time but showed great determination to lead into the home-straight before pulling clear of Lenson Sanchez, in 29.09.
In the concluding Ballymac Stud Open 600 connections of Ballyhooly Henry gained compensation for the disappointment of their Derby final night defeat when running out a comprehensive winner.
Trained by Tom O’Neill for the Ashville Syndicate, Ballyhooly, the well-backed 8-1 chance assumed control of the race from the outset and, racing relentlessly, galloped home two and a half lengths clear of Kirby Memorial winner Cable Bay, in 33.23.
